Charles W. Flanagan High School Baseball

Behind a gritty and workmanlike complete game effort from senior righthander Dave Thomas (7 IP, 7 R, 6 ER, 10 H, 8 K, 3 BB), the Flanagan Falcons (19-2) defeated the highly regarded and defending H.I.T. champion Wando Warriors (12-2) from South Carolina, 10-7, to advance to the Friday final.  Flanagan pounded out 12 hits in route to the semifinal victory, getting at least one hit from 8 of the 9 starters.

Things started slowly for Thomas and the Falcons, as they fell behind quickly, 3-0, in the top of the first inning.  However, as they have done all season, the boys in black and green responded when Justin Frias (1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR) blasted a two-run homer off University of Georgia commitment Drew Cisco to cut the deficit to 3-2.

In the second inning, the Warriors extended their lead to 4-2, but the Falcons again answered the challenge when an RBI fielder's choice from Geoff Jimenez (1-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B, 2 SB) and a huge two run, two out single from Ricky Santiago (1-3, R, 3 RBI, BB) gave Flanagan a 5-4 lead.

A first pitch, lead off solo shot from Danny Rojo-Campos (3-3, 2 R, RBI, HR) in the bottom of the fourth inning extended the Falcons lead to 6-4, but the Warriors answered in the top of the sixth with a solo shot from Bradley Eusich.  Now leading 6-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Falcons opened up the floodgates with an RBI single from Nick Basto (2-3, R, RBI), an RBI walk from Santiago and a two out, two run double off the bat of Pichi Torres (1-3, 2 RBI, 2B), giving Flanagan a 10-5 lead.  Wando would pick up two runs in the top of the 7th off a two-run blast from Evan Hunt, but Zach Jackson would cradle a fly ball to left for the final out, sending the Falcons to the Friday night championship game at 8pm against Starr's Mill, GA.  Please click on the headline above to link into the Hanahan Invitational Tournament website.