photo by lexingtonhswildcats.com
By Thomas Grant Jr.
Lexington School District One teams can clinch their respective Region 4-5A titles this week.
LEXINGTON SOFTBALL
The Lady Wildcats are seeking their fifth region title in six years. They can achieve it with a win Tuesday over White Knoll and Thursday against River Bluff.
Lexington is also riding a 20-game winning streak in region play. Right until the final inning of the 8-7 home win over Dutch Fork, however, the winning streak appeared on shaky ground.
The Lady Silver Foxes took a 1-0 lead in the Top 1st as Abigail Pouliot scored on a double steal. Lexington answered in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI double by Payton Gonce.
The Lady Wildcats opened up a 5-1 lead in the Bottom 2nd. Back-to-back triples by Haley Revis and Naomi Little produced a run to regain the lead. Grace Fonseca followed with an RBI sacrifice fly; Livvi Warren had an RBI double and scored on Gonce’s single.
It stayed that way into the Top 5th when a single by Aaliyah Hawkins ignited a 3-run rally. After Cali McGee reached on a fielder’s choice, Hawkins scored on a Pouliot single.
Layla Peppers then cleared the bases with a 2-run single.
Lexington built an 8-4 cushion in the Bottom 6th. Maya Drennon drove in two runs with a double and scored on the Lady Wildcats’ third triple of the game by Illyana Adams.
In the Top 7th, Dutch Fork capitalized off two errors to pick up a run and Kate Chavis followed with a one-out 2-run single to get within a run.
With the tying run on second base, Lexington pitcher Haley Manz retired the final two batters to end the game.
RIVER BLUFF BASEBALL
The Gators headed into an important 2-game series with archrival Lexington riding a 4-game winning streak.
A win Tuesday, Thursday or Friday at Lexington clinches the region for River Bluff. Lexington can also conceivably 3-peat as region champion with a sweep depending on the outcome of games between Chapin and White Knoll.
The Wildcats, Eagles and Timberwolves were in a 3-way tie for 2nd place at 5-3 entering Tuesday.
River Bluff’s winning streak started at the Forest Acres Classic with a 6-5 win over eventual tournament champion T.C. Roberson.
River Bluff followed that with back-to-back victories over Dutch Fork. Game One was a 17-6 blowout sparked by a 4-4, 3-RBI performance by Spartanburg Methodist College signee Walker Godwin.
In missing the cycle by a triple, Goodwin was one of three Gators to hit home runs. Columbia International University signee Dominick Norton had a 2-run homer and fellow signee Leo Zambrano had a 3-run homer.
Godwin continued his torrid hitting in the 12-4 win over Dutch Fork two nights later. He cleared the bases with a 3-run triple in the third inning and followed with an RBI single in his next at-bat.
The Gators also drew 13 walks as a team, four by Norton.
On Saturday, River Bluff played a non-region game in Prosperity against Mid-Carolina. It built a 7-2 lead through six innings, with Godwin producing a 2-run single.
The Rebels rallied for four runs in the Bottom 7th. They had the bases loaded with two outs when Ab Wilkerson struck out Jayden Flemon for the victory.
