Benedict plans split-squad approach to Monday's schedule

Benedict coach Selwyn Young (Palmetto State Baseball photo)

The prospect of rain this weekend has led to several state teams adjusting their game schedules.

Count Benedict in that group. The Tigers (13-10, 6-3), in a three-way tie for second place a half-game behind Claflin (10-21, 6-2) in the SIAC East Division standings, play host to last-place Clark Atlanta (8-19, 1-9) at Tiger Field in the shadows of Charles W. Johnson Stadium just outside downtown Columbia.

The original schedule called for a Saturday-Sunday series. But the start has been pushed back until Sunday, when the teams will play a doubleheader at 1 p.m.

The series is scheduled to conclude at 10 a.m. Monday (baseball & brunch, anyone?).  But the Tigers already had a doubleheader scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday at Morris College in Sumter.

That's a problem, right?

Nope.

Tigers coach Selwyn Young said he's going to divide his squad, keeping some players in town to play the important conference series finale and sending the remainder to begin the doubleheader in Sumter.  Delwyn Young, Selwyn's brother and also a baseball lifer, will be in charge of the squad at Sumter to begin things.

After the Clark Atlanta game ends, Selwyn Young and the Benedict regulars will travel the hour or so over to Sumter to reunite and complete the day's schedule.

Playing in two cities on the same day is rare, but it's not the first time it has happened during the 2018 South Carolina college season. On March 7, Newberry beat Lincoln in Newberry, then hit the road for a game at Augusta University. The Wolves won that game, too.

Back in the Western Carolinas League (precursor of the South Atlantic League) days, teams would play split doubleheaders on July 4 so both teams could get a holiday crowd boost. Minor-league teams representing Greenville and Spartanburg played in both Meadowbrook Park (Greenville) and Duncan Park (Spartanburg) in the same day.