Finn Boyles and Nic Farrugia combined on a five-inning no-hitter, and Bluffton American’s offense exploded late for a 10-0 win Saturday over Greenwood to open its run in the 2021 Dixie Youth Baseball Minors state tournament at Union’s Timken Sports Complex.
Both teams had opportunities to find the scoreboard in the early innings, as Bluffton American left six runners in scoring position over the first four frames while Greenwood stranded two. The Lowco squad’s best chance came in the fourth with the bases loaded and just one out before a runner was cut down at the plate attempting to score on a wild pitch and a strikeout kept the contest scoreless.
YOUTH BASEBALL COVERAGE PRESENTED BY
Farrugia struck out the side in the top of the fifth, and the Bluffton American All-Stars did the rest with their bats, rattling off 10 runs on seven hits and five walks in the bottom half capped off by a Zack Szypczak game-clinching base on balls to lock down the run-rule triumph.
It was a marvelous performance on the mound, as Boyles racked up six strikeouts over three innings while Farrugia added five over the final two frames to complete a combined no-hitter. Farrugia was also spectacular at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI. Szypczak and Caleb Malphrus went 2-for-2 and drove in a pair each, while Boyles and Nicholas Carpenter added two hits each.
Bluffton American advances to the winner’s bracket and will face Sumter American on Sunday at 5:30 p.m.
By Wes Kerr
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