ELIZABETHTOWN – A controversial play that could have ended an Elizabethtown victory continued and resulted in a 6-5 Waccamaw Middle School Conference baseball victory for West Columbus Thursday.
With Elizabethtown leading 5-4 in the final inning, a 2-out single and an error placed WC runners on 1st and 2nd base. On the next play the Cougar third baseman fielded a ground ball and appeared to tag the runner coming from second for the final out, but the umpire ruled he missed the tag. The fielder then threw wildly to second base and the throw went into center field and allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to score.
“He tagged him in the back,” said Cougar Coach Larry Williams. “The kid stumbled from the tag and almost fell down.”
West Columbus turned a pair of errors into a 2-0 1st inning lead. C.J. McCracken walked and circled the bases on a pair of stolen bases in the 1st inning to trim the margin to 2-1. A walk and a pair of stolen bases produced a 2nd inning run for the visitors and padded their lead to 3-1.
Aiden Williams, J.D. McArthur, Adonis Smith, Keon Whittington and Chace Butler drew consecutive walks to begin the Cougar 2nd inning. Williams, McArthur, Smith and Whittington all scored as Elizabethtown jumped in front 5-3.
West Columbus added a 4th inning run to trim the margin to 5-4.
Colton Daly slammed a 4th inning double for Elizabethtown. Daly started on the mound and pitched 4 innings, allowing 4 runs on a hit, 4 walks and 2 hit batters, while striking out 9 batters. Braylon Cromartie relieved and worked the final 2 innings on the hill, allowing 2 runs on 1 hit and 2 walks while striking out two.
The Cougars completed their season with a 2-3 record.
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