Batesburg-Leesville, Gray Collegiate earn spots in state championship series
Gray Collegiate softball and Batesburg-Leesville baseball earned trips to the state championship series Wednesday night.
Gray defeated South Florence, 13-0, to win the Class 4A Lower State championship. The War Eagles will play York in the 4A championship series beginning Monday at Gray. Game 2 will be at York on Wednesday.
Gray is going for its third championship and second straight but first in Class 4A. The War Eagles’ other two titles came in Class 2A.
B-L earned its first championship series trip since 2004 by defeating Strom Thurmond, 9-4, in the 2A Upper State championship. The Panthers face Philip Simmons in the championship series beginning Saturday at Philip Simmons. Game two is at B-L on Tuesday.
Gray Collegiate 13, South Florence 0
The War Eagles scored nine runs in the first two innings on their way to the run-ruled, five-inning victory over the Bruins.
It was Gray Collegiate’s 30th victory of the season and second over South in the last three days.
Kaley Anderson and Makenzie Sease each had three hits for Gray Collegiate. Anderson and Kaylan Boudreau each had two RBIs. Eight Gray players had hits.
Maddox Long hit a three-run homer for Gray Collegiate.
Peyton Hendrix pitched a complete game, allowing two hits and striking out five. Hendrix also had an RBI.
Batesburg-Leesville 9, Strom Thurmond 4
The Panthers used a five-run fourth inning to break a 4-4 tie on their way to the Upper State championship victory.
Braydon Hallman had a two-run single while Jack Bouknight, John Sawyer and Preston Smith each had RBIs in the big fourth inning.
Hallman was 2 for 4 with three RBIs while Jack Bouknight and Landon Soper each had two hits.
Carter Bouknight picked up the win, allowing four earned runs on five hits in five innings.
B-L jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings before the Rebels tied it 4-4 with a four-run fourth inning.
Lexington, AC Flora lose in semifinals
Lexington and AC Flora softball teams saw their seasons end Wednesday.
Byrnes defeated Lexington, 16-0, to sweep the best-of-3 Class 5A Division I Upper State championship series. The Rebels will play Summerville in the title series beginning Monday.
Lexington finishes the season at 23-6. Livi Warren had two hits to lead the Wildcats.
York ended AC Flora’s season, 7-4, in the 4A Upper State championship. The Falcons needed to win Wednesday to force a deciding game on Friday.
Flora scored three runs in the first to lead 3-0. But the Cougars scored four in the fourth to take a 5-3 lead. The Falcons scored one in the fifth to get within 5-4 before the Cougars added two in the sixth.
Cameron Crook led ACF with two hits and Brooklynn Mosley was 1-for-4 with an RBI.
This story was originally published May 21, 2025 at 10:05 PM.
