Dutch Fork baseball wins region. Midlands soccer teams advance to state semifinals
In a playoff-type atmosphere, Dutch Fork baseball got ready for the postseason in a big way.
Clemson signee Will Taylor hit two homers and the Silver Foxes scored four runs in the sixth inning to defeat Lexington, 10-6, on Thursday to win the Region 5-5A championship.
Dutch Fork will host Ashley Ridge in a first-round playoff game May 15 while Lexington opens the playoffs at Summerville.
It was the third meeting of year between the two teams, who split the previous two meetings last month. Lexington jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the second inning on a pair of Ryan Toll homers.
Playing in front of more than 20 Major League baseball scouts and personnel, Taylor, a likely-high round draft pick, answered for Dutch Fork in the third with a solo homer and then put the Silver Foxes 6-5 with a three-run opposite field homer.
After Lexington tied it in the bottom of the fourth, Dutch Fork scored four in the sixth with two coming on Blake Martin’s two-run single.
Jay Metts pitched six innings to pick up the win and Taylor pitched the final inning. Hayden Friend added three hits for Dutch Fork.
WP: Jay Metts LP: Marcum Hitters: DF: Will Taylor 2-3 2 HR, 4 RBI; Cooper French 2-3 RBI; Blake Martin 1-3 2 RBI; Hayden Friend 3-4 RBI. L: Wells Sykes 2-3 RBI; Ryan Toll 2-4 2 HR, 4 RBI; Nathan Hall 2-3;
Lexington decides to pitch to @willtaylor_10 and first pitch opposite field 3 run HR. His 2nd of game. @ForkBaseball up 6-5 Top 4 pic.twitter.com/o1iAC6S1KN
— Lou Bezjak (@LouatTheState) May 6, 2021
Hammond girls to play for first soccer title
Hammond scored three second-half goals to defeat Hilton Head Prep, 3-0, in the SCISA 3A girls soccer semifinals.
The Skyhawks will play Pinewood Prep for the state championship on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Cardinal Newman. It is Hammond’s first state championship appearance.
Anna Katherine Adams, Claire Lewis and Heriot Sadler each had goals for the Skyhawks.
High School Baseball
Friday
Brookland-Cayce 10, Orangeburg-Wilkinson 0 (5)
WP: BJ Ethridge Skylar King 2-4 2 RBI; BJ Ethridge 1-2 2 RBI; Brycen Johnson 3-3 3 RBI
Gilbert 13, Swansea 0 (5)
WP: Joey Parker Hitters: G: Alex Dinkins 2-3 2 RBI; Dylan Massey 1-4 3 RBI; Joey Parker 2-2 RBI; Ashby Vining 1-3 HR, RBI; Austin Waters 2-3 RBI
White Knoll 12, Pelion 0
WP: Alex Lyon LP: Jackson Moody Hitters: WK: Kennedy Ramsey 4-5 2 RBI; Jake Laird 2-4 2 RBI; Caleb Shealy 2-4
Blythewood 13, Spring Valley 0
WP: Davis Wright Hitters: B: Ty Dooley 2-5, HR, 2 RBI; Caleb McCants 2-4; Camden Watts 1-2 3 RBI; Kevin Steelman 1-2 2 RBI
Thursday
Chapin 8, River Bluff 4
WP: Matthew Becker (13 Ks). LP: Jack Benedict. Hitters: C: Sam Greer 4-6 HR, 3 RBI; Anson Merrick 3-4; Gray Wells 3-5 RBI. RB: Weston Lever 2-4 HR, RBI; Walker Mitchell 2-4; Ethan Plyler 2-4
Gray Collegiate 11, Newberry 0
WP: Peyton Starkey Hitters: GC: Turner Thackston 2-2; Savion Smith 2-4 RBI; Raymond Jones 3-4 RBI; Luke Mays 2-2 RBI
Brookland-Cayce 15, Orangeburg-Wilkinson 0 (4)
WP: Hayden Thomas (10 Ks). Hitters: BC: Tanner Staton 2-3 3 RBI; Hayden Thomas 2-3 RBI; Micah Shivers 2-3 3 RBI;
SCISA 2A Playoffs
Williamsburg Academy 15, Northside Christian 6
Softball
Friday
Chapin 9, Irmo 2
WP: Leah Cabe LP: Emasue Kay Hitters: C: Andee Dicks 3-3 RBI; Alyssa Brulport 1-2 3 RBI; Reagan McMahon 1-2 2 RBI; Morgan Hopkins 2-3 RBI. I: Emily Johnson 2-2 2 RBI
Gilbert 9, Swansea 3
WP: Amaya Kearse. Hitters: G: Amaya Kearse 2-3, HR, 5 RBI; Leah Kearse 2-4, RBI Ayden Leaphart 2-4; Taylor Dreher 2-4 Tara Dorgan 1-4, HR, RBI
SCISA 3A Playoffs
Cardinal Newman 11, Florence Christian 0
WP: Allison DulaneyRosa Carnesale 1-3 2 RBI; Hannah Bostic 2-3 3 RBI; Allison Dulaney 2-3 3 RBI
Florence Christian 7, Hammond 6
Laurence Manning 9, Hammond 4
Boys Soccer
Friday
Class 5A Playoffs
Dorman 2, Blythewood 1
Lexington 5, Stratford 1
Class 4A Playoffs
Catawba Ridge 3, AC Flora 2
Class 3A Playoffs
Bishop England 5, Swansea 0
Brookland-Cayce 4, Oceanside Collegiate 3
Class 2A Playoffs
Christ Church 7, Columbia 0
Girls Soccer
Thursday’
SCHSL
Class 5A Playoffs
Nation Ford 4, Blythewood 0
Wando 2, River Bluff 1
Carolina Forest 2, White Knoll 1
Class 4A Playoffs
Catawba Ridge 3, AC Flora 0
Class 3A Playoffs
Waccamaw 4, Gilbert 1
Oceanside Collegiate 6, Camden 1
SCISA 3A Playoffs
Hammond 3, Hilton Head Prep 0
Goals: Anna Katherine Adams, Claire Lewis,Heriot Sadler
Pinewood Prep 4, Cardinal Newman 2
CN goals: McGovern; Lila Kaminski
Boys Tennis
Class 5A Playoffs
Wando 5, Eastside 1
Class 4A
AC Flora 6, Eastside 0
Class 3A Playoffs
Oceanside Collegiate 6, Camden 0