LOWER DEALS AT HIGH LEVEL; RAIDERS SALUTE GENERAL BROWN

MYRTLE BEACH, SC– It didn’t take long for South Range to remind everyone why they’re a dangerous lineup from top to bottom. The Raiders took over Thursday’s matchup against General Brown with a monster third inning and never looked back, cruising to a 12-1 run-rule win at the Grand Strand Classic.

From the opening pitch, South Range came out with intent. In the top of the first, Brennen Klasovsky got the Raiders on the board with a deep fly to center that allowed Julian Tranovich to tag and score from third. That early 1-0 lead set the tone.

The Raiders opened the floodgates in the second inning. After an error and a passed ball moved runners up, Nico Papuga grounded out to bring home another run. Then, with two outs and a runner on, Dylan Smesko drove a shot into the left-center gap and never hit the brakes—motoring around for an inside-the-park home run that brought the dugout to its feet and gave South Range a 4-0 edge.

But the third inning is where things got completely out of hand.

South Range sent 11 hitters to the plate and racked up seven runs on six hits, forcing General Brown’s starter out of the game. Gavin Hiscox started the party by putting a ground ball in play to score a run. Papuga followed with a hard-hit RBI single, then Jake Shumate punched one through the right side to score another.

With two on, Lincoln Cleevely stepped up and hammered a bases-clearing single into right-center, driving in three and blowing the game wide open at 10-0. Not to be left out, Gaven Nagy added an RBI single of his own to cap the scoring at 11-0.

The offense was relentless, but South Range’s arms and defense were just as sharp.

Wilson Lower was dominant on the hill. The right-hander pounded the zone all game, striking out nine while walking just three across five strong innings. He allowed only three hits and one earned run, a fifth-inning RBI single by General Brown’s Doldo that briefly slowed the momentum but couldn’t stop it.

South Range’s defense was rock-solid, making all the routine plays and flashing some glove work behind Lower. Nagy was also a menace on the bases, swiping four bags as part of a seven-steal performance for the Raiders.

In total, South Range racked up 12 hits, with Cleevely (2-for-3, 3 RBI), Papuga (2-for-4, 2 RBI), and Smesko (2-for-3, 2 RBI, HR) all leading the charge. Tranovich and Andrew Brian each collected a pair of hits as well, keeping the lineup steady from top to bottom.

General Brown mustered three hits and turned a double play defensively, but couldn’t keep pace with the Raiders’ offensive onslaught.

Now 4-0 on the week in Myrtle Beach, South Range will look to keep rolling when they take on Jackson next in what could be their toughest test of the trip.