For the first time ever, Airport’s baseball team is a state champion. 

The Eagles clinched the 4A baseball title on their home field Saturday night with a win 10-0 over Seneca in six innings, capping an undefeated playoff run.

It was a special moment for all in attendance as the team celebrated its win with a postgame fireworks show while players and fans gathered on the field. 

“ I told the guys, ‘we’re playing for something more than just us,’” Airport head coach Casey Bradwell said. “Hopefully, this isn’t the last one.” 

Airport previously made the baseball championship game four times but lost all four. The team’s last opportunity came in 2018 when Bradwell was an assistant coach under Tim Perry. 

Bradwell, a former Airport student himself, talked about how remarkable this win was for his team, the school and the community. Years of building and getting close to the top had finally paid off. 

“ I've got friends that I hadn't seen in 15 years here,” he said. “ This place is one of a kind man. It's been a place that I thought we could win at.” 

The Eagles have been electric all playoffs, winning all nine of their postseason games. The team’s dominant run actually started with a loss at the end of the regular season.

“ We lost to Irmo and we had a little meeting afterwards about how special and how good we could be. If we just lock in and do the things that we do, we can put some pressure on people,” Bradwell said. “ Three weeks ago, we locked in, and we got some timely hits, and we got things done.” 

In the championship series, Airport swept Seneca in two games. The Eagles won game one on the road by a single run, 4-3, before the shutout in game two at home. 

The Eagles ended the series in the sixth inning of game two after their final runner scored to give the team a 10-0 lead. Immediately, the entire dugout stormed the field and made a massive dogpile behind home plate. 

Hunter Epps pitched the entire game, throwing six strikeouts while allowing just four hits and one walk. He was also 2-3 from the plate and scored two runs. 

“ Coach Bradwell gave me the ball tonight and said ‘go all seven,’” Epps said. “I’m never going to forget this. It means the world.” 

Braden Gross went 3-3  for the game and helped get Airport on the board first with a sacrifice bunt that scored two in the third inning. 

Airport really ran away with the game in the fifth inning when the team scored five runs. 

Justin Sightler got the scoring going with a single to left field, earning two runs. An error by the catcher allowed Gross to score and extended the lead to 5-0. 

Seneca made its first pitching change of the game during the next at-bat, but it didn’t do much help as Matthew Perry singled, scoring another run. The Eagles' last run of the inning came after a balk by the pitcher. 

Airport led 7-0 in the sixth inning, and after a scoreless top half by Seneca, the team needed three runs to win the championship. 

Epps was the first man up, and he doubled. A line drive to center field by Brice Gillette allowed Epps to score, giving the Eagles an 8-0 lead. 

Landon Jeffcoat was walked during his at-bat, putting two Airport runners on base.

With the state title in their grasp, Gross stepped up to the plate. Gillette and Jeffcoat each stole a base to move to second and third and get in a better scoring position. 

On the fourth pitch, up 3-0 in the count, Gross swung and made contact. The ball shot on a line drive to left field, and the runners took off. Gilette crossed first, then Jeffcoat, and the stadium went into a frenzy. 

“I’m not usually at a loss for words, but tonight, it’s special,” Bradwell said.