CERRO GORDO – Things did not look very impressive for the West Columbus Vikings after a second-inning grand slam by South Columbus’ Dakota Piver had led to a 7-1 Stallion lead in the fourth inning.
However, they rallied with seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and seven more in the fifth to overtake the visiting Stallions 15-7 in the season opening baseball game for both squads.
Daniel Britt led the WCHS offensive attack with four his, including a double, and three runs batted in. Britt also pitched the last two innings. John David White had a two-run homer in the sixth inning and Brett Godwin had a key hit in the fifth inning comeback.
Stephen Nealey picked up the pitching win in relief of White, who started the game.
“We kind of dug ourselves a hole early,” said WCHS coach Ricky Young, whose Vikings return with most of their starters from last year’s Waccamaw 2A Conference champion team. “I was happy with the way we came back later in the game, but we gave up quite a bit early on.
Piver’s home run was the big blow of the second inning that gave Coach Willie Gore’s South Columbus team a 4-0 lead. West Columbus scratched across a run in the bottom of the second before the Stallions plated three more runs in the top of the third inning.
Ethan Ward and Garrett Bullock each had two hits for the Stallions.
West Columbus took advantage of eight walks.
Each team had nine hits and each committed three errors.

West Columbus, which has moved from the Waccamaw to the Southeastern 1A-2A Conference this year, will travel to play East Columbus Friday, South Columbus is scheduled to play host to Fairmont on Friday. Both games are scheduled for 5 p.m.

Creech, Watts (5), Ward (5), Gore (6), Bullock (6) and James; White, Nealey (5), Britt (6) and Andrews.