Panthers down Devils to set up Mid-Carolina rematch
Clinton head coach Peyton Spangler speaks to his team recently. (File photo)
Visiting Batesburg-Leesville sent Clinton into the elimination bracket of the Class 2A Upper State championship round Thursday with a 7-1 playoff victory over the Red Devils.
Clinton will now face Region 3-2A rival Mid-Carolina, a 5-3 loser to Strom Thurmond Thursday, at 1 p.m. Saturday. Mid-Carolina (21-7) defeated Clinton in both regular-season meetings between the two teams in March, winning 3-0 and 7-6.
Thursday’s loss to the Panthers snapped a seven-game winning streak for the Red Devils (20-7).
Clinton trailed 3-1 heading into the seventh inning, but the Panthers scored four in the final frame to put the Red Devils away.
Batesburg-Leesville starter Carter Bouknight scattered four hits over 6 1/3 innings, giving up one unearned run with four strikeouts and three walks.
The Panthers’ four-run seventh was highlighted by Braydon Hallman’s two-run double. Hallman and Tanner Watkins both went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI each for the Panthers (19-6-1).
Clinton scored its lone run in the second, cutting the Batesburg-Leesville lead to 2-1.
Owen Glenn reached first and advanced to second on an error to lead off the home second. Glenn later scored on William Addison’s RBI double.
Addison went 1-for-3, and Brett Young went 2-for-4 for the Red Devils.
The loser of Saturday’s game between Clinton and Mid-Carolina is eliminated from the playoffs.
