Camden comeback falls short against Bartlett Yancy as Bruins lose 8-6

CAMDEN — Bartlett Yancy High School broke open a 1-1 game with six runs in the top of the 4th inning and then withstood a late Camden comeback to defeat the Bruins by the final score of 8-6.

The loss on Friday night, played mostly in a drizzling rain, came in the second round of the 2A NCHSSA state baseball playoffs. The Bruins finish their season with a final record of 17-6.

The Buccaneers, with a large contingent of fans that made the 4-hour trip, opened the scoring in the top half of the first inning. With one out and a runner on first base, Gavin Dodson struck a booming triple to the fence in right-center off Camden starting pitcher Cole Roberts. The lefty junior retired the next two hitters to prevent any further damage.

Camden would even the score with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Bradley Elias would open the frame with a sharply hit double down the left field line off Yancy starter Connor Solomon.

Dylan Jones was then hit by a pitch and both runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by T.J. Norvell. Shawn Hoff earned a base on balls, and then Solomon hit his second batter of the inning, Adam Gregory, to force home a run, tying the score.

Up came Roberts who drilled a hard grounder, but right at Buccaneer second baseman Nate Crumpton, who flipped to short and on to first for the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

“That was a big play in the game,” said Camden coach Hunter Lowe. “We were about to take the momentum. We had flipped the lineup and had our best hitters coming up. Cole is one of our fastest runners and they just nipped him at first. Instead of a run scoring groundout that would have given us the lead, we ended up with just the one run. We might have had a big inning.”

The score remained the same until Yancy came to bat in the 4th. Roberts struck out the first hitter, but then two singles and a walk loaded the bases. Buccaneer shortstop Chandler Wood lofted a long fly ball to right field. With a swirling wind blowing, the ball kept carrying and fell beyond the reach of the Bruin right fielder for a two-run double.

After an infield hit knocked in a third run, the Yancy runners on the corners executed a double-steal to bring home the fourth run in the rally. Roberts induced a pop out to third for the second out, but then Buccaneer cleanup hitter Joshua Smith unloaded a long drive to the wall in center. That blow knocked in another run and was followed by a single that scored Smith.

Norvell replaced Roberts on the mound and struck out the next hitter, but the damage was done. Bartlett Yancy led 7-1.

Camden got one run back in their half of the 4th. Two bases on balls were sandwiched around a popout, and the visitors made a pitching change.

Gregory greeted new hurler Dodson with a base knock to short left field. However, the Bruins could not get the big hit with the bases full. A short fly was caught in shallow left field with no advance. Robbie Beckner walked to force home a lone run, but Wesley Hyatt’s long fly ball was tracked down in deep center to end the inning.

Norvell was outstanding in relief for the Bruins. The senior would pitch 3⅓ innings in relief, giving up just one hit and one unearned run while striking out seven batters. He gave his team a chance to come back, and they nearly accomplished the task.

The first four batters in the bottom of the sixth inning all reached safely for Camden. The big hit was a bases-loaded lined single to center by Roberts that plated two runs.

At that point, Yancy went to their third pitcher, Crumpton, who surrendered a sacrifice fly, and a run-scoring groundout, but that was all. He retired six of the seven hitters he faced to close out the game.

Despite the disappointing end to the season, it was another successful run for the Bruins who notched a come-from-behind playoff win against Southwest Onslow. Playoff baseball is becoming the norm for the Bruin program.

“We are building a culture here,” Lowe said after the game. “These players take it all the way to the finish line. They have developed attitudes and habits that will serve them far beyond baseball.”