By Thomas Grant Jr.
The South Carolina American Legion Baseball playoffs opened with three local teams with title aspirations.
As on Wednesday, only Lexington Post 7 remaining in the running for the championship and a spot in the Southeast Regional.
On Tuesday, Lexington eliminated West Columbia Post 79 with a 13-3 victory in five innings. Rainfall originally halted the game Monday with Lexington leading 3-0.
It continued the offensive onslaught Wednesday led by University of South Carolina commit Brandon Cromer. He went 2-4 with a team-high three RBI, followed by Ryder Kellis with two RBI.
Kellis, Brunson Price and Lincoln Hill, who homered, all went 2-3. On the mound, Landon Gross allowed no hits in four shutout innings.
The win sent Lexington to the state semifinal at Sparrow Stadium in Florence where it will face defending champion Florence Post 1. The winner will either face undefeated Camden in Thursday’s final or meet Fort Mill Post 43 in an elimination game to reach the championship.
Fort Mill Post 43 ended Chapin/Newberry Post 193/24’s season with a 6-2-win Tuesday.
The two remaining teams will both receive an invitation to the Southeast Regional taking place in Asheboro, N.C.
