Airport baseball advances, earns title matchup with AC Flora
The Airport Eagles baseball team will have a chance to defend its state championship.
Airport defeated Hartsville, 7-3, in the deciding game of the Class 4A Lower State best-of-three championship series on Saturday at Jimmy White Park.
With the win, the defending state champion Eagles will play AC Flora in an all-Midlands matchup for the 4A state championship. This is the second time the teams have met in a championship series with AC Flora defeating Airport in 2013.
Game 1 is Tuesday at AC Flora with Game 2 at Airport on Thursday. If necessary, Game 3 will be at AC Flora on May 30.
The Eagles will be making their sixth state championship appearance. After losing Game 1 on Tuesday at Hartsville, Airport won the final two games of the series to earn their second straight championship appearance.
Airport jumped on top early with a five-run second inning to lead 5-0. Callahan Berry had an RBI single and Braden Gross RBI single to make it 3-0. Then, Isahia Clemmons delivered a two-run single to make it 5-0.
Gabe Ingram had RBI hits in the fourth and fifth to make it 7-3.
Justin Sightler led Airport with three hits.
Brayden Dunlap picked up the win in relief. Dunlap pitched the final four innings, didn’t allow a run or hit. He struck out one and hit four batters.
