Lexington, Summerville to Replay End of Softball Playoff Game After Protest

Livi Warren provided a thrilling memory for Lexington High School softball fans with her walkoff home run Monday against Summerville.

Now, a ruling by the S.C. High School League has erased that moment from the official books.

On Tuesday morning, the league upheld a protest by the Lady Green Wave filed with two outs in the top of the eighth inning in the Class 5A Lower State winner's bracket game and the score tied at 5-5.

“A rule interpretation protest by Summerville High occurred and was acknowledged during the contest," according to a statement from the league. "After review, the protest was upheld, and the two teams will meet [Tuesday] at Lexington High to begin at the point of protest."

Lexington High School athletics director Perry Woolbright confirmed the decision and said the game will resume at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Lexington.

The protest revolved around Summerville head coach Heather Tucker attempting to insert pinch hitter Teonia Johnson at bat in place of flex player May May Harrel while keeping Harrel in the game.

Lexington head coach Laurie Epps immediately voiced objection to the move during the game. After a 35-minute back-and-forth discussion among themselves and the head coaches, the umpires did not allow the substitution to take place.

Harrel struck out to end the top half of the inning. Warren then led off the bottom of the seventh by sending the first pitch over the right-field wall for the apparent game winner.

Now, the two teams will continue Monday's contest with the winner advancing to Friday's Class 5A Lower State final. The loser plays host to Chapin Wednesday for an elimination game.