By Thomas Grant Jr.
Having swept Mid-Carolina in the first round of the S.C. American Legion Baseball Junior League playoffs, Irmo Post 7 looked to move a step closer to the state tournament.
Standing in the way was its fellow American Legion Post 7 member and defending state champion Lexington.
The two teams opened their Best-of-Three series Monday at Lexington High School. Through six innings, it was all Lexington as it took a 10-1 lead and held Irmo to one hit.
Lexington pitcher Peyton Hewitt entered the game in the top of the seventh inning. He walked the first three Irmo batters to load the bases before getting Nolan Mays on an RBI fielder’s choice to make it 10-2.
After striking out Jayllen Fray, Hewitt gave up three straight singles which brought in three more runs. He then walked Hunter Parsons and got Davis Gepper to hit a shallow fly ball which just floated past the infield.
Second baseman Toby Sobieralski looked to make the game-ending out, but instead misplayed the ball. The error brought home two more runs and brought the tying run to the plate in Tye Rivers.
Hewitt was replaced by L.J. Holley who struck out Rivers to give Lexington the 10-7 win.
Game Two was scheduled for Tuesday at Irmo High School. A win by Lexington would send it to the state tournament in Conway, while an Irmo victory would force a deciding game back at Lexington High School.
Season ends for Chapin/Newberry
American Legion summer baseball came to an end on July 12 for the Chapin-Newberry Post 193/24 senior team.
Chapin-Newberry lost 6-5 to Greenwood Post 20 in the Upstate Region of the state tournament.
Post 193/24 trailed 6-2 when it scored three runs in the top of the seventh with one out.
Greenwood pitcher Caden Poore got Vincent Santostefano, who went 3-5 with 2 RBI, to ground out and struck out Blair Moore for the final out.
