Gamecocks win Forest Acres Classic
March 28, 2008 • Baseball
By Michael Orr

Photo by Jim Marczesky A.C.Flora second baseman Duy Phan leaps high to grab a throw as a Sumter runner slides in.

A.C. Flora managed just two hits while the Sumter offense battered Falcon pitching in a 13- 0 rout in the championship game of the Forest Acres Classic on March 28 at Falcon Field. Tyler Smith led the assault for the Gamecocks with a towering home run to centerfield and five runs batted in on the night.

Sumter controlled the ballgame from its earliest moments pouring in four runs in the first inning. Smith's home run drove in three runs after A.C. Flora pitcher Will Freeman gave up a single and hit a batter early in the inning. Steven Stafford doubled off of the left field wall to drive in another run giving the Gamecocks a 4- 0 lead.

The second inning made the first look enjoyable for the Falcons as Sumter batted around and added five more runs. After getting two ground outs to open the inning, Falcon pitching allowed a walk, four doubles and two singles before a pop out to left field ended the inning. Smith drove in two more runs and Stafford, Steven Curtis and Tony Micklon each added to the growing Gamecock lead with RBI hits. Flora's Robert Gibbes did send a double to centerfield to give the Falcons one of their two hits on the night.

Mercifully, Sumter only drove in one run in the third inning after two walks put a runner in scoring position. Flora forced a double play ground ball and for the first time looked to be comfortable pitching and playing in the field. Unfortunately the Falcons were unable to capitalize on the offensive end, grounding into their own double play to end the inning after William Strauss had singled for Flora's second and final hit.

Sending seven batters to the plate in the fourth, Sumter scored three more runs on the strength of two Flora errors, an infield hit and a double to the gap in right by Matt King. A.C. Flora managed one base runner after an error allowed James Newman to reach base, but a spectacular diving catch in centerfield robbed Gibbes of a second hit and ended the fourth for the Falcons.

Playing as the visitors due to the tournament format, Flora batted first in each inning, including the fifth and final one. Going down one, two, three, the Falcons conceded the victory to the Gamecocks and ended the game.

Gibbes led Flora's stunted attack with a lone double. Sumter pitcher Jordan Montgomery forced nine groundball outs and faced only seventeen batters in the shortened game. Smith's five RBI paced the Gamecocks while King, Stafford and Curtis each drove in two more.