Playing for the S.C. Diamond Invitational title Saturday at Blythewood High School was important for Lexington head coach Brian Hucks.
The pressure to defeat defending Class 5A champion Dorman to ensure an at-large playoff berth lessoned before the Wildcats arrived at the ballpark. The morning release of the brackets showed they had indeed earned the at-large berth and would open the playoffs Tuesday at St. James. 
"It's been kind of a tough 48-72 hours," Hucks said. "Just kind of sitting in limbo and waiting and not sure if this was going to be our last game or not. But, we got the good news around 11 o'clock. So, I'm excited that we continue to play the game and I feel like we're battle-tested and we have a chance to make a run in the playoffs."
With the post-season assured, Hucks and the Wildcats looked to claim its 2nd S.C. Diamond Invitational final after winning in 2012. An error-plaqued 4th inning enabled the Cavaliers to score 5 runs and claim a 10-7 victory over Lexington to win its first-ever Invitational.
There were 3 lead changes through the 1st 2 innings and the game was deadlocked at 4-4 through the first 2 innings. In the top 3rd, Tournament MVP Russell Parry hit a groundball misplayed at 3rd base that scored a run.
Dorman loaded the bases with the help of 2 singles and an error. Renwick singled into leftfield off Lexington starter Elijah Ogden and drove in a run to make it 6-4. 
Haydee Lee attempted to score, but was tagged out at homeplate by Seth Altenberg. 
The Cavaliers reloaded the bases and Tristan Allen replaced Ogden on the mound. He gave up a RBI fielder's choice to Hunter Pruitt and 2-run single by Parry. On Parry's single, he scored from second following a throwing miscue, the 4th error of the game by the Wildcats, to put Dorman up 10-4.
David Cromer had an RBI single in the Bottom 4th and Lexington added RBI fielder's choices in the 6th and 7th innings to close out the scoring. Landon Jennings threw 5 innings and struck out 4 to get the win for Dorman, who open at home Tuesday against Easley. 
"I don't think there's anything that we're going to see in the playoffs that we haven't seen during the year," Hucks said. "We've seen great arms, we've seen great hitting teams and we've seen very well-coached teams. So, it's a deal that our kids will be ready and they'll be ready to play and we're looking forward to playing somebody we haven't seen yet. We're young, but we've grown up as the year has gone on." 
Making the All-Tournament team were Lexington's Landon McMahon Tristan Allen and Braison Bourne; Chapin's Chris Veach and Cade Austin and Dutch Fork's Noah Jackson.

OTHER SATURDAY RESULTS AT S.C. DIAMOND INVITATIONAL 
Chapin 3, Blythewood 1
William Privette struck out 7 and allowed just 2 hits and Jarrett Whitley drove in 2 runs as the Eagles finished 3-0-1 in the tournament. 
Spartanburg 5, Dutch Fork 0  

TUESDAY'S S.C. HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Carolina Forest at Chapin
West Florence at River Bluff
Dutch Fork at West Florence
Lexington at St. James
Brookland-Cayce at Beaufort
Darlington at Airport 
Georgetown at Pelion 
Gilbert at Hanahan 
Batesburg-Leesville at Southside Christian
Andrews at Gray Collegiate