A year after injury, Rainey has big hand in Greer’s first-round win over Lancaster
Greer’s Jacob Rainey celebrates after hitting a double in the first inning. (PHOTO | LEIGH CLEMENT)
One year ago this week, disaster struck for Jacob Rainey.
The Greer baseball first baseman was coming off the best season of his career. It was a Sunday afternoon practice, and Greer was set to begin its 2024 playoff journey the following day against Lancaster.
Rainey broke his hand that day.
“We were going over bunt coverages. That was it,” said Rainey. “But on that first throw up the line, I broke my hand making the grab.”
Rainey missed the entire postseason, and Greer was knocked out just four games into the 2024 playoffs. The game that Monday against Lancaster was a disaster, recalled Rainey.
“I remember all the guys were just down,” said Rainey. “When we walked out onto that field to play that game, the energy was so low. It was all off.”
Greer lost to Lancaster 12-3 that game, going down 8-0 within the first two innings.
Fast forward one year: the Jackets drew another home first-round matchup against Lancaster.
This time, things were different.
A fully healthy Rainey went 1-2 with a run and two walks, and Greer dominated the Bruins to open the 2025 playoffs with a 9-1 win.
After a first-inning double, Rainey hopped up from second base, smiled, and pretended to toss a grenade toward the dugout — a la Grizzlies star Ja Morant.
His teammates cheered and roared.
“I think some of the guys on the team remembered the story from last season,” said Rainey. “They remembered how much it hurt not to be out there. It gave us all a little motivation to make sure this one turned out different.”
Greer used a six-run fourth inning to bury the Bruins in front of an energized home crowd. Freshman Dawson Fowler showed up in a big way, tallying an RBI triple in the frame. Fowler finished 2-4 with an RBI and three runs on Monday night.
Greer freshman Dawson Fowler finished 2-4 with an RBI and three runs on Monday night in the Jackets’ 9-1 win over Lancaster. (PHOTO | LEIGH CLEMENT)
In the sixth inning, junior Zion Anderson crushed one over the left-field wall for his first career home run. Pitcher Luke Godfrey threw five solid innings, giving up no runs on just four hits.
Greer put together a complete team effort en route to a comfortable first-round win.
“It has to be said, it was big for us not to have a major injury this year, the day before the playoffs,” Greer head coach Keith Scruggs remarked with a smile after the game, referencing Rainey. “But we’ve been riding the momentum we’ve found of late, and this team is just now getting hot.
“It’s taken all season for this team to find its identity, but now that they’ve found it, they’re rolling. And I like it.”
Greer’s Zion Anderson celebrates with teammates on Monday night after hitting his first career home run. (PHOTO | LEIGH CLEMENT)
Greer (13-10) now heads to Fountain Inn (21-5) for a daunting second-round matchup on Tuesday night. Scruggs is optimistic that his Jackets can pull out a win if they stay hot.
“We’ve just got to keep this momentum going. Stay together as a team. That’s all I’ve been preaching,” said Scruggs. “No matter the score, no matter what’s going on, stick together and keep pushing.”