Lions roar into 2nd round
For a while Friday at Jay D. Kynerd Field, the PA system was silent, not working.
That was OK. The Briarwood Christian School bats made enough noise.
The Class 5A top-ranked Lions (26-3) drilled No. 10 Headland (19-12) in the first two games of the best-of-three series, 13-1 and 13-0.
“We had worked all week on the quick hands drill with the pitching machine, and that really helped out,” said Briarwood right fielder Carson Eddy. “We’ve been hitting the ball well. Tonight, our approach was just really good.”
Briarwood got complete games from both its starting pitchers, Logan Whittlesey and Sam Strickland.
“They’ve just been unreal all year, and they’re top-notch pitchers,” Eddy said.
Game 1: Briarwood 13, Headland 1
Briarwood made quick work of Headland ace Chase Wilkerson, a Florida State commit, in Game 1.
The Lions scored in all four innings they batted and mercy-ruled Headland, 13-1. Logan Whittlesey got the win, pitching five innings and allowing just one run on five hits. He struck out two.
Carson Eddy paced Briarwood Christian with a 2-for-4 effort, including a two-run double in the second inning and a bases-clearing triple in the fourth. Eddy also scored three runs. Hudson Hartsfield was a perfect 4-for-4, including two RBIs and two runs scored.
Cole Steadman had two hits and drove in two, and Sam Strickland was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored.
For Headland, Wilkerson lasted just 2 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and seven runs (five earned). He struck out five Lions.
Headland’s lone run came on an RBI groundout in the fifth inning.
Game 2: Briarwood 13, Headland 0
Game 2 was much of the same for the Lions.
Briarwood Christian plated five runs in each of the fifth and seventh innings to put the game away late.
Eddy finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Hartsfield was 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Strickland, in addition to his complete game win, was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Steadman also contributed two RBIs.
Briarwood takes on the winner of the Faith Academy-Marbury series next weekend.
“With our pitching staff, and if we hit the ball like that, we can win this thing,” Eddy said. “I just know that our goal is to win it.”