LA eliminates Andrew Jackson from playoffs behind Whittaker gem
Laurens Academy’s Caleb Hardy beats a throw at the plate during LA’s 9-0 playoff victory Thursday that eliminated host Andrew Jackson Academy from the SCISA Class 2A baseball playoffs.
BAMBERG – Laurens Academy advanced past the opening round of the SCISA state baseball playoffs Thursday for the first time in more than a decade, moving forward with a 9-0 victory over Andrew Jackson Academy in the deciding game of the best-of-three SCISA Class 2A playoff series.
Riley Whittaker pitched a two-hit shutout as LA finally got the big inning it had been waiting throughout the first-round playoff series. Whittaker stuck out five and walked one in the complete game gem.
The Crusaders (12-6), seeded third in the Upstate bracket, advance to take on No. 1 Dorchester Academy in the SCISA Class 2A state semifinals. LA is set to travel to Dorchester Monday for another best-of-three series. Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday at LA.
Whittaker had plenty of support in his best career outing as the Crusaders rapped out 12 hits and put 18 runners on base by hit, walk or hit batters. After three scoreless innings, LA broke through with a pair of runs in the fourth.
That’s all Whittaker needed, but the Crusaders didn’t stop there, adding three runs in the fifth and four in the sixth.
“I’m just glad for our older kids, that they kid to experience this,” said LA head coach Darryl Halbert, noting several tough seasons since he returned to the school in 2021 after winning a state championship in 2012 and making it to the championship game in 2016.
George Sherer went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and three runs scored for LA, and Wyatt Little went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a double off the top of the left field fence that bounced back into play.
Little, Whittaker and Elias Littleton, who hit a RBI double in the fourth to put LA ahead 2-0, all hit doubles for the Crusaders.
Red Devils advance in tennis playoffs
Clinton picked up the win at No. 2 doubles to clinch a 4-3 victory over visiting Belton-Honea Path Thursday and advance to the third round of the combined Class 3A-2A-1A state playoffs.
The No. 1 Red Devils doubles team of brothers Matthew King and Jacob King defeated Blake Maynard and Bryce Mitchell 6-0, 6-0 to eliminate fifth-seeded BHP from the tournament.
Fourth-seeded Clinton will travel to top-seeded Christ Church Monday. Christ Church defeated No. 8 Powdersville 6-0 Thursday.
Here are results from Thursday’s second-round match:
CLINTON 4, BHP 3
Singles: No. 1 Matthew King (C) def. Blake Maynard 6-0, 6-0; No. 2 Edwin Orr (C) def. Bryce Mitchell 6-0, 6-0; No. 3 Jacob King (C) def. Isaac Walker, 6-2, 6-0; No. 4 Jackson Welborn (B) 6-2, 6-2; No. 5 Levi Clark (B) def. Cooper Stinson 6-4, 6-2.
Doubles: No. 1 Matthew King and Jacob King (C) def. Maynard and Mitchell 6-0, 6-0; No. 2 Jaden Case and Nathan Cooley (B) def. Malakye Brewer and Ethan Wargo 6-2, 6-4.
Raiders eliminate Dreher, on to Daniel
Laurens tennis advanced to the third round of the Class 4A state playoffs Thursday with a 4-2 victory over visiting Dreher.
LDHS players Price Turner, Bates Turner, Ryland Edwards picked up singles wins, and the No. 2 doubles team of Dylan Brink and Gibson Partee was victorious against the Blue Devils.
The Raiders (14-5) are to travel to Daniel as the playoffs continue at 5 p.m. Monday. The Lions own a 5-1 regular-season victory over LDHS.
