Alex Love
Greer National teammates hoist the trophy after winning the Dixie Youth League District Championships Thursday night.
Alex Love
The scoreboard tells the story for the 12-under Greer Nationals.
“It’s unbelievable and it’s an accomplishment all for the kids,” Greer Coach Tommy Stanton said.
“This is a group of kids that never quit, they never think they can lose and I wish I could say as a coach there’s something I did for that, but I didn’t it’s just the integrity of the team.”
Greer swept through the tournament undefeated, beating Mauldin, Liberty, Walhalla, Six Mile, Belton and Seneca.
“I don’t know how to explain it, but this is a group of kids that never quit,” Stanton said. “It was a long week, six games in six days is long, but they just kept battling. Sometimes in baseball not necessarily the best team wins in these tournaments, but I think it did this time.”
Greer wasted no time getting started against Seneca. Jensen Howard, Matthew Harris and Brock Bridwell scored in the bottom of the first inning for a 3-0 lead.
Drew Culpepper and Riley Stanton scored in the bottom of the second for a 5-0 lead.
Sawyer Nolan and James Shennan added runs in the fourth, 7-0, and Howard, Harris and Bridwell scored Greer’s final runs in the fifth inning.
Howard earned the pitching decision holding the Bobcats to three hits and struck out four batters.
Seneca made it into the championship after coming back from a 12-0 deficit to Six Mile winning 13-12 on Wednesday night.
Both Greer and Seneca qualify for the State Championships that will be held in Sumter, July 15-21.
“I think it’s going to be hard because these are the best teams in the state,” Stanton said. “We got two or three weeks to keep preparing, I think we’re going to get better and better.”
