MARION -- Still trying to find solid performers in a variety of combinations, Marion Post 5 Coach Don Cribb wasn't taking much of a gamble to try some new faces against a Loris club Marion had defeated 12-0 . . . that was until Loris showed up ready to play.
After the visitors batted once, Marion was down 2-0. Loris would add a run each inning for the next three.
Three Marion errors helped Post 41 keep the lead until the 5th inning, when Marion found their bats and then put in Daniel Huggins to slow the Loris run machine. "Josh Rogers was a pleasant surprise for us tonight, especially his bat when our other hitters started out slow," Cribb said. "I thought Kwinton Smith looked good too and has made steady improvements over each game.”
Loris pitcher Zack Faircloth kept post 5 at bay, but when he ran out of gas, power hitters like Jonathan Elliott and CJ Hopkins made his replacement, Justin Prince, cough up four runs. By the time catcher Abe Watts took to the mound, it was too late. Marion would tag him for four more runs to finish the series sweep. Marion will take a day off before traveling to Conway for an urgent region matchup on Friday at 7 p.m.
The squad followed up with a 7-1 victory at Conway Friday.
Solicitor visits Marion home opener
Marion Junior Legion's home opener lived up to the hype, with Twelfth Curcuit Solicitor Ed Clemments III. providing the National Anthem on election day, a host of veterans on hand to see the festivities, and a 5-4 heartbreaker to add to the legend of a strong rivalry.
Baserunning errors were a big part of Marion coming up short, stranding or losing at least seven baserunners tonight in a close game where they did feature strong pitching.
Jonathan Elliott was almost flawless on the mound, giving up one big homerun to Austin King for three runs. With that pitch back, the final would have been 4-2 Marion. Elliott even helped his cause with a solo homerun of his own, and left the mound at a dead even tie (see picture). Kwinton Smith came in to close the game out, and with two outs, chunked a wild pitch that allowed the Florence runner to score from third base.
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