Fury take region command with win at LDHS
Laurens second-baseman Zay Pulley (10) waits for the throw at second as a Fountain Inn baserunner attempts to steal.
Fountain Inn junior right-hander Brayden Passmore won a pitcher’s duel Tuesday night, beating host Laurens 1-0 and helping the No. 1-ranked Fury firmly into the driver’s seat for the Region 1-4A championship.
LDHS pitchers Grayson Ledford and Caleb Rice did their job shutting down the Fury offense, but the Raiders’ bats floundered as Passmore struck out eight and walked one in the complete-game shutout.
Getting the start, Ledford allowed three hits, struck out six and walked four in 4 1/3 innings, and Rice closed out the game with 2 2/3 hitless innings with four strikeouts and a walk.
Tuesday night’s victory gives the Fury (15-3 overall, 7-0 region) a three-game lead over Laurens (9-6, 7-3).
“We didn’t have a good approach – we were swinging at balls. Our swings were long,” said Raiders head coach Tori Patterson. “I don’t think we were ready to hit, but (Passmore) is a good pitcher. I want to give him credit. We haven’t seen a good pitcher like that in about two weeks. . . . We’ve gone from seeing 75 (m.p.h.) to seeing 85 tonight and he was able to throw strikes.”
Patterson said he believes the Raiders needed a sweep of the Fury to continue in the region championship hunt. Now, he is hoping to take the next two games while getting help with an upset win by Emerald or Wren, the two region teams remaining on the Fury’s schedule.
“We can’t let it get too big, but to win here on the road in a tough place to play in Game 1 (of the series) is huge,” said FIHS head coach Blake Roland.
The Fury scored the game’s only run in the first inning, and Passmore made it stand up.
FIHS’s Miles Barbrey reached on a walk with one out as Ledford walked two in the first inning.
Barbrey stole third with two outs and scored on a throwing error by catcher Bennett Edwards, a Georgia Southern commit, attempting the put-out of Barbrey at third.
From there, both teams struggled at the plate, something both teams want to change as the series continues.
FIHS and LDHS have a quick turnaround as the series shifts to FIHS Wednesday. The series finale is set for Friday. First pitch for both games is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
