Andrew Jackson baseball takes emotional series opener over Gray Collegiate
Playing in its second straight state championship, Andrew Jackson used that experience to its advantage in the opening game of the Class 2A championship series.
Seniors Ashton Phillips and Kyle Percival came up with big performances in the 8-4 victory Saturday over Gray Collegiate in front of a raucous crowd.
AJ leads the best-of-three series 1-0, with Game 2 set for the Midlands Sports Complex in West Columbia at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
“I think it is really important, that experience,” AJ coach Mike Lucas said. “We were relaxed tonight and having fun. Also, playing at home helped.”
The Volunteers lost to Legion Collegiate in three games in last year’s championship series, but have been ranked No. 1 all season. AJ improved to 31-1 after Saturday’s victory and is trying to win the school’s first baseball championship and first by a boys sports team since the 1980 basketball squad won it all.
AJ fed off its home crowd, some of which started arriving more than two hours before the first pitch. Following the game, most of the crowd lingered around the field with players signing autographs for kids.
While the Volunteers looked the more experienced team, the War Eagles showed signs of a team that was making its first state championship appearances. Gray starting pitcher Brent Stukes, who pitched a no-hitter earlier in the playoffs, walked eight batters and the War Eagles committed three errors in the field and weren’t as sharp as they have been through the postseason.
“The stage tonight was pretty big,” Gray coach Charles Assey Sr. said. “This is the first time at Gray to be on a stage like this. I think it was a little much for some of them. … But now, we got the experience to play on this stage. Now, can we improve from now until Tuesday? It is strictly up to our players.”
Anndrew Jackson made Gray pay for the mistakes, especially Phillips, a Spartanburg Methodist signee. He went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, including a three-run double in the second to put the Volunteers up 4-0.
Gray used its bunting and speed to creep back in the game. The War Eagles scored twice in the third and then two more times in the fourth to pull within 5-4 after five innings.
But AJ put the game away with Skyler Hegler’s two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Percival, a North Carolina signee, picked up the win after striking out 12 in six innings. He came out to pitch the seventh and that’s when things became heated between the two coaching staffs.
Gray Collegiate had Percival at 110 pitches, which is the limit set by the S.C. High School League for how many a pitcher can throw in a game. Andrew Jackson had him at 105 and was going to let him pitch to one more batter.
Assey and Lucas and the two coaching staffs exchanged words. Assey said he didn’t like the fact he was accused of fabricating the pitch count. Gray Collegiate keeps track of pitch count on the Gamechanger App, which is used by many schools across the country.
“Every time you push the button, it goes electronically. You can’t fabricate Gamechanger,” Assey Sr. said. “To be accused of doing that is totally ridiculous.”
Typically, the home team’s pitch count is the one used if there is a dispute. Rather than keep arguing, Lucas opted to take Percival out of the game.
“I have a lot of respect for coach Assey and it was an in-game moment,” Lucas said.
Savion Smith, Gavin Crede and Peyton Starkey each had two hits to lead the War Eagles.
WP: Trey Percival LP: Brent Stukes Hitters: GC: Savion Smith 2-4; Gavin Crede 2-4 RBI; Peyton Starkey 2-4. AJ: Bryce Helms 2-3; Ashton Phillips 3-4 4 RBI; Skyler Hegler 1-3 HR, 2 RBI
SC Championship Scoreboard
Class 5A
Fort Mill 6, Berkeley 2, FM leads series 1-0
Class 4A
Eastside at Hartsville, ppd, to Monday
Class 3A
Oceanside Collegiate 7, Chapman, OC leads series 1-0
Class 2A
Andrew Jackson 8, Gray Collegiate 4, AJ leads series 1-0
Class A
Southside Christian 13, Johnsonville 3, SC leads series 1-0
This story was originally published May 21, 2022 at 11:37 PM.
