Thursday playoff roundup: Clinton trounces Central; LA eliminated by Dorchester
Clinton first-baseman William Addison (6) hit a pair of homers – one of which was canceled out due to rain – in a 10-1 Class 2A playoff victory over Central in Pageland Thursday.
William Addison a home run as part of an offensive barrage from Clinton before a downpour halted the playoff game as the Red Devils sent Central into the Class 2A Upper State District 2 elimination bracket Thursday with a 10-1 victory in Pageland.
Clinton led 14-1 in the sixth when the game was called due to rain. With the cancellation, the game reverted back to the score at the end of the fifth inning, which was 10-1. It also negated Addison’s second home run of the game.
Without the cancellation Addison would have gone 4-for-4 with 4 RBI and four runs scored. Graydon Watkins went 3-for-3 with a homer, 3 RBI and three runs scored. Camden Finley and Luke Young also rapped out two hits apiece.
Finley picked up the win on the mound for Clinton, striking out five and walking three in four innings.
The Red Devils (26-3), who have scored 48 runs over their last four games, remain in the winner’s bracket. Central will face Liberty in an elimination game Saturday, while Clinton waits for the winner of that game. Liberty edged Blacksburg 5-4 Thursday.
The winner of the Central-Liberty game will play at Clinton Monday in the district finals and must defeat Clinton twice. A doubleheader will be played if necessary.
Dorchester ends Crusaders’ season in semis
Laurens Academy’s Riley Whittaker
Warren Judy hit a pair of three-run home runs, accounting for all of Dorchester Academy’s runs in a 6-4 SCISA Class 2A semifinal win over Laurens Academy Thursday in St. George.
With the victory, Dorchester took the best-of-three series and advances to next week’s state championship series.
Judy’s second homer came in the home fifth with what proved to be the game-winning runs. Judy went 2-for-3 with 6 RBI for Dorchester.
LA had rallied from a 3-0 first-inning deficit after Judy’s first home run, scoring three runs on an RBI double from Caleb Hardy and a two-run double by Ethan Collins. Collins went 2-for-2 with 2 RBI, and Elijah Hornberger went 2-for-3 at the plate for LA.
The Crusaders initially got on the scoreboard in the fourth when Micah Dolan scored on Mason Cooper’s sacrifice fly.
Judy out-dueled LA starter Riley Whittaker on the mound, allowing eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts over six innings. Only one of LA’s four runs was earned. John Quattlebaum pitched a scoreless seventh for the save.
Whittaker lasted four innings and was chased after Judy’s second homer. Whittaker allowed nine hits and six runs – five earned – with two strikeouts. Wyatt Little came on in relief and pitched two scoreless innings with five strikeouts.
The Crusaders (13-8) end their season one victory shy of their first SCISA state finals appearance since 2016.
Dorchester will face the winner of the series between Lee Academy and The King’s Academy in next week’s state championship series.
More this week
Friday
Softball: Clinton at Buford, Class 2A Upper State District 2 playoffs, 6 p.m.; Laurens at Camden, Class 4A Upper State District 2 playoffs, 6 p.m.; Thornwell at Great Falls, Class 1A Upper State District 2 playoffs, 6 p.m.
Baseball: Thornwell at Horse Creek Academy, Class 1A District 2 playoffs (postponed from Thursday), 5:30 p.m.
Track: Laurens at Class 4A District Meet/State Qualifier, York Comprehensive High School.
Saturday
Tennis: Clinton vs. Oceanside Collegiate, Class 2A Boys Tennis Championship, Cayce Tennis Center, 10:30 a.m.
Track: Clinton at Class 2A Upper State Meet, Landrum; Thornwell at Class 1A Upper State Meet, Keenan.
