BASEBALL: Rosewood plays consistent against SC

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on March 24, 2017 9:59 AM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- Start hot, stay hot.

Such was life in the batters' box Thursday for Rosewood, whose quick-twitching work at the plate produced 14 base hits and led to an express-lane inspired, 11-5 victory over Carolina 1-A Conference foe Spring Creek at "The Swamp."

After loading the bases in its half of the opening frame, Rosewood catcher Derek Neal began the scoring spree by torch-lighting a Christian Yarbrough offering down the left-field chalk, clearing the bases and setting a tone that would ring clear throughout.

The quick burst -- part of a contact-hitting symposium that yielded 14 base knocks and ran through a quartet of SC pitchers -- was lauded by skipper Jason King.

"It's what we talk about every day," King said. "Different situations at the plate, making adjustments -- we're getting better."

Indeed so.

The Eagles plated three more in the third inning, when consecutive walks and a sacrifice fly by shortstop Chance Howard made the score 5-0 -- which was all the support needed by the duo of Jonathan Peacock and reliever Tanner Bradley.

Peacock was effective early in his outing, pitching around and by a talented Spring Creek lineup that entered the contest having won three consecutive ball games.

He cruised through the opening frames until the fourth, when an error and a base hit by Kaden Geelen morphed into a two-RBI blast to left field by SC first baseman Josh Lebron.

Rosewood (6-2 overall, 4-0 CC) replied in kind, however, plating two more runs in its half of the fifth, making the score 9-2 and removing much of the air from a shivering Gator fan base.

But the hosts refused to go quietly.

SC's small-ball attack spawned life in the fifth, touching Peacock for three runs on as many hits. Following consecutive RBI by Geelen and Casey Whitfield, the right-hander was chased to the dugout in lieu of Bradley, whose tidy relief stint promptly closed the proceedings.

Over the next 2 1/3 innings, the shifty senior dialed command to all portions of the zone, allowing no hits, no runs and no walks to pick up the save.

Ball game -- Rosewood 11, Spring Creek 5.

Rosewood was led offensively by Neal, who finished 3-for-5 with three RBI. Max White also performed ably in the box, going 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI. Bradley capped a stellar outing by going 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI.

In addition to Lebron, SC was paced by USC-Beaufort signee Geelen, who finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Rosewood entertains Carolina 1-A foe Neuse Charter at home next Tuesday. Spring Creek, now 4-6 overall and 3-2 in matters of league significance, faces James Kenan in a neutral-site contest.