Sports Update: Raiders rally for 7-6 win for Upper State crown
LDHS catcher Bennett Edwards chases down a ball to hold an Easley baserunner Wednesday. Bennett delivered a three-run double in the seventh that helped the Raiders claim the Class 4A Upper State title.
Laurens’ Class 4A Upper State Championship game Wednesday at Easley started with a double rainbow behind the third-base line and ended at dusk with the Raiders finding a pot of gold.
LDHS rallied from a four-run deficit in its final at-bat , and outfielder Avery Madden delivered what proved to be the game-winning hit – a two-out, two-run game-winning single that lifted the Raiders to a 7-6 victory. With the win, LDHS claimed the Upper State title and earned a chance to win the program’s first state championship since 1990.
Trailing 6-2 in the seventh, the Raiders finally touched up Easley starter Kaleb Owens, an Anderson commit. Jireh Brown and Zay Pulley started the inning with back-to-back singles, chasing Owens after 98 pitches.
Green Wave reliever Cole Davis followed by hitting Hunter Nabors to load the bases, and then gave up a bases-clearing double to center field by Bennett Edwards to cut Easley’s lead to 6-5 with no outs.
After walking Asher Goss, Davis struck out the next two batters he faced, bringing Madden, who was hitless in three previous at-bats, to the plate. A passed ball advanced Zee Williams, a courtesy runner for Edwards, to third and Goss to second.
Madden delivered the game-winning single to left field, and Williams and Goss sprinted home.
“We knew we were good enough, and we put in the work,” said LDHS head coach Tori Patterson. “And a game like that – that was awesome. Down four runs – that’s pressure. I’m proud of my group. . . . I’ve got a good group of kids. They’re resilient. When they get down, they don’t quit. They fight, and that’s them. I don’t have anything to do with that.”
LDHS starter Grayson Ledford survived a nearly disastrous six-run second inning as Easley jumped out to a 6-1 lead with three unearned runs thanks to a Ledford error on a bunt back to the pitcher.
Raiders starter Grayson Ledford survived a six-run second inning to pick up the win Wednesday at Easley.
Ledford recovered after allowing three of Easley’s four hits in the second inning, striking out six and walking two until giving way to junior reliever Connor Rice. Rice, who was making his first playoff appearance, retired the first two batters he faced before Green Wave senior outfielder Braxton Patton delivered one more dramatic moment in a final inning filled with them.
Patton tripled down the right-field line, putting the game-tying run within 90 feet of home plate with two outs on the scoreboard.
Rice then struck out Aaron Tolbert to end the game and earn the save. Easley ended its season with a 25-6 record.
After collecting only two hits in Monday’s Game 1 3-2 victory, the Raiders pounded out 10 hits. Edwards went 2-for-3, and Owen Pridgen, who went 2-for-4 with a double and drove in runs in the first and fourth innings.
LDHS (26-6) is scheduled to open the best-of-three Class 4A state championship series Monday at the Lower State champion. The Lower State championship series between James Island and North Myrtle Beach is tied at 1-1 and is to be decided Friday.
Game Notes: The Raiders have now won six straight playoff games and 12 straight overall. Their last loss came on April 15 against Wade Hampton. . . . Four of the Raiders’ six playoff victories have been by a single run. . . . Jordan Hudson, who has given up one run and struck out 23 batters in his last 14 innings – both playoff victories – is expected to start for LDHS when the state championship series begins Monday. Hudson would have been the Game 3 starter in the Upper State championship series had that be necessary.
