Wolfpack remain strong in region

Greenbrier High School baseball has taken on a much different look this season. But a handful of games into their Region 2-AAAAA schedule, the Wolfpack are still finding success against league opponents.

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Greenbrier beat Newton 3-1 on March 20 to improve to 4-0 in region play before it played M.L. King on Tuesday. The Wolfpack squeezed in non-region victories against South Aiken and North Augusta and had won eight consecutive games entering the week.

"It's always good to start off undefeated in the region," Greenbrier senior Ben Turner said.

Turner pitched all seven innings against Newton to pick up his second win. The right-hander struck out nine.

"He did exactly what we've known he could do -- worked ahead in the count (and) threw his breaking ball for a strike," Greenbrier coach Chris Wilkins said. "He's very effective when he throws strikes consistently."

Turner escaped his only jam in the top of the sixth on a heads-up defensive call. Newton had pushed across its lone run and had runners on first and second with two outs.

Greenbrier catcher Shawn McCain picked off the Newton runner on second after just missing on an attempt earlier in the at-bat.

"They executed the play right two plays in a row," Wilkins said. "He just kind of got caught sleeping twice."

After surrendering a leadoff base hit in the top of the seventh, Turner received a visit from Wilkins at the mound and then retired three of the next four batters without another run crossing.

The complete game came during an important stretch. The Wolfpack also got a complete game from Chad Farmer on March 17 during a 2-1 region win over Luella.

Wilkins said he was glad for solid outings during the busy week, but thought his team could have hit the ball better against Newton a day after scoring 11 in a win over South Aiken.

But the Wolfpack were able to manufacture the runs they needed.

T.D. Davis drove in a run with a base hit in the first. A pair of infield hits, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly scored a Greenbrier run in the third.

"Get them on and get them in," Turner said of the Wolfpack's approach. "Score when we can."