By: Karen Willdermood
When the playoff schedule was released Tuesday afternoon, nobody would have given the #4 seed Ridge View a chance to beat #1 Lexington. But a seventh inning rally Thursday night changed those odds when the Blazers upset the defending State Champions 4-2 on their home turf, proving again that every underdog has its day.
Marshall Pratte opened the game when his solo shot to left field gave the Wildcats the early lead. Pratte later drove in Jared Kirven who had reached on a double to take the 2-0 lead in the third.
By the end of the fifth inning, Lexington’s starting pitcher Cordes Baker had struck out 9 of the 18 batters he had faced.
The Blazers remained scoreless until the sixth inning when starting pitcher Chris Moody singled up the middle, stole second, and then advanced on the catcher’s errant throw. Logan Sherry followed with a RBI groundout to make the score to 2-1.
Baker gave the Wildcats six outstanding innings before folding in the seventh. Ridge View caught fire and blazed their way to a three-run rally. With James Sims and Bryce Patrick both on from base on balls, Marion Brown hit a high chopper loading the bases. Will O’Brien followed with another high chopper to bring home Sims. Chris Moody drove home Patrick and a fielder’s choice brought in Brown, increasing the lead to 4-2.
Overall, the course of the evening was a battle between starting pitchers. Both aces pitched complete games. Baker struck out 12 with two walks and Moody struck out 10 with one walk and a hit by pitch.
Continuing in the playoffs, Ridge View will face Goose Creek on Saturday game. Lexington will face the Beaufort.
RV - 4
Lex - 2
WP – Chris Moody
LP – Cordes Baker
When the playoff schedule was released Tuesday afternoon, nobody would have given the #4 seed Ridge View a chance to beat #1 Lexington. But a seventh inning rally Thursday night changed those odds when the Blazers upset the defending State Champions 4-2 on their home turf, proving again that every underdog has its day.
Marshall Pratte opened the game when his solo shot to left field gave the Wildcats the early lead. Pratte later drove in Jared Kirven who had reached on a double to take the 2-0 lead in the third.
By the end of the fifth inning, Lexington’s starting pitcher Cordes Baker had struck out 9 of the 18 batters he had faced.
The Blazers remained scoreless until the sixth inning when starting pitcher Chris Moody singled up the middle, stole second, and then advanced on the catcher’s errant throw. Logan Sherry followed with a RBI groundout to make the score to 2-1.
Baker gave the Wildcats six outstanding innings before folding in the seventh. Ridge View caught fire and blazed their way to a three-run rally. With James Sims and Bryce Patrick both on from base on balls, Marion Brown hit a high chopper loading the bases. Will O’Brien followed with another high chopper to bring home Sims. Chris Moody drove home Patrick and a fielder’s choice brought in Brown, increasing the lead to 4-2.
Overall, the course of the evening was a battle between starting pitchers. Both aces pitched complete games. Baker struck out 12 with two walks and Moody struck out 10 with one walk and a hit by pitch.
Continuing in the playoffs, Ridge View will face Goose Creek on Saturday game. Lexington will face the Beaufort.
RV - 4
Lex - 2
WP – Chris Moody
LP – Cordes Baker