Red Devils down Tigers; Raiders edged by Lions
Clinton infielder Talan Campbell (10)
Clinton defeated Saluda for the third time in eight days Tuesday, beating the visiting Tigers 5-1 to advance in the winner’s bracket in the Class 2A District 1 baseball playoffs.
With the win, the Red Devils (19-6) are to travel to Chesnee Thursday. Top-seeded Chesnee defeated Central 9-2 Tuesday night.
Clinton trailed Saluda 1-0 before manufacturing two runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good. Jaydon Glenn led off the fourth with a double and scored when Owen Glenn laid down a bunt, reached on an error and wound up on third base. Owen Glenn then scored on Talan Campbell’s sacrifice fly to center field.
The Red Devils added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings as seven different Clinton players collected one hit apiece.
Owen Glenn went 1-for-2 with two runs scored.
Starting pitcher Tanner Finley picked up the win, allowing six hits over five innings with six strikeouts and no walks. Isaac Cane pitched two scoreless innings to pick up the save.
Saluda and Central will meet in an elimination game Thursday night.
Lions edge Raiders, 3-2
Laurens OF Avery Madden
Daniel forced Laurens into an Class 4A District B playoffs elimination game Tuesday night, winning a pitchers’ duel and escaping with a 3-2 victory over the visiting Raiders.
Laurens (18-11) will host Blue Ridge Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in an elimination game. The winner will play again Saturday at Daniel (20-7) in the district finals.
Zay Pulley scored in the first inning on a Bennett Edwards RBI fly out to put the Raiders up 1-0, but Daniel scored twice in the third and added a run in the fourth for a 3-1 lead.
LDHS starter Grayson Ledford lasted four innings, allowing six hits and three runs – two earned – while striking out two and walking two in the loss.
Daniel starter Luke Turner allowed all seven LDHS hits while striking out two and walking one. One of the Raiders’ two runs was earned. Jackson Ownbey got the final two outs for the save.
Avery Madden went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Raiders and was the only LDHS batter with multiple hits. Pulley went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Blue Ridge defeated Travelers Rest 12-1, eliminating the Devildogs and advancing to a second straight elimination game.
LDHS softball falls to York
York’s Peyton Brooks pitched a perfect game as the Cougars defeated Laurens 10-0 in the Class 4A District B Upper State playoffs Tuesday.
York broke open a scoreless tie with a five-run fifth inning and went on to the six-inning victory behind Brooks’ dominating performance in the circle.
Brooks struck out 13 of the 18 batters she faced.
The Raiders will play an elimination game Thursday at Travelers Rest.
Saints fall to Lewisville
Lewisville forced Thornwell into the elimination bracket Tuesday with a three-inning 19-3 victory in Lewisville in the Class 1A District 3 playoffs.
The top-seeded Lions (23-6) scored 12 runs in the second to end the game early due to the 15-run mercy rule.
Lewisville pitcher Gavin Reynolds allowed three runs on two hits in his two innings of work.
Thornwell scored three runs in the second to cut an early Lions lead to 7-3.
Parker Workman, Robert Robert and Tru-Mari Kinard-Shelton each drove in a run for the Saints.
Thornwell will travel to Calhoun County Thursday for an elimination game.
Red Devils eliminated
The Clinton girls soccer team was eliminated Tuesday with a 6-0 loss at Landrum.
The Red Devils end their season with a 9-8-1 record.
