The Dillon Wildcats struggled against strong teams in the opening week of varsity baseball action.

On Monday, the Wildcats were shut out 9-0 by the South Florence Bruins, and on Wednesday, the Wildcats fell 10-3 to the Latta Vikings in Latta.

Omar McCollum went 2-for-3 with two doubles to lead the Wildcats at bat against the Vikings. Patrick Herring went 1-for-3 for a home run with two RBI and Kaleb Page went 1-for-3.

Blake Deese pitched 5.1 innings for six hits, five runs, three earned runs, five walks, and three outs. Austin Moody pitched 1.1 innings for two hits, five runs, two walks, and two outs; and Joseph Scott pitched relief for one hit.

On Friday, the Wildcats hosted South Florence in a rematch, falling 9-4 to the Bruins.

The Bruins took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first and picked up another run in the second. South Florence scored again in the third, and loaded the bases before the Wildcats turned a double at home and first to end the inning.

Dillon’s Billy Ray McGirt and Duncan Callahan both walked to open the bottom of the third, and Patrick Herring singled to center to pick up both runners to leave the Wildcats trailing 3-2. Neither team could score in the fourth, but the Bruins broke loose for six runs in the top of the fifth to pull ahead 9-2. In the bottom of the sixth, Dillon’s Austin Moody hit a solo home run to leave Dillon down 9-3, and Gunnar Grossetti picked up an RBI on a grounder for the final score of 9-4.

Will Hardee earned the win on the mound for the Bruins, pitching five innings for three earned runs, four hits, and seven outs. Kaleb Page took the loss for the Wildcats, pitching three innings for three runs, one walk, and two outs.

Austin Blakely led the Bruins at bat, going 2-for-4 with one RBI, and Keyshawn Bacote went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Patrick Lovelace also picked up two RBI, going 1-for-4.

Austin Moody went 2-for-3 with a home run and one RBI to lead the Wildcats at bat, and Patrick Herring went 1-for-4 with two RBI.

South Florence improved to 5-1, while the Wildcats slipped to 0-3 in the regular season.

Dillon is scheduled to host Loris tonight to open region play, and on Wednesday the Wildcats will host East Clarendon in a non-conference game.
Game time is set for 6:30 p.m., so make plans to attend to support our Wildcats!

Photos by Johnnie Daniels/THE DILLON HERALD. Click the images below to view at full size!