By Jed Blackwell
Sports Editor

Photo by Leon G. Russ
Byrnes’ Daniel Gossett struck out 13, walked three and allowed just one run on three hits in eight innings, as the Rebels squeaked past the Spring Valley Vikings 2-1 on May 5 to win the District IV Region Championship.
Trailing 7-5 in the sixth inning of Monday’s 4A Upper State baseball playoff game against Blythewood, Byrnes was in a very familiar position.
It might not have been what the Rebels wanted, but it’s exactly what they’re used to.
Byrnes scored three runs in the bottom of the inning, then reliever Alex Cunningham shut the door in the top of the seventh to give the Rebels an 8-7 victory and move Byrnes one victory away from a berth in the 4A state championship series. Blythewood will host the winner of Monday’s Rock Hill-Northwestern contest on Wednesday, with the winner coming to Byrnes on Friday and needing two victories to advance. Byrnes will need just one win to move on.
“I don’t know if we’ve ever just come out and beat somebody start to finish,” Byrnes coach Dwayne Haun said. “We just seem to hang around and hang around. But, we seem to find a way to get it done in the end.”
This time, Byrnes got it done thanks to some timely hitting. Matthew Teal led off the sixth inning with an infield single and moved to second on a sacrifice by Wade Metcalf. Cunningham drew a walk, and Stephen Duggar hit a single to load the bases. Reed Rohlman followed with a bases-clearing double, driving in three runs and giving the Rebels the lead for good.
“I didn’t have a great game hitting, so I took a deep breath and waited for a fastball count,” Rohlman said. “He threw me one right down the middle. My teammates did their part and got on base, and I was able to drive them in.”
For the rest of the story, see this week’s Middle Tyger Times.