<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=02IXaV_0t7wPOOl00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=02IXaV_0t7wPOOl00" width="1200" height="630" >Four Midlands teams will enter the final week of the S.C. High School League spring season playing for state championships.The Mid-Carolina baseball team opens the Best-of-3 Class 2A final at 6 p.m. Saturday at Lucy Beckham High School in Mount Pleasant. It's the first state appearance since 2007 for the Rebels, who defeated Strom Thurmond 7-3 Thursday in the Class 2A Upper State final. They are seeking their first championship since 1991 against the defending state champion Landsharks, who beat Andrew Jackson to win the Lower State final on Friday.Also on Thursday, Lexington defeated Dorman 5-2 to win the Class 5A Upper State title. The contest stretched for nearly four hours due to lightning interruptions. The game was tied at 2-2 in the sixth inning when Tradd Burton’s RBI sacrifice fly put the Wildcats ahead. Lincoln Hill then belted a 2-run homer and reliever Jackson Burton recorded the final three outs.Lexington is seeking their first state title since 2014 and seventh overall. It will have to await the final decision by the S.C. High School League regarding the deciding game of the Lower State final between Summerville and Ashley Ridge.The Green Wave appeared to have claimed a 6-4 win over the Swamp Foxes in extra innings Thursday. Following the game, however, Ashley Ridge protested that Summerville pitcher Thayer Tavormina had exceeded the pitch count by 10 from the combined number thrown the day before.League rules stipulate if a pitcher throws consecutive days, he has a maximum of 75 pitches available on the second day. A violation of the pitch-count rules means an automatic forfeit which the league upheld on Friday.Summerville appealed the ruling before the Executive Committee Monday, delaying the start of the state final. Depending upon when the final decision is made by the Executive Committee or the Appellate Panel, if necessary, the Best-of-3 series could start either Tuesday or Thursday.SOFTBALL FINALSBoth Gray Collegiate and Lexington teams also clinched their respective Classes 2A and 5A Upper State titles Friday.The Lady War Eagles continued their dominant postseason run with a 10-0 shutout of Strom Thurmond. This was the seventh straight game (sixth in the postseason) and 17th overall in which they have scored 10 or more runs and have a playoff margin of victory of 77-6.Aspen Boulware put Gray Collegiate ahead with a leadoff solo home run in the Bottom 1st. Maddox Long capped a 5-run rally in the second inning with a 3-run blast to make it 6-0. After a 2-run double by Shields Greene made it 8-0, Boulware belted a 2-run homer for her 19th of the season to close out the scoring. Pitcher Payton Hendrix allowed just one hit and struck out seven for the win.Gray Collegiate travels Monday to the winner of Saturday’s Lower State final between Buford and Marion. Game Two will take place Wednesday in West Columbia. The Lady War Eagles are seeking their second state title in three years.Over in Lexington, the Lady Wildcats found themselves in a winner-take-all contest with J.F. Byrnes after losing 2-0 in Game One of the Upper State Final. They rebounded in Game Two with a 10-6 victory.The Lady Rebels, who were the home team, took a 2-0 lead in the Bottom 1st. Lexington answered with six runs in the Top 2nd, including 2-run singles by Maya Drennon and Sam Craig. A 2-run homer by Ellanie Yarrell brought the Lady Rebels to within 6-4 in the Bottom 2nd. Craig's single in the fourth inning put Lexington up 8-4 in the Top 4th. After a solo home run by Maddie Wiant brought J.F. Byrnes within 8-5 in the fifth inning, Scott’s 2-run single added insurance runs for Lexington in the Top 6th. Pitcher Haley Manz, who pitched all 14 innings, gave up a sacrifice fly to Haven Holmes before getting Courtney Dean to line out to Livi Warren to end the game.Lexington will play host to defending champion Summerville in Game One Monday. This is the third state title appearance in six years for the Lady Wildcats who have five championships in their history and last won in 2019.</div></body>

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Four local teams make state finals in high school baseball/softball

Four Midlands teams will enter the final week of the S.C. High School League spring season playing for state championships. The Mid-Carolina baseball team opens the Best-of-3 Class 2A final at 6 p.m. Saturday at Lucy Beckham High School in Mount Pleasant. It's the first state appearance since 2007 for the Rebels, who defeated Strom Thurmond 7-3 Thursday in the Class 2A Upper State final. They are seeking their first championship since 1991 against the defending state champion Landsharks, who beat Andrew Jackson to win the Lower State final on Friday.

Four local teams make state finals in high school baseball/softball

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