Pitching, defense still the difference makers

First off, let me say how glad I am that it's baseball season.
NASCAR Sprint Cup? Not interested. March Madness? Couldn't care less.
Opening Day less than three weeks away? Can't wait - even as a Pittsburgh Pirates fan (They're bad, in case you didn't know).
So after two rainouts last week, the South Florence-West Florence region opener was my first live baseball that I've seen this year, and one thing stuck out about the game:
You can never go wrong with good pitching and defense.
From Little League to the majors, that's pretty much always been the formula for success, and the Bruins had both Monday night. Spencer Jordan didn't miss a beat as South's top starter and pitched a three-hitter against the Bruins biggest rival. West put the ball in play, but always in the air or right at a South defender.
The Bruins also stopped a potential rally with good fundamentals. A double down the third base line was stopped, thrown to the cutoff man who threw it to home as the catcher applied a great tag and stopped the bleeding at just a single run.
West on the other hand booted the ball a few times leading to some unearned runs. The South leadoff man was on base five times and scored four times, not a recipe for success.
But with the way Jordan was pitching, it wouldn't have mattered if they did make all the "routine" plays. Three hits won't win you many ball games.
West and South were both aggressive at the plate and none of the pitchers went to too many deep counts.
South and West play in one of the toughest regions in the state. It will be interesting to see how both of them fare against Hartsville and Sumter.

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