North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
By John Smtihson
The North Myrtle Beach Chiefs baseball team had their backs against the wall after last Monday’s 9-1 loss to Chapin as reported in the May 14th Times.
The Chiefs faced Lucy Beckham last Wednesday at The Hank in an elimination game in the 5A District 4 SCHSL Lower State playoffs. The Chiefs had to beat Beckham then travel to Chapin last Friday and win there to force a second game at North Myrtle Beach Saturday for the District 4 championship. The first part of that scenario worked out.
Andrew Mundy took the mound for the Chiefs against Lucy Beckham and walked the first batter, who tried to steal second after the next hitter struck out. He was gunned down at second by Peyton Gallup for out number two and Mundy was out of the top of the first with another strikeout.
The Chiefs scored a run in the bottom of the first. Sawyer Smith was safe at first on an error by the third baseman. After Kaden Lank lined out to center, Trevor Mitchetti reached base on an error by the first baseman with Smith moving to third. Evan Steudl’s sacrifice fly to right gave the Chiefs a 1-0 lead.
The Bengals scored in the top of the second inning, loading the bases on a single, walk and an error. A sacrifice bunt scored a runner from third for a 1-1 tie before Mundy got the next two outs to limit any further damage.
The Chiefs added a run in the bottom of the second after two were out. Riley Wiggins was safe on a throw past first by the shortstop. Jack Williams singled to center, and Smith walked to load the bases. Lank walked to force in a run, but the Chiefs left the bases loaded, leading 2-1.
Mundy worked out of a jam in the third. He hit a batter and runners were at first and third. He got out of the inning on a groundout and strikeout.
The Chiefs helped Mundy with a diving catch by Porter Anglin in the top of the sixth and Gallup threw out a runner trying to steal in the fourth. Mundy walked a batter to start the top of the seventh but then had three straight strikeouts swinging to end the game and send the Chiefs to Chapin for game one of the district championship, a must win game for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs were down in order in the top of the first. The Eagles scored a run in the bottom of the first on a single, a ground out with the runner advancing to third and wild pitch by Gabe Priest scoring a run and 1-0 lead for Chapin.
The Chiefs scored two unearned runs in the top of the second. Steudl singled and Mundy sacrificed him to second. Priest singled sending Steudl to third. Anglin’s sacrifice bunt scored Steudl on the throw home by the pitcher and the catcher’s subsequent throw over third allowed Priest to go to third and he scored on a 6-3 groundout by Wiggins. The Chiefs led 2-1.
Chapin tied it at 2-2 in the bottom of the second. With two outs Cromer hit a high popup near home plate and Gallup tripped over the bat and was unable to catch the ball which was scored a hit. Cromer stole second and scored on the second hit of the inning.
The Chiefs took the lead 3-2 in the top of the fourth. After Steudl was out on a fly to left, Mundy singled to right, Priest doubled to left and Bannon Hill ran for him. Anglin loaded the bases on a dropped third strike.
Wiggins singled to left driving in Mundy. Jack Williams attempted a squeeze bunt, but Hill was out at the plate on the missed bunt. Smith struck out to end the inning with three runners left on base and a 3-2 Chiefs lead.
Priest struck out the first two hitters in the bottom of the fourth but walked the next two putting runners on first and second. Jack Williams’ fielding error scored a run and extended the inning with runners on first and second. Weston Plotner doubled to center and scored two more Eagles runs and a 5-3 lead.
The Chiefs had one-out singles by Mitchetti and Steudl in the top of the fifth and a double steal put runners on second and third, respectively. Chapin brought in pitcher Brewer Haggard and he struck out Mundy and Priest to end the fifth with two more Chiefs left on base.
The Chiefs were down in order in the sixth and came to bat in the seventh, needing two runs to tie and extend the game. Smith singled to left to lead off and Lank lined a shot to short and was out on a leaping catch. Mitchetti was safe on an error at short putting runners on first and second.
Steudl struck out swinging on a curve ball. Mundy got behind two strikes and Smith and Mitchetti stole second and third. The game ended on the next pitch, a called strike three and the Chiefs season over with Chapin advancing on the 5-3 win.
