Top ranked Rebels sluggish in 2-1 road playoff win

Southern Sports & Travel

Top ranked Central Private began their quest for a twelfth state championship on Tuesday night as they traveled to Columbia to take on eighth ranked Columbia Academy.

Central Private ace Brennan Fucich struck out 10 and allowed just 3 hits and seniors Brad Miller and Blake Benoit each hit homers to propel the Rebels to a hard fought 2-1 win to take a 1-0 series lead.

The Rebels had trouble early on adjusting the Columbia southpaw Logan Cooke’s change up as the junior went the distance and scattered 7 hits, allowing 2 runs and striking out three.

After leaving two men on over the first three innings Central Private got a spark from senior Blake Benoit who sent a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall in the top of the fourth inning to give the Rebels the first lead of the evening at 1-0.

Kris Tamplet would reach base on a two-out single but was stranded to end the Rebel’s half of the inning.

Columbia showed why they’re a top ten team as the Cougars would tie the contest in bottom of the inning.

Drew McElroy sent a 0-1 pitch into right field for a lead-off single and would advance to second on a fielder’s choice.

McElroy raced for third base on teammate Dylan Pounds’ ground out and would score to tie the game at 1-1 on a Rebel error as the throw to tag McElroy at third went awry.

Will Raybourn would extend the inning with an infield hit but that would be Columbia’s last base-runner as Brennan Fucich was gaining steam.

Central Private would break the tie in the top of the fifth inning when senior Brad Miller sent a Logan Cooke two-out fast ball well over the center field wall to give the Rebel’s the lead at 2-1.

Brennan Fucich retired the last ten Cougar batters he faced en-route to nailing the door shut on Columbia and improving his season mark to 7-1.

Central Private improves to 24-4 while Columbia slips to 16-9.

The series now shifts back to Central Private on Friday.

.Post Game with Central Private Head Coach Jason Kinchen