The fact that the Florence RedWolves finished the first half of their season with the best record in the Coastal Plain League isn’t lost on coach Russell Carter.

But the way Carter sees it, Monday’s 8-4 win over Fayetteville at American Legion Field, Florence’s fifth straight victory, was indicative of something bigger. The RedWolves (19-8) clinched the South Division first-half title on Friday against Petersburg, but have done anything but let up since then.  Florence swept a doubleheader at Fayetteville on Saturday and cruised after putting up five runs in the first inning – three of them on Ronnie Freeman’s home run – Monday night.  “The fact that we won the last three after clinching is much more important,” Carter said. “At the end of the season, they all count. Every game is important. I’m happy that we didn’t come out and play with no energy after Friday.”

Fayetteville (12-16) started strong and took a 2-0 lead in the first on a throwing error and an RBI single by Eric Grabe off Florence starter Patrick Dolan (3-0).  But the RedWolves seized command in the bottom of the inning. Trey Hernandez brought in one on an RBI fielder’s choice and Ethan Santora made it 2-2 on a sacrifice fly to left field. After Mac Doyle singled to put runners at first and second, Freeman unloaded on Brock Holmes’ offering and smacked it out to left field, giving Florence a 5-2 lead.

Ethan Santora hit a one-out solo home run in the second that just cleared the wall and Doyle walked, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Freeman’s double to the right-center gap to give the RedWolves a 7-2 lead.  “That’s happened two or three times this year, where we come out kind of flat early and Freeman gives us a big lift,” Carter said. “You talk about a tough, gritty player. He never takes a pitch off.”  Florence added a run in the fifth when Shane Brown knocked in Doyle with a single to left.  Brown finished 3-for-5. Santora, Doyle and Freeman all had two hits.  Fayetteville managed just five hits off Dolan and Spencer Jordan. Dolan gave up four of those hits in 7 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out five.

Fayetteville’s Holmes left after surrendering seven earned runs on five hits in three innings. He walked four and struck out two.  And it was a familiar story for Fayetteville. The SwampDogs fell to 5-1 against Florence on the season and have now lost 14 in a row at American Legion Field. Fayetteville hasn’t won in Florence since July 31, 2007.