(Photo by Nike Palmetto Cup)

By Thomas Grant Jr.

For the second straight year, Blythewood boys’ soccer is the Nike Palmetto Cup champion.

The Bengals outpointed host team Gray Collegiate Academy to reclaim the trophy last week at Saluda Shoals Park. Both teams finished with a 2-0-1 record after tying each other 1-1 on Day 2.

Ryan Hall put Blythewood up 1-0 in the 12th minute of the first half with a goal. The War Eagles battled back to tie the match in the 68th minute on a goal by Jason Gonzalez.

Blythewood posted wins over Hammond School (4-1) on Day 1 and Atlantic Collegiate Academy (5-0) on the final day to clinch the title.

“Playing over Spring Break is better than sitting at home,” Blythewood head coach Robby Seltzer said. “Even though we do have some guys that are on vacation, playing gets you better. So, seeing the talent that’s out here at the Palmetto Cup and obviously, that good game with Gray was excellent game. It’s what we wanted and I think we benefited from it, I’m sure.”

Bengals win at HIT Tournament

Boys soccer was not the only Blythewood team to claim a Spring Break title.

Photo by High School Sports Report

The baseball team went 4-0 in winning the Steadman Division of the Hanahan invitational Tournament in Charleston.

The Bengals opened with a 9-3 win over Georgetown. Navy Strickland drove in three runs; Amare Counts went 2-3 with 2 RBI and Chance Johnson batted 3-3 with a run driven in.

Blythewood then rallied from a 4-2 deficit to defeat Wando 6-4 to reach the final. Johnson drove in three runs in the final two innings, including the tiebreaking 2-run single in the Top 7th.

After a 6-0 shutout of Greenbrier Christian, The Bengals faced the host school Hawks in the Steadman Division final. A monstrous 3-run homer by Johnny Collins capped a 5-run third inning.

Blythewood extended its lead to 7-0 before holding off a Hanahan rally for the 7-6 win. It was the Bengals’ 14th consecutive victory.
“When you’ve got a team down, you’ve got to be able to bury them,” Poole said. “We didn’t do that, but that shows the character of their kids for continuing to fight. They came back and stayed in it.”