David Tanner limited Central Christian to two hits and recorded 13 strikeouts over 4 2-3 innings as Sumter mercy-ruled the Warriors 16-4 on a cold Tuesday night at Bloch Park.

“Tonight they had the pitching staff,” said Central Christian coach Kent Johnson. “It was that good. Some of these kids have never even seen a ball that fast.”

But Tanner’s pitching was not the Warriors’ only problem in the loss. The Eagles pounded Central Christian pitching, ran the bases at will and took advantage of a plethora of errors.

“They’ve got a very organized ball team, and we’ve got a bunch that have never played before,” said Johnson. “We’re teaching them to play.”

The Eagles’ big blow came in a five-run fourth inning that made the score 11-1. Following Tanner Armstrong and Corey Guin singles, Ryan Guin belted a double to score them. He touched the plate on the same play on a throwing error by Robert Davis.

Things got worse from there as the Eagles added five insurance runs in the fifth. Tanner Armstrong led off with a triple and scored on a passed ball. Corey Guin and Reed reached on singles and moved up on another passed ball.

That’s when a Sutton Smitherman grounder to Johnson turned into a nightmare. Johnson fielded the ball, but put a little too much on the throw to first base, sending the ball to right field. Guin and Reed scored on the play, and Smitherman touched the plate on an Alan Castleman triple.

Central Christian finally got to Tanner in the bottom of the inning and made some noise in an effort to keep the game going. Moore was hit by a pitch, Tobby Waites drew a walk and a Joey Raybon double brought Moore in. A Kennedy Watts single scored Waites and, and Raybon crossed the plate on an ensuing error.

The game was relatively even until the Eagles broke it open in the third inning. Leading 3-1, Ryan Guin led off with a single and advanced to third on two wild pitches. Paul Reed got on by getting hit, and his steal attempt forced a throwing error by Michael Moore that scored Guin.

Sutton Smitherman followed with a single that scored Reed, and he scored on a Bo Johnson error.