Warriors whip Westwood Wildcats

The SGA Warrior baseball team traveled to Camilla March 27 to take on the Westwood Wildcats. The Warriors put an ole fashioned whipping on the Wildcats as they defeated Westwood 18-3 in three innings.

Westwood scored a run in the top of the first inning but their lead would be short lived. SGA came back and put 11 runs on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the inning. Every Warrior starter scored at least once in the inning. Big hits for the Warriors included a leadoff double by Miles Lee, a two RBI triple by DJ Simpson, and a two RBI single by Eli Bundrick.

The Warriors added three more runs in the second inning and four more runs in the third inning. Bundrick led the Warriors offensive onslaught with two hits, five RBI, and two runs scored. Simpson and Drew Bridges had two hits each. Beau Clenney got his first start on the mound for the Warriors this year and picked up the win. Clenney struck out two batters and had no walks in his three innings of work.

The Warriors traveled to Chula for a region game March 28 to face the Tift Area Panthers, the number two ranked team in the state. Tift Area was every bit as good as advertised as they defeated the Warriors 11-2. The Panthers scored a run in the first inning, two in the second, and four in the third inning to take a commanding 7-0 lead.

The Warriors got the bases loaded with one out in the fourth inning but could not push a run in. The Warriors loaded the bases again in the sixth inning when DJ Simpson led off with a single, Matthew Cleveland reach on an error, and Drew Bridges dropped down a perfect bunt single. Simpson and Cleveland scored the Warriors only runs as Clay Haire reached on an error. Simpson and Bridges led the Warriors at the plate with two hits each. Russ Williams (2-3) took the loss on the mound for SGA.

The Warriors were again on the road as they traveled over to Ashford to play the Ashford Academy Falcons March 31. The Warriors jumped out to an early lead and held on to defeat Ashford 6-4. Leadoff batter Miles Lee put SGA up 1-0 when he singled and came around to score on a Russ Williams double. Michael Fincher scored to put SGA up 2-0 in the second inning as he singled, stole second base, and scored on a double by Beau Clenney.

The Warriors added four more runs in the fourth inning. Clay Haire walked and moved to third base on a Clenney single. Lee got the suicide squeeze bunt down scoring Haire. A failed pick-off attempt by the Falcons allowed Clenney to score and moved Lee to third base. Williams doubled in Lee and came around to score on a DJ Simpson single putting SGA up 6-0.

Just when it seemed SGA was on cruise control to an easy victory, the Falcons posted a comeback. Drew Bridges (4-1) started on the mound for SGA and had pitched three perfect innings but Ashford roughed Bridges up in the fourth inning. The Falcons hit two homeruns scoring four runs to make it a 6-4 game. Russ Williams came on in relief of Bridges and shut Ashford down preserving the Warrior victory. Williams and Clenney led SGA at the plate with two hits each.

The Warriors record moves 11-5 overall and 1-2 in region play. After some time off for spring break the Warriors will return to action in Pinehurst against the number one ranked and defending state champion Fullington Academy Trojans on April 7.