By Thomas Grant Jr.
The quest for back-to-back Class 5A titles, albeit in a split division, continues for Lexington baseball.
Tuesday’s 4-3 win over Blythewood in the Division I Upper State playoffs was its 13th consecutive post-season victory. The Wildcats can clinch a second straight state title appearance with a home win at 6 p.m. Thursday.
The long ball got Lexington off to a quick start. After Christian Spivey scored Toby Sobieralski on a groundout, University of South Carolina signee Brandon Cromer homered to centerfield to make it 2-0.
The Bengals answered with two runs off fielder’s choices in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game. Cooper Graham quickly regained the lead in the Top 3rd with a solo home run to rightfield.
With Sobieralski at second, Cromer scored him with a double as well to extend the lead to 4-2.
Blythewood loaded the bases in the Bottom 5th. It only managed just a run on a sacrifice fly by Alex Myers as Lexington recorded two outs at third base.
With the tying run on first and one out in the Bottom 7th, Reider Carlson closed out the complete game victory for Lexington with back-to-back fielder’s choices.
In other baseball playoff results, the first state baseball title appearance in 22 years is a victory away for Batesburg-Leesville.
The Panthers continued their undefeated run through the postseason in the Upper State playoffs. After a 6-1 win over Clinton on May 15, they defeated Strom Thurmond 7-1 to improve to 5-0 in the post-season.
Landon Soper, Reese Boehnke and Preston Smith all drove in two runs for Batesburg-Leesville. On the mound, Tyler Kneece and Braydon Hallman combined for five strikeouts.
The Panthers played host Wednesday to Strom Thurmond, who defeated Mid-Carolina 4-3 in an elimination game. Strom Thurmond won on a walk off RBI walk by Brayden McAllister.
SOFTBALL
Saluda is now a victory away from the Class 2A softball final.
The Lady Tigers defeated Ninety-Six 8-1 to reach Upper State final on Friday. Miller Martin had 10 strikeouts and went 2-4 with two RBI and Jayme Sheaffer went 2-3 with three RBI.
They will face Wednesday’s winner between Ninety-Six and Chesnee. The Lady Eagles eliminated Pelion 6-0 on Tuesday.
Lexington looked to stave off elimination in the Class 5A Division I Upper State final Wednesday. The Lady Wildcats were shut out 10-0 in six innings by J.F. Byrnes in Game One at Duncan. A win would force a deciding game Friday back at J.F. Byrnes.
Late Tuesday, the South Carolina Coaches Association of Women’s Sports released its All-State teams:
LEXINGTON – Sarah Craig and Livi Warren
WHITE KNOLL – Ashlyn Blackstone
GILBERT – Ainsley Minchew
SALUDA – Jayme Sheaffer and Miller Martin
SOCCER
Seasons end for Lexington, River Bluff
Both the Lexington boys and River Bluff girls’ soccer teams were defeated by J.L. Mann in their Class 5A Division I Upper State finals on the road.
Fresh off rallying from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Blythewood 3-2 in the third round, the Wildcats faced the undefeated Patriots for a berth in the final.
The two teams were tied at halftime and through the first overtime. In the second overtime, Nico Ortiz scored the go-ahead goal to advance to the state final.
The next night saw the Lady Gators look to post their third consecutive road victory.
The Lady Patriots, however, came away with the 2-0 victory as both goals occurred in the first half.
(Photos by lexingtonwildcats.com) – Lexington’s Brandon Cromer
