Fireworks were on display a couple of days early at Segra Park on Thursday. 

It came courtesy of the bats of Lexington Post 7. For the 2nd appearance at the home of the Columbia Fireflies, Lexington pounded out 14 hits in 5 innings of a 13-2 rout of Fort Mill Post 43.

Leading the hit attack was University of South Carolina signee David Cromer. The Lexington High graduate drove in 5 runs, 4 on a towering grand slam in the bottom 3rd inning. 

Clemson University signee Ricky Williams had 3 hits and winning pitcher Noah Davis helped his own cause as he and William Chastain both had 2 RBI.

Davis allowed 5 hits in 4 innings and Elijah Ogden threw a scoreless 5th inning. It was the 1st loss of the season for Fort Mill, who stranded 13 baserunners.

Lexington (3-2) opens Midlands Region play Monday at home against Edgefield County at Roscoe Frye Field.

West Columbia 14, Chapin/Newberry 2 (5 innings) 

Blake Paylok drove in 3 RBI and University of South Carolina signee Kameron Dunlap drove in 2 runs to help West Columbia sweep its Midlands rival.

West Columbia (4-0, 2-0) jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the top 1st. Landon Lucas had an RBI double and Paylok hit a 2-run double off Ellis Hunter. 

West Columbia added 3 more runs in the 2nd and erupted for 5 runs in the 3rd. Airport’s Sam Lafrage opened with a solo home run, Joshua Wise had an RBI walk and Dunlap contributed a 2-run single. 

Meanwhile, Winthrop signee Parker Whittle of Airport struck out 5 and allowed just 1 run off a wild pitch in 3 ⅓ innings of work. West Columbia also capitalized off 3 Chapin/Newberry errors. 

Chapin/Newberry returns to action Monday at North Augusta, while West Columbia visits Greenwood.