Sports Update: Red Devils down Union Co. for region; playoff brackets set
• Red Devils to host Wren Tuesday in 1st round of playoffs
• Updates: Thornwell, LDHS, LA playoffs this week; Red Devil tennis advances
Clinton catcher Luke Young leaps into a bear hug from winning pitcher Carson Glenn (13) as third baseman Tanner Finley (18) joins the celebration following a 2-0 win over Union County for the Region 4-3A championship.
Clinton won its third straight region baseball championship Friday night behind a four-hit gem by left-handed starter Carson Glenn.
The Red Devils downed visiting Union County 2-0 in a winner-take-all game for the Region 4-3A title. With the victory, Clinton secured the No. 1 seed from the region and will host the opening round of the Class 3A playoffs when play begins in the district brackets Tuesday.
Glenn, who helped pitch the Red Devils to last year’s Class 3A state championship, dominated the Yellowjackets, striking out 11 and walking none in the complete game, which he believes is the first of his varsity career.
He got the only run he needed for the win in the fourth inning.
Catcher Luke Young walked and was replaced on the base paths by courtesy runner Owen Glenn, who stole second and reached third on a wild pitch. Jaydon Glenn followed with a two-out single to left field to give Clinton a 1-0 lead.
The Red Devils added an insurance run in the fifth on another two-out single by Harrison Moore. Zane McLendon singled and scored from second, beating a throw to home plate for the 2-0 lead.
Both Moore and Jaydon Glenn went 1-for-3 with an RBI, while lead-off hitter Brett Young went 2-for-3.
Carson Glenn outdueled Union County starter Tanner Hardin, who went the distance for the Yellowjackets and allowed seven hits while walking two and striking out five.
The Red Devils (13-10 overall, 6-2 region) will host Wren, the No. 4 seed from Region 2-3A, Tuesday night.
Playoff brackets set for area teams
• Laurens (22-7) will open the Class 4A baseball playoffs Monday at home against Northwestern, the No. 4 seed from Region 4-2A.
• The Raiders softball team (8-10) will open the playoffs a day later at Indian Land. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday.
• In Class 1A, Thornwell (6-14) made it into the baseball playoffs as the No. 4 seed from Region 2-1A with an 8-5 win Thursday over Calhoun Falls Charter. The Saints are to travel to McBee Tuesday at 6 p.m. to begin the District 3 playoffs.
Sam Robertson pitched and hit the Saints to the victory over Calhoun Falls. Robertson gave up 13 hits to the Blue Flashes, but struck out eight and allowed only three earned runs in the win. He also went 4-for-4 with two doubles, 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. Lead-off hitter Griffin Raines went 3-for-4 with 3 runs scored and 1 RBI.
The Thornwell softball team will open the Class 1A playoffs Wednesday at Lewisville. (Thornwell Facebook photo)
• Thornwell softball (5-17) also made it to the playoffs as a No. 4 seed. The Saints are to open the postseason at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Lewisville.
• Laurens Academy, the No. 4 seed, is slated to play a three-game opening-round series against No. 1 Holly Hill Academy Monday as the SCISA state baseball playoffs get underway. The teams are to play again in Game 2 Tuesday at LA. If necessary, Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday at Holly Hill.
• The Clinton boys soccer team, the No. 2 seed from Region 4-3A, is to open the Class 3A state playoffs at home Monday against Fountain Inn Monday at Wilder Stadium. The Red Devils girls made the playoffs as the No. 4 seed from Region 4-3A and will start the playoffs Wednesday at Region 2-3A champion Powdersville.
Tennis: Red Devils advance to Upstate quarterfinals
The Region 4-3A champion Clinton tennis team advanced to the Class 3A Upper State quarterfinals Thursday with a 4-3 victory over visiting Walhalla.
Clinton will travel to Wren Monday at 5 p.m. Wren was a 4-2 winner over Seneca.
Here are results from Thursday’s second-round match:
Clinton 4, Walhalla 3
Singles: No. 1 Nathan Meade (C) def. Xander Williams 6-0, 6-2; No. 2 Edwin Orr (C) def. Jacob Williams 6-1, 6-0; No. 3 Jonathan Stewart (W) def. Matthew King 6-1, 6-2; No. 4 Jacob King (C) def. Luke Vosburgh 6-2, 6-1; No. 5 David Stewart (W) def. Malakye Brewer 6-0, 6-4.
Doubles: No. 1 Meade and Orr (C) def. Xander Williams and Jacob Williams 6-4, 6-1; No. 2 Eric Crouse and Louie Yannizzi (W) def. Brady Mason and Ethan Wargo 6-0, 6-3.
