HARTSVILLE – In less than a 24-hour period, the Catawba Ridge Copperheads were able to accomplish a rare feat by winning two state championships.
The Catawba Ridge baseball team beat the North Myrtle Beach Chiefs 7-3 in game three at Jimmy White Park in Hartsville Friday night to win the 4A state baseball championship. The state clinching game came about 22 hours after the school’s first state title was clinched by the softball team in Florence on Thursday, May 25.
The Copperheads finished the season 29-7 in just its fourth year of existence as they have developed a top program in such a small timeframe. Catawba Ridge head coach Stas Swerdzewski said that it is trickle down effect at the school.
“At Catawba Ridge High School, and it’s not just baseball, it’s across all athletics, we have a system in place that we feel gets our players ready to play,” he said. “It goes down to the athletic training staff. We have a strength and conditioning coach that has been huge for us. There is a system there that allows us to be successful. I couldn’t be more happy with how things work out.”
The Chiefs came out strong and scored with one out one a two-run home run by Luke Roupe in the top of the first inning. North Myrtle Beach kept the pressure on starter Jake McCoy as he tried to find his groove.
In the bottom of the second, Sam Schwamb led things off for the Copperheads with a single up the middle. Britton Nash then walked and a sac bunt by Ben Wilson moving the base runners into scoring position. Ethan Solnick scored on a single by Brennan Helms to give Catawba Ridge their first run. A passed ball tied the game at 2-2 scoring Nash later in the inning.
Back-to-back errors in the top of the third inning allowed the Chiefs to take the lead. The Copperheads were able to refocus and get out of the inning without allowing another run.
Owen Noonan walked to open the bottom of the third inning for Catawba Ridge and made it to third base after a steal and sacrifice. He would be driven in by Jackson Mullen to again tie the game. Nash then gave the Copperheads the lead by driving in Mullen to make it 4-3. Mullen went 1-2 in the game with an RBI and Nash went 1-1 with an RBI.
The Chiefs were able to get timely hits, but were not as aggressive on the base paths as Catawba Ridge.
McCoy seemed to find a rhythm as the game wore on letting his defense behind him do much of the work. North Myrtle Beach threatened in both the fourth and fifth innings getting a runner to third, but Catawba Ridge was able to get out of each inning without allowing a run.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Copperheads had a big inning to open the game. McCoy reached on an error and then Mullen walked. Nash then came up big with a sacrifice fly scoring McCoy and Wilson followed with a single to score Mullen. Helms kept things rolling with a single to score Wilson and give Catawba Ridge a 7-3 lead. Helms led Catawba Ridge at the plate going 2-3 with two RBIs in the game.
“The game was a microcosm of how the season has been for us this year,” Swerdzewski said. “We never quit. We always keep fighting. We stayed the course. We knew it was going to be a long ball game. I have to give credit to our guys for battling through when we got down early.”
McCoy got the win on the mound going six innings and allowing three runs on six hits, while walking one and striking out nine. McCoy said he knew early on this season that this year’s Copperheads team was a special group.
“I knew we were really, really talented,” he said. “I am not going to lie. I was scared going in because we have some young guys. All these guys have stepped up and done an amazing job. We graduated 11 seniors last year, so I was nervous about coming in (to the season). I am super proud of this team and I knew we were something special early on.”
Swerdzewski said McCoy’s performance Friday night helped to power the Copperheads to the state title.
“He has been great for us all year,” he said. “This is the way you want to go out. We are going to miss him next year. He is one of the guys on the team that stepped up for us.”
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
