Sumter beats River Bluff in high school baseball playoff opener
River Bluff found itself with one of the tougher first-round opponents Thursday night.
Defending Class 4A champion Sumter came to The Swamp to open the District 5 playoffs, and it proved too strong for the Gators.
Britton Beatson was tough in relief and Sumter took advantage of a crucial throwing error in the fifth that led to three unearned runs and rally Sumter past River Bluff, 5-3.
The Gamecocks advance to face top-ranked Summerville in the winner's bracket. River Bluff will host Stratford in an elimination game at 7 p.m. Friday.
The Gators jumped to a 3-1 lead in the fourth thanks to a Sumter throwing error that extended the inning. Aaron Adams and Brandon Tillmon followed with RBI singles for River Bluff (18-7).
Gators coach Mark Bonnette was hoping to get a quick 1-2-3 top of the fifth, but with two outs and a runner on second, things unraveled.
Chris Crawford followed with an RBI single to cut it to 3-2. River Bluff pitcher Ryan Reynolds then got cleanup hitter Jordan Holliday to hit a slow dribbler back between the mound and first base. Reynolds fielded the ball cleanly but threw high over first base that allowed the runners to advance to second and third.
“Ryan made a great pitch against an excellent hitter and he got that kind of in between home and first base ball, and I know he would like to have that back,” Bonnette said. “Even after that play, we had a chance to make a few pitches but, to their credit, they got the big hit.”
Donnie Brownlee had a two-run single to give the Gamecocks (11-11) the lead. James Barnes followed with a triple to center field that was lost in the lights to score the final run.
“We get a little bit of help there and capitalized on it,” Sumter coach Brooks Shumake said. “We were fortunate and opportunistic for what was there for us.”
Reynolds scattered seven hits over seven innings. He allowed five runs – two earned – with four strike outs and four walks.
“He gave us a winning outing,” Bonnette said.
River Bluff stranded 11 runners.
W: Chris Crawford (3-2). L: Ryan Reynolds (4-2). Hitters: (S) Ryan Moore 2-3, Chris Crawford 2-4, James Barnes 2-2. (RB) Aaron Adams 2-4, Will Bradford 2-3, Whitt Warner 2-4, Reynolds 2-3.