North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
The NMB Parks and Recreation 12U All-Star Team listens to a member of the Chiefs varsity baseball team give them some advice prior to the team leaving for the DYA World Series. The team got a police escort from city and county officers on their trip to the first world series ever for a North Myrtle Beach team.
By John Smithson
The NMB Parks and Recreation 12U all-star team won the Diamond Youth Baseball State Championship with an undefeated run through all their opposition. Last Thursday the team gathered at the high school parking lot and got a few encouraging words from members of the varsity Chiefs baseball team before traveling to Lexington, SC for the DYB World Series.
The Chiefs traveled to Lexington as South Carolina’s representative in the O Zone District 1 playoff and the chance to become World Series Champion. As I write this on Tuesday afternoon, I believe these twelve young men have as good a chance as anyone to do just that.
They attended the opening ceremonies and on Friday began pool play to see who they would play in first round games. Their Friday game was against Georgia in Pool 2. The Chiefs won that game 7-3. Cam Shirley hit his first home run of the series in that game.
On Saturday the Chiefs took on Virginia, the loser in the Pool 6 game against Mississippi. After Cam Shirley retired the side in order in the top of the first inning, the Chiefs scored two runs in the bottom of the first. Kole Wilson, Jackson White and Cam Shirley walked, and two errors and a fielders choice scored White and Wilson. The Chiefs loaded the bases again before Virginia stopped the rally with a 2-0 Chiefs lead.
Virginia got a run back in the top of the second on an errant throw by Carsten Compher on a steal attempt. Shirley retired the last three batters, and it was 2-1 The Chiefs had two runners on in the bottom of the third but couldn’t score. Virginia tied the score at 2-2 in the top of the fourth on a walk, double and fielders choice on a grounder to second.
The Chiefs went back in front in the bottom of the fourth. After Chandler Campbell popped to third, Donald Bean walked and stole second but injured his ankle on the slide. Campbell took his place. Compher struck out but Dean Skovinski walked. Asher Goheen drove in Campbell and Skovinski for a 4-2 Chiefs lead.
The Chiefs held on after that with Oliver Brin’s diving catch in center field ending the game.
Rain postponed the Chiefs game on Sunday, and they had to play two games on Monday. The first game was with Texas, which scored a run in the top of the first inning for a 1-0 lead. The Chiefs tied it in the bottom of the first. With two out Cam Shirley launched a long home run over the left field fence. The ball bounced off the top of a food truck and it was 1-1.
The game turned into a pitchers’ duel after that. The defenses weren’t too shabby either. Compher made a good catch near the screen for the first out in the top of the third. White ended that inning with a good running catch on a pop fly to right.
The Chiefs had two on in the bottom of the third, but three Chiefs strikeouts made it all for nought. Reece Batchelder made a diving catch to end the Texas fourth and Oliver Brin’s diving catch in the top of the sixth gave the Chiefs an opportunity.
Brin walked and stole second and third in the bottom of the sixth. Wilson flew out to left, White walked, and Shirley was given an intentional walk to load the bases. DelConte had a three-ball count, but Shirley was picked off first, Texas walked DelConte, and Batchelder popped out to send the game to extra innings.
Shirley pitched the top of the seventh and struck out two batters around a liner to second. Campbell was first up in the bottom of the seventh and he homered to center to give the Chiefs a 2-1 win. Yes, they were excited.
Next up was Alabama in a 3 p.m. game. The Chiefs scored three runs in the first two innings and led 3-0 after three innings. Texas scored twice in the top of the fourth. A bunt single, stolen base and fielders choice put a runner on third with two outs. A passed ball scored a run and a Branch home run put Alabama within one at 3-2.
Campbell hit a two-out homer for the Chiefs in the bottom of the fourth, his second of the series, for a 4-2 lead, but Alabama used a walk, hit batter and a couple of hits to tie the score at 4-4 in the top of the fifth, before Shirley came in to get the last two outs, the last out another great Wilson play on a bunt and quick throw to first.
Alabama took the lead 5-4 in the top of the sixth inning. The Chiefs responded yet again. Wilson led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to left. He stole second and went to third on an error on a pickoff attempt. White drove Wilson in with a single to tie it at 5-5. Shirley was hit by a pitch. DelConte ended it with a three-run homer and an 8-5 Chiefs win. They were really excited after this one.
That win moved the undefeated Chiefs into a Tuesday morning game with Mississippi, but rain once again kept everyone waiting.
Cam Shirley hit his second home run of the DYB World Series on Monday to give the NMB South Carolina team a 1-0 lead in their game against Texas. They won in the seventh inning on Chandler Campbell ‘s homer to center.
Chandler Campbell received an award for his home run in the bottom of the seventh inning Monday that gave South Carolina (NMB) All-Stars a 2-1 win over Texas in the DYB World Series.
Carter DelConte became the third member of the Chiefs South Carolina team to be honored for hitting a home run in the DYB World Series. DelConte’s three-run shot in the bottom of the sixth inning Monday gave the Chiefs an 8-5 walk-off win against Alabama, the second walk-off victory in a row.
