WINFIELD — Defending Class AA baseball champion Winfield defeated Scott 10-0 in five innings on Monday in Game 1 of the Class AA Region 4 finals.
The victory moved head coach Will Isaacs’ squad to a remarkable 28-3 record on the 2024 season.
“It’s best two out of three, so all we have done is won Game 1,†Isaacs said. “It could still potentially be two more, but we were very fortunate today. We had good at-bats. We had two really nice bunts. We had some guys come through with runners on base, and that’s what you have to do in the postseason. Scott is a good team.â€
The Generals led 1-0 after two innings, but they really got going in the bottom of the third.
Winfield plated three runs in its half of the third as well as four in the home half of the fourth before scoring two more in the fifth frame to finish off the 10-0 run-rule win.
“You play good teams, and when you have scoring opportunities, you have to try to convert them,†Isaacs said. “Fortunately, tonight, we did, but it’s just one game and we have to come out with focus tomorrow like it’s 0-0.â€
Karson Frye (three RBIs) and Xavier Hensley (one RBI) led the Generals at the dish with two hits each. Withrow (three RBIs), Preston Keiffer (two RBIs), Braycen Downey (one RBI), Ean Cox (one double) and Brody Ilderton had one hit each.
Withrow was spectacular on the mound for Winfield, tossing a complete-game, one-hit shutout of the Skyhawks while striking out six batters and issuing three walks in notching the win.
The series will shift to Scott on Tuesday, and Winfield can sweep the series and punch another ticket to ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä with a win.
“We’re in a dogfight. Scott’s an excellent team, and it’s just one game,†Isaacs said. “We’re just glad we’re 1-0 today, and we want to be where our feet are tomorrow and try to be 1-0 tomorrow.â€
The Skyhawks’ only hit was a double by Hayden Johnson in the top of the second inning which sent teammate Jason Ferrell sprinting for home plate. Ferrell was thrown out at home, however.
Austin Light took the loss on the hill for Scott, pitching four frames and fanning five Generals while being tagged for eight hits, 10 runs, eight earned runs and four walks. Ryan Neal (2/3 innings, one hit, one walk) saw time in relief of Light.
Scott head coach Kris Barrett pointed out afterward that Winfield is a very good team, but he still doesn’t know that they’re really better than his squad.
Barrett also tipped his hat to Withrow for his dominant outing on the mound.
“We put some really good at-bats together against him. Their stuff fell and ours didn’t,†Barrett said. “As soon as we went down 1-0 and got that guy thrown out at home, we kind of gave up. My message to them is, ‘That’s not something we’ve done all year, you know? Why are we starting now?’â€
The Skyhawk skipper relayed another message to his seniors ahead of Tuesday’s do-or-die clash with the Generals.
“I asked the seniors, I said, ‘There’s five of you here, and you’re getting ready to play potentially the last game of your career in baseball — ever. How do you want to go out?’â€
Scott fell to 18-11 overall on the campaign.
SCOTT 000 00 — 0 1 1
WINFIELD 103 42 — 10 9 0
