Beaufort East pounds Hilton Head to reach O-Zone Majors title game

There isn't much that rattles Josh Fickes. His approach during a pressure-filled situation can be so mild-mannered that it often appears as if he doesn't truly grasp the importance of the task at hand.

But, as Fickes proved Saturday night, looks can be deceiving.

When Beaufort East's relief pitcher toed the rubber in a bases-loaded jam, he blocked everything out and focused on the hitter, a strategy that proved successful as he recorded the inning's final three outs to escape damage.

At the plate, his attitude was much the same. Rather than let his nerves get the best of him with his team trailing 5-0, Fickes simply displayed his infectious smile as he peered out at his opposing pitcher. And again, the result was exactly what he anticipated.

Fickes highlighted Beaufort East's nine-run first inning with a three-run homer to lead the team to a 17-7 mercy-rule victory in five innings against Hilton Head in the winner's bracket of the Dixie Youth O-Zone Majors district tournament on Saturday night. Beaufort East advances to Monday's championship game at Crossings Park, where it seeks its fourth straight district title. Hilton Head faces Beaufort American tonight at 6 p.m. in an elimination game, the winner of which will again face Beaufort East.

Beaufort East's nine-run first inning erased the 5-0 lead Hilton Head built in the top of the frame, capped by a three-run double from Ryan Barrett.

"We just knew we could get the bats going," Fickes said. "So we didn't worry about (the early deficit). We're really nailing the ball, hitting it everywhere all over the field. ... We all hit really good. Everybody can hit it out."

Four players did hit one out. Sheldon Smith, batting in the 11th spot, added a solo home run in the first. Jawan Mack and Brady Cormier added back-to-back shots in the third. Mack, hitting eighth in Beaufort East's explosive lineup, finished with three hits in the game to go along with four RBIs. Carson Gregory and Mattison Pike also had multi-hit efforts.

"It's hard to make this lineup, because we've got 10-11-12 hitters that should be hitting 5-6-7," Beaufort East coach Jim Pike said. "You feel bad hitting anyone down there, because it's not where they belong. But somebody has to hit down there."

Nine hitters in the Beaufort East lineup had hits, giving plenty of support for Fickes, who allowed just two runs over the game's final four innings in relief of starter Mattison Pike. Fickes struck out five Hilton Head hitters while allowing just two hits to earn the win.

"He did a great job of coming in and just throwing strikes," Jim Pike said. "He kept them off-balanced with his curveball. I think he was actually throwing that for a strike more than his fastball, so that was key."

Bailey Heath tallied the lone multi-hit game for Hilton Head in the loss.