The biggest series of the year took place at Florence-Darlington Tech this past weekend as the Stingers hosted Spartanburg Methodist in a 4 game showdown.  Entering the weekend, Flo-Dar was sitting atop the Region X Division I standings at 12-2 with the Pioneers 1.5 games back at 10-3.

The Region X Tournament is slated for May 7-10 at Lexington County Baseball Stadium in Lexington, SC with the winner hosting the East District Championships on May 14-16.  The winner of the East District will earn a trip to the JUCO World Series. 

 

Game 1 – Saturday 04.17.21
7 Inning Contest

SMC – 6               Flo-Dar – 0
Spartanburg Methodist used a strong start from Nate Lamb and a big third inning to cruise to the game 1 victory.  Lamb worked 5 solid innings, working in and out of jams to earn the win.  The big blow came in the 3^rd with two outs and two runners on base, Aaron Copeland launched a breaking ball over the left-center field fence, giving SMC a 4-0 lead.  Ben Thornton punched two in the final two frames for the save.

SMC Notes:
Nate Lamb – Win, 5IP, 4H, 0R, 3BB, 3K
Ben Thornton – Save, 2IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
Sean Flannery – 2-4, 1RBI
Aaron Copeland – 2-4, HR, 1R, 2RBI
Dayton Brune – 1-3, 2B, 2R

Flo-Dar Notes:
Nathan Williams – Loss, 6IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, 1BB, 9K
Jacob Greer – 1IP, 3H, 2R, 1ER, 1BB, 2K
JT Marr – 2-4
Patrick Matthews – 2-3, 2B

 

Game 2 – Saturday 04.17.21
7 Inning Contest

SMC – 0               Flo-Dar – 8
Florence-Darlington Tech answered the game 1 loss quickly.  The Stingers scored in each of their first three at-bats, building a 6-0 lead after 3.  That would be all the offense Hunter Parks would need as the big righty worked 6 strong innings, allowing only 1 hit and 1 walk.  DJ Sullivan paced the offense from the leadoff position with 2 hits, including a double, as well as 2 RBI and 2 runs scored.

SMC Notes:
Cooper Guest – Loss, 2.2IP, 8H, 6R, 6ER, 1BB, 1K
BJ Bailey – 3.1IP, 1H, 2R, 0ER, 1BB, 4K
Jordan Starkes – 1-3
Aaron Copeland – 1-3

Flo-Dar Notes:
Hunter Parks – Win, 6IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 5K
Matt Poston – 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
DJ Sullivan – 2-4, 2B, 2R, 2RBI
JT Marr – 2-4, 2B, 1R, 2RBI
Luke Wood – 1-3, 1R
Patrick Matthews – 1-3, 1RBI
Gary Lora – 2-3, 2 2B, 2R, 1RBI
Andre Demetral – 1-2, 1R

 

Game 3 – Sunday 04.18.21
7 Inning Game

SMC – 5               Flo-Dar – 6         (10 Innings)
A back and forth game saw some late dramatics and an eventual walk-off win.  SMC built a 3 run lead after 3 keyed by a 1 out double from S Flannery and a 2 out double from Khyree Miller.  Flo-Dar would answer in the 4^th, with a 3-run inning of their own.  With 2 on and 2 outs, Scott McDonough would homer to center to tie the game. 

Tied into the 6^th, SMC would try to put Flo-Dar away.  Dayton Brune led off with a home run to left.  A single, followed by Sean Flannery reaching on a dropped 3^rd strike would setup Dosi Jonas to score Jordan Starkes with a single to center.  Josh Patterson would sandwich a walk around three strikeouts to get out of the jam, down 5-3.

Three outs away from defeat, Flo-Dar would get back-to-back singles from Luke Wood and Gary Lora to start the 7^th.  A sacrifice bunt would move the runners up where three walks led to two runs and a tie game. 

In the 10^th, a leadoff single from DJ Sullivan was followed by a walk to JT Marr.  A 1-1 pitch from Aaron Copeland got away from the catcher, advancing both runners up 90 feet.  Three pitches later, another wild pitch plated Sullivan for the win.

SMC Notes:
Chandler Brooks – ND, 3.2IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 2K
JJ Shelton – 2.1IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 0K
Tanner Smith – Loss, 3IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 3K
Aaron Copeland – 0.0IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 0K
Jordan Starkes – 3-5, 2B, 1R
Sean Flannery – 1-4, 2B, 1R, 1RBI
Dosi Jonas – 2-6, 1R, 2RBI
Khyree Miller – 2-6, 2B, 1R
Dayton Brune – 1-4, HR, 2R, 1RBI

Flo-Dar Notes:
Jake Cothran – ND, 4IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, 4BB, 6K
Drake Thames – 1IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 2K
Josh Patterson – Win, 5IP, 2H, 0R, 2BB, 7K
DJ Sullivan – 2-5, 1R
Luke Wood – 4-5, 2R
Patrick Matthews – 3-4, 2B, 1R
Scott McDonough – 1-5, HR, 1R, 2RBI

 

Game 4 – Sunday 04.18.21
7 Inning Contest

SMC – 1               Flo-Dar – 3
Flo-Dar got a strong start from Middle Tennessee commit Charlie Mac Toman to earn the series victory over SMC.  Toman worked into the 6^th, striking out 11, only allowing 4 hits.  Jorge Oleaga earned the final 4 outs in picking up the save. 

The Flo-Dar offense scored single runs in the 2^nd, 3^rd, and 5^th innings.  Luke Wood scored two of those runs with 2 hits, a double and a triple. 

SMC Notes:
Myles Daniels – Loss, 3.1IP, 4H, 2R, 1ER, 3BB, 2K
Walt Thomas – 2.2IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 5K
Dosi Jonas – 1-3, 2B
Aaron Copeland – 1-3, 2B, 1RBI
Dayton Brune – 1-2, 2B

Flo-Dar Notes:
Charlie Mac Toman – Win, 5.2IP, 4H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 11K
Jorge Oleaga – Save, 1.1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
Luke Wood – 2-3, 2B, 3B, 2R
Gary Lora – 1-4, 1R, 1RBI

 

Scout Blog

Hunter Parks, RHP, Florence-Darlington Tech, rFR
South Carolina commit.  Lean, athletic frame at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds.  Third outing since an extended layoff from COVID protocols.  Simple delivery with a stable head over the rubber.  Works on-line, landing in-line with a closed foot-strike.  Medium arm swing loading the scapular with athleticism and ease.  Advanced arm speed working to a high-3/4 release.  Loose and easy throughout out with good extension.  Occasionally works for extra, creating a snap through his head at release.  1.20 – 1.25 stretch times with a runner at 1B, still working with a ¾ leg kick.  Good pace and athleticism in the delivery.  Fastball up to

CLICK HERE to see the full scout blog with player run downs from both Flo-Dar and SMC, as well as video on select prospect.