4A Round 1: Ragsdale at Providence

Two top arms squared off in round one of the 4A West Playoffs between Ragsdale and Providence. Michael Forret was on the mound for Providence and Win Scott took the rubber for Ragsdale. The two engaged in a pitchers duel quickly. Forret, a 2022 ECU commit, got a big strikeout in the first to end the inning after an error found a Ragsdale base runner at third. Scott, a 2021 NC State commit, started his night by punching out two in the bottom half of the inning. Ragsdale then pushed across a run in the second inning after an error. Scott jumped on the momentum his offense gave him and made quick work of the Panthers for the next two innings.

Forret struggled to get ahead of hitters early, but his electric arsenal kept the Ragsdale hitters off the board. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Providence had a chance to tie the game and take the lead with the bases loaded and two outs. Scott showed tremendous composure and got a huge strikeout looking to deny the threat.

 Eli Jerzembeck, a 2022 South Carolina commit, entered in the 6th with two outs which ended Forret’s day. Forret gave up no earned runs on 6 hits in his 5.2 innings of work. Jerzembeck dominated in relief tossing 4.1 scoreless innings on two hits. Nick Horkey came on in the 7th with two outs for Ragsdale. Scott’s final line consisted of an impressive outing going 6.2 innings with 1 run allowed and 4 hits.

Horkey avoided danger in the 8th when he found the bases loaded with one out. He recorded an out after Providence attempted a squeeze with two strikes and the ball ended up rolling foul. A flyout then kept the game alive. Jerzembeck gave up a hit to sophomore pinch hitter Chase Miller to lead off the 9th inning. Following the Miller single, Jerzembeck recorded a strikeout, and Luke Wolff showed off his arm as he delivered a strike down to second to throw out Miller who was the go ahead run. A walk, and a Julian Abreu single to right center pushed the go ahead run to third with two outs. Jerzembeck responded to the Ragsdale pressure with a strikeout to end the inning.

Herkey worked a quick inning in the ninth and was helped out by an amazing diving play in right field by Evan Cullis. Jerzembeck seemed to only grow stronger as he lasted longer in his outing. He picked up two strikeouts in the top of the 10th to end the inning and give his team a chance to walk it off.

In the bottom half of the tenth, Jeremy Beamon led off with a double down the left field line. Ragsdale then made a move to intentionally walk Luke Wolff bringing up Tommy Walker. Walker laid down a sacrifice bunt that was thrown away down the first base line. Beamon raced around third on the play to score and win the game for Providence. The Panthers now move on to the second round to play Lake Norman on Thursday at home.