North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
Riley Wiggins stomps home plate with the winning run while Chiefs players on the left began the rush to Peyton Gallup, whose bunt was thrown into right field allowing Wiggins to score the run that gave the Chiefs a comeback 3-2 win over St. James last Wednesday at The Hank. The Chiefs trailed 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning before scoring two runs in that inning on a Trevor Mitchetti double down the right field line.
By John Smithson
The North Myrtle Beach Chiefs baseball team got back to 6AAAAA region baseball last Monday as they began a three-game series at St. James. Needing some wins to challenge first-place Carolina Forest, the Chiefs instead lost two of the three games to the Sharks.
The opener went bad quickly. The Chiefs got a first inning single from Sawyer Smith but that was it. The Sharks opened the bottom of the first with a single. Sawyer Smith struck out two in a row but then gave up a home run to Luke Kesslar for a 2-0 Sharks lead. The Chiefs got their only run of the game in the top of the third.
Riley Wiggins was hit by a pitch, Jack Williams singled and Smith singled, driving in Wiggins. After Kaden Lank struck out Trevor Mitchetti hit a fly ball to center and Williams was doubled off at second base to end the threat.
The Sharks scored six runs in the bottom of the third. A hit batsman, single and Chiefs error scored one run. Another single, another run. An error on a sacrifice made it 5-1. Three more runs scored on a sacrifice fly, hit batsman, sacrifice bunt and a single and an 8-1 score.
Porter Anglin doubled in the top of the fourth but was stranded. The Sharks got a double and single off Luke Breeden in the bottom of the fourth for the 9-1 score. The Chiefs managed an Evan Steudl single and a single by Anglin in the top of the seventh, but that was it. St. James took the first game of the series.
Smith took the loss for the Chiefs giving up 8 runs in three innings, only three of them earned.
The Chiefs were back home for game two last Wednesday. The Sharks scored a run in the top of the first on a two-out walk, stolen base and single. Andrew Mundy doubled off the fence in center but was stranded in the bottom of the second.
Smith singled to left in the third but was out on a 4-3 three unassisted double play on a grounder by Lank.
The Sharks added another run in the top of the fourth on a double and error by Gabe Priest. Andrew Mundy walked in the bottom of the fifth, but was doubled up on a bunt caught by the first baseman, who threw back to first to get Mundy.
St. James went down in order in the top of the sixth. The Chiefs made two quick outs on grounders to the pitcher and second baseman in the bottom of the sixth. Then things turned around for the Chiefs. Kaden Lank singled to left. Steudl doubled on a grounder over first base and the Chiefs had runners on second and third. Trevor Mitchetti doubled down the right field line and scored Lank and Steudl. Anglin struck out to end the sixth in a 2-2 tie.
Fisher Nichols, who relieved Gabe Priest in the sixth inning, walked the first batter in the seventh, and after he stole second, Nichols committed a balk to move him to third. The game turned around. Nichols struck out the next three batters, sending the game to the bottom of the seventh.
Mundy was hit by a pitch to open the Chiefs seventh. Riley Wiggins ran for Mundy. Vinny Esposito worked the count to 3 and 2 and he walked with Esposito moving to second. Peyton Gallup bunted and the catcher’s throw sailed over first base, allowing Esposito to score the winning run on a walk-off bunt 3-2.
Game three of the Sharks series was at St. James. Andrew Mundy started for the Chiefs and gave up a home run to the first Sharks batter Rome Derenzo for a 1-0 lead after the Chiefs were retired in order in the top of the first inning.
The Chiefs had runners on second and third in the top of the second but could not score. The Chiefs did score in the top of the third. Riley Wiggins homered to left field for the Chiefs. Smith and Lank singled and Steudl walked to load the bases. Mitchetti walked and Smith scored. Anglin singled to left scoring Lank, the bases still loaded.
Priest struck out for the first out of the inning. Mundy hit a sacrifice fly to left for the second out as Steudl scored for a 4-1 Chiefs lead.
The Sharks went ahead in the bottom of the fifth. A walk, hit batsman and double scored one run. Another walk loaded the bases. Jake Frick relieved Mundy and a Sharks single scored two runs. A Chiefs error and balk by Frick allowed them to take a 5-4 lead.
The Chiefs Sawyer Smith singled in the top of the sixth but was the only baserunner in the final two innings and the Sharks held on for the 5-4 win and the 2-1 series win.
The Chiefs opened their final region series on Monday with the Myrtle Beach Seahawks visiting The Hank. The second game was Wednesday with the third game back at The Hank tonight. The Chiefs also have one more game to play against Carolina Forest. That one is scheduled for next Monday at Carolina Forest.
