Lexington Teams Maintain First Place With Region Wins
Swansea Snaps Gilbert's Unbeaten Streak in Softball
Teams returned from spring break Tuesday to start the home stretch of the region schedule.
In baseball, archrivals Lexington and River Bluff are in a two-team race for the Region 5-5A title. Both teams kept pace with each other with road victories Tuesday.
The first-place Wildcats defeated Dutch Fork 5-3 as University of South Carolina commit Reese Marcum allowed no hits, walked six and struck out 10 in 5 2/3 innings.
"I told our guys ... good teams find a way to win when they're not playing their best," Lexington head coach Brian Hicks said. "I told Reese 'Your stuff is electric tonight'. But we got behind some guys and walked a few too many of their guys and we had to pull him because his pitch count was so high right there.
"We managed to score a couple of insurance runs right there in the seventh and, obviously, those were big."
A solo home run by Gabe Herold in the top of the first inning. The Silver Foxes scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Blake Martin and Landon Kahl racing home on a wild pitch.
Lexington answered with two runs in the top of the second. Tyler Ford reached base on an error and scored on Nathan Hall's single to tie the game.
After a single by Cole Long, Landon Knight put the Wildcats ahead with an RBI double.
Marcum escaped trouble in the fourth and fifth innings. With two outs in the sixth, he was replaced by Jake Smith who after issuing a walk fielded a grounder by Clark Hubbard for the third out.
Lexington (14-5-1, 6-1) added insurance runs in the seventh after three straight singles. Long drew an RBI walk and Herold scored off a passed ball.
Kevin Samonsky led off the bottom half of the inning with a double. After moving to second on a fielder's choice, Samonsky scored after Smith misplayed a groundball hit by Brennan Ottue.
It was the third error of the game for the Wildcats.
A double by Blake Martin brought the winning run to the plate with one out. Reliever Zach Miller entered the game and got the final two outs on pop flys caught b first baseman by Long to end the game.
The two teams meet again Thursday in Lexington.
River Bluff 8, Chapin 0
Beau Hollins struck out 10 and allowed just two hits as the Gators posted their third straight shutout and extended their scoreless innings' streak to 24.
Thomas Powell drove in three run and Todd Hudson and Walter McPherson each had two RBI to lead the Gators (16-4, 5-2).
The two teams meet again Wednesday in The Swamp.
Batesburg-Leesville 8, Saluda 7
A walkoff RBI sacrifice fly by Trevor Jeffcoat lifted the Panthers to victory in Region 3-2A.
Steven Todd and Luke Derrick each had two hits and an RBI and Cade Bouknight struck out nine batters in five innings for Batesburg-Leesville.
Brookland-Cayce 12, Orangeburg-Wilkinson 2 (5 innings)
Skylar King and Mason Turner both drove in three runs and Parker Mergo had two RBI to lead the Bearcats in Region 5-3A.
Airport 12, Indian Land 3 (Game 1)
Josh Raines went 3-4 and he and Blake Paylok and Adam Rushing all drove in two runs to lead the Region 5-4A champion Eagles.
Indian Land 13, Airport 6 (Game 2)
Josh Raines drove in two runs for the second straight game and Layne Turner and Tyler Dasher both had two hits to complete the doubleheader sweep by the Eagles.
Airport (15-5, 8-0) plays host to Andrew Jackson Academy Wednesday.
Softball
Lexington 6, White Knoll 3 (8 innings)
A four-run rally in the top of the eighth inning enabled the Lady Wildcats to remain undefeated in Region 5-5A.
Sam Craig went 2-3 with three RBI, Jessica Senn had a two-run homer and Sarah Gordon and Maggie Hinz both scored two runs for the Lady Wildcats.
Riley Ford struck out nine in six 1/3 innings. Mackenzie Mathis picked up the win after pitching the final 1 1/3 innings.
Lexington (18-1, 6-0) plays host to Spring Valley Thursday in a non-region game.
Chapin 10, Dutch Fork 0 (six innings)
Ella Majchrzak went 3-3 and she and Alyssa Brulport each had two RBI to lead the Lady Eagles.
Andee Dirckes went 2-3 with an RBI and Leah Cube had six shutouts for the win.
Swansea 6, Gilbert 2
The Lady Tigers handed the Lady Indians their first region loss in six years to move into first place in Region 5-3A.
Gilbert (12-2, 6-1) travels to Strom Thurmond Wednesday and plays host to Midland Valley before inviting Swansea (13-1-1, 7-1) to its stadium Friday.
Girls Soccer
River Bluff 4, Dutch Fork 0
Alanna Corbett scored twice and had an assist and Katie Freiberger and Erika Violette combined at goalkeeper for the Region 5-5A shutout Tuesday.
Emerson Marshall and Abby Dunning both scored and had an assist for the Lady Gators.
River Bluff visits region frontrunner and top-ranked Chapin Friday.
Lexington 2, PAC 0
Kylie McIlravy and Maggie Hafferman both scored in the non-region win.
Chapin 5, White Knoll 2
Boys Soccer
River Bluff 2, Dutch Fork 1
Matthew Rotola scored in the final seconds to lift the Gators to the Region 5-5A win.
The score was tied at 1-1 at halftime. Dutch Fork scored in the first eight minutes and Aiden McNair scored to even the match.
River Bluff plays host to first-place Chapin at 7 p.m. Friday.
Boys Tennis
River Bluff 6, Chapin 0
The Gators improved to 14-1 overall and clinched the Region 5-5A title with a 7-0 record following the win over the Eagles.
River Bluff closes out region play at 5 p.m. Thursday at home against White Knoll. The team will be recognized during halftime of the boys soccer game on Friday.
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