Published Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:43 PM
Updated Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:44 PM
Summerville wins district championship
The Green Wave surfed the momentum from an explosive fourth inning to win the District 8 baseball championship Wednesday.
There was no score in the first three innings of Summerville’s game with Sumter, but then things got interesting. Sumter scored with a solo homerun in the top of the fourth by USC-bound Matt Price. Three at bats later, Bruce Caldwell scored on a double pickle that was botched by Summerville.
However, the 2-0 Gamecock lead became insignificant in the bottom of the frame as the Wave scored 10 runs on five hits, four walks and three Sumter errors. Branden Millhouse, Tyler Fletcher, Aaron Bouronich and Grant Williamson all had two RBIs in the bottom of the frame. Jacob Webb and Brett Wheeler added an RBI single each as the Wave took a 10-2 lead out of the inning en route to a 10-6 victory.
“In this game, that is the last thing I expected,” Sumter coach Brooks Shumake said. “We don’t play baseball like that. Anyone that follows us knows that we don’t make that many errors in one inning. But overall, I’m proud of this group. They have been a team all year and listened to everything we’ve told them.”
Summerville improved to 18-7 on the year while Sumter fell to 21-8 and was eliminated from the playoffs. The Wave will host District 7 champion Stratford Saturday. The last two times Sumter and Summerville have met in the Class AAAA baseball playoffs, the winner went on to win the state championship. Summerville coach Burt Bazzle says even though his team lost to Stratford in the regular season, he likes his chances.
“I think we have as good a shot as anybody,” he said. “We’ve been hitting the ball well and we did again tonight. With Stratford, it’s usually a battle. I think the key will be getting a good start and if we do, to capitalize on it because we didn’t the last time.”
Bouronich pitched a complete game to pick up the win Wednesday. Millhouse and Wheeler led all batters, going 2-for-3 at bat. Fletcher also had two hits in four at bats.
Price suffered the loss, but also led the Sumter batters, going 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs. Tyler Smith and Michael Blackmon were both 1-for-3 with an RBI.