No drama needed as South Carolina romps to victory

MUSCLE SHOALS - A day after needing some late heroics to win its Junior Dixie Boys World Series opener, South Carolina only needed about 30 minutes to seal its second straight tournament victory Sunday night.

South Carolina, represented by Sumter, scored nine times in the top of the first inning on the way to a 19-0, five-inning rout of (Texarkana) Arkansas in the winner's bracket game.

With the win, South Carolina advances to the finals of the winner's bracket Tuesday at the Muscle Shoals Sportsplex against the winner of the Alabama-Virginia game. Arkansas plays Louisiana at 4 p.m. today in an elimination game.

Trent Pannell's three-run home run was the game-winner in Saturday night's opener against host Muscle Shoals, but South Carolina needed no such drama against Arkansas.

South Carolina sent 13 batters to the plate against two Arkansas pitchers in the top of the first, scoring nine times on seven hits, a walk and an error. Blake Graham continued his hot hitting, pounding a pair of two-run doubles to each power alley. Tyler Smith, Pannell and Maleeke Gibson also had RBI hits in an inning that lasted nearly 30 minutes.

"We came out and kind of took it to them in the first inning," coach Bill Delavan said of the offensive outburst. "We kind of set the tone with a good first inning. We had an aggressive approach like we talked about."

Gibson Klapthor, the second of three South Carolina pitchers, went three innings for the win.

Jeremy Buckner and Gibson had three hits each for South Carolina. Pannell, Klapthor and Graham had two hits each as South Carolina finished with 17 hits against six Arkansas pitchers.

Arkansas had six hits, including two by Brett Rhinehart.

"Our pitchers did a great job of throwing strikes when we got the lead," Delavan said. "A lot of times you can lose your focus when a game gets out of hand."

Delavan said getting a day off was important for his team.

"Essentially, this was two games in one because of the bye," Delavan said. "It gives our pitchers a little more rest and gives a chance to scout a little more."

After jumping on top 9-0, South Carolina added one run in the second, two in the third and seven in the fourth to extend the lead to 19-0.

Gregg Dewalt can be reached at 740-5748 or gregg.dewalt@timesdaily.com.