Four Midlands teams wrap up region championships, plus Tuesday’s high school scores
The Hammond baseball team is hitting its stride heading into the postseason.
The Skyhawks captured the SCISA 1-3A championship on Tuesday with a 3-1 win in the rematch against Cardinal Newman.
The Cards defeated the Skyhawks, 10-5, on April 7, which started a three-game losing streak. But since then Hammond has won seven straight games headed into the SCISA 3A playoffs next week. Hammond is the defending state champion.
“Since we came off that long break and played them the first time, we have played a lot of baseball,” Hammond coach Chris Braciszewski said. “Playing in the Forest Acres helped us tremendously get back in the swing of things. We really started getting our timing back and started seeing the ball well. … We have played a lot of good baseball the last three weeks.”
The Skyhawks managed just three hits but got a strong pitching performance from starter Jack Weston. The right-hander allowed a solo homer to Matthew Haffner in the first but struck out 10 in 5-plus innings.
Cardinal Newman got first two batters on in the sixth but LSU signee and potential 2022 MLB Draft pick Tucker Toman came in and got out of the jam. Toman allowed a leadoff walk in the seventh but retired the next three batters to pick up the save.
“Coach trusts me with the ball. He doesn’t even have to ask,” Toman said. “He goes boom, here is the ball. It is your game. It helps me compete on the mound.
“But the job isn’t finished yet. It is a new season and we got the playoffs.”
Hammond scored all of its runs in the third, two coming on Cannon Dorsey’s single off Haffner, who left the game after 2 ⅓ innings pitched. Austin Laughlin pitched strong in relief, striking out 10 in 4 ⅔ innings.
But the Cards couldn’t get the key hit they needed and stranded eight in the game.
In other action from Tuesday night:
▪ South Carolina commit Grant Loggins pitched a complete-game three-hitter as the AC Flora baseball defeated Dreher, 3-0, to win the Region 4-4A championship. Phillips Daniels hit a solo homer for the Falcons and Hunter Helmly was 1-for-3 with an RBI as the defending state champions look to defend their title when playoffs start next week.
▪ Lexington softball team won the Region 5-5A championship with a 11-0 win over Dutch Fork. Mackenzie Mathis got the win and also drove in five runs. Jessica Senn homered and drove in three runs.
▪ Gilbert girls soccer won their second straight Region 5-3A championship by defeating Brookland-Cayce 2-1 in penalty kicks. The game was tied 3-3 after regulation and overtime.
Tuesday’s Scoreboard
Baseball
Hammond 3, Cardinal Newman 1
WP: Jack Weston LP: Matthew Haffner. SV: Tucker Toman. Hitters: H: Cannon Dorsey 1-4 2 RBI. CN: Matthew Haffner 2-4 HR, RBI; Harry Weaver 2-4.
AC Flora 3, Dreher 0
WP: Grant Loggins LP: Shane Keup. Hitters: Phillip Daniels 1-3 HR, RBI; Hunter Helmly 1-3 RBI.
Airport 10, Spring Valley 1
WP: Blake Morrison LP: David Stark. Hitters: A: John Allen Forester 1-4 3 RBI; Luke Palyok 2-3 2 RBI; Blake Palyok 1-3 2 RBI; Hunter Epps 2-4
Northside Christian 7, Thomas Sumter 2 (Game 1)
WP: Josh Mack Hitters: NC: Garrett Williamson 1-3 2 RBI; David Lee Clamp 1-4 RBI; Mikah Conner 1-3 RBI
Northside Christian 13, Thomas Sumter 0 (Game 2)
WP: Luke Bonsack Hitters NC: Robert McMillian 1-2 3 RBI; Andy Gwynn 1-2 RBI; Sam Burkes 1-1 2 RBI
Batesburg Leesville 12, Swansea 1 (5)
WP: Cade Bouknight Hitters: BL: Drayton Summers 2-4 4 RBI; Cole Price 2-2 2 RBI; Trevor Jeffcoat 2-2 2 RBI
Brookland-Cayce 7, Fox Creek 0
WP: BJ Etheridge Hitters: Skylar King 1-4 HR, RBI; Mason Turner 2-4 2 RBI; Jackson Thomas 2-4 RBI
Lugoff-Elgin 13, Irmo 3 (5)
WP: Ward LP: Taylor. Hitters: LE: Evans 3-3 3 RBI; Branham 2-4 4 RBI; Carraway 2-3 RBI. I: Williams 1-2 HR, 2 RBI
Softball
Lexington 11, Dutch Fork 0
Hitters: L: Jessica Senn 2-3, HR 3 RBI; Mackenzie Mathis 2-3. 5 RBI; Sarah Gordon 2-3, Sam Craig 2-3 RBI; Livi Warren 1-2 RBI
Spring Valley 15, Rock Hill 4
Hammond 9, Laurence Manning 8
Boys Soccer
River Bluff 5, White Knoll 0
AC Flora 6, Lugoff-Elgin 0
Goals: Carlos Lopez, Jacob Springs, Mateo Nicolini 2, Rogers Thomas, Jackson Price
Dutch Fork 2, Spring Valley 1
Hammond 5, Trinity Collegiate 1
Girls Soccer
Gilbert 3, Brookland-Cayce 3 (Gilbert wins 2-1 in PKs)
Goals:: K. Mozley 2, L.Ansell. BC: Kimberly Neely, Sydney Artlip, Layne Powers
AC Flora 4, Lugoff-Elgin 0
Boys Lacrosse
Class 5A Playoffs
Christ Church 19, AC Flora 5
Boys Tennis
Class 5A Playoffs
Spring Valley 6, Clover 0
Class 4A Playoffs
Irmo 6, Walhalla 0
Class 3A Playoffs
Wren 5, Fairfield Cental 0
This story was originally published April 26, 2022 at 11:16 PM.
