WINNSBORO —The Fairfield Central Griffins JV Baseball team found a bit of a groove last week after a rocky start in a weekend tournament at Dutch Fork to begin the 2013 campaign.

On March 7, the Griffins defeated Great Falls JV team 3-1. FHCS Pitcher Vinson Beaver carried the team, throwing a complete game victory.

On Friday the team traveled to Eau Claire and swept a doubleheader. Winning pitcher Eddrick Chambers pitched five strong innings in the 15-3 game one victory. In the second game of the doubleheader the Griffins cruised to an 11-1 victory. Ivan Ruff was the winning pitcher in the nightcap.

Coach Mike Moore said that the team had sluggish bats in the early going but that the Griffin bats warmed up as the game progressed.

The JV Griffins continued their winning ways against the junior varsity squad from Richard Winn Academy on Wednesday night, winning 12-5.

Vinson Beaver pitched seven strong innings to get the win. Beaver received solid defensive support from Antonio Jackson at shortstop, producing a lot of ground ball outs.

In the third inning sparks lit up the night, literally. Rodderick Sparks provided a clutch double that inning to drive in two runs for the Griffins. The JV Griffins head to Westwood for a 6 p.m. showdown Friday.

Moore credited his returnees from a season ago for helping the team achieve early season success.

“Of the nine guys returning from last year’s team they are all key to helping the new guys and being leaders. Ivan Ruff, Jerrell Suber-O’Neal, Travius Williams, Anthony Kennedy, and Dalton Truesdale are all position players who we are counting on for their offence as well as defense,” he said.

He thinks a deep pitching staff will benefit this squad.

“Tracy Williamson, Tydarius Young, Vinson Beaver, and Eddrick Chambers are guys we are hoping to give us many innings on the mound,” Moore said. “Our pitching is going to make or break us as we don’t have that guy who can overpower anyone. We just try to throw strikes and play good defense behind whoever is on the mound.”

He said his team does not have a lot of power hitters so they play small ball and hit-and-run a lot. Moore feels like he has a starting lineup and pitching rotation more or less set at this point.

“We have been playing with the line up trying to figure out who can help us and where. The biggest challenge is trying to get everyone to play their role, whatever it may be, play as a team, and support each other,” he said. “Everyone wants to start and play every inning so that is a huge challenge right now keeping everyone focused on the task at hand.”

He said the defense up the middle should be solid with Ruff, Beaver and newcomer Antonio Jackson will provide solid defense in the infield at shortstop and second base.

“We have two new guys in center field Lane Floyd and Rodderick Sparks who can both go get it. With Truesdale behind the plate we feel good about our defense,” he said. “We want to represent Fairfield Central and Winnsboro in a manner that will make the community proud and excited about Griffin Baseball now and in the future.”