It’s championship week in Lexington County as three local teams reached the SCHSL baseball and softball state title round.

Two previous state title winners will look to defend their championships, while another team is seeking its first win in eight seasons.

Airport’s baseball team punched its ticket to the 4A championship series after surviving a three-game thriller against Hartsville in the Lower State round.

The Eagles narrowly dropped game one, losing 2-1 on the road.

Facing elimination, the team bounced back and won at home, 9-7. Airport broke a 5-5 tie in the fifth inning thanks to an Austin Rhodus walk with the bases loaded.

Two batters later, Braden Gross hit a line drive triple to right field that scored three runs.

Airport held its lead the rest of the game, fending off a late comeback attempt by Hartsville in the top of the seventh.

Three pitchers took the mound for the Eagles. Rhodus earned the win. Cash Epps pitched the final two innings to get the save. Daniel Butts got the start.

With the series tied at one, the two teams went back to Hartsville for the decisive game three.

Airport struck first again, going up 5-0 in the second inning. Hartsville scored three runs in the third and fourth innings, but put up no points the rest of the way.

The Eagles earned two more runs in the fourth and fifth innings to make the score 7-3, where it would remain.

Isahia Clemons and Gabe Ingram each had two RBIs.

Epps started the first three innings, striking out three. Brayden Dunlap played the final four, allowing no hits, runs or walks.

Airport is now in the championship series for the second year in a row. The team won its first state title in program history last season.

The Eagles will face A.C. Flora in the final. The Falcons will host games one and three. Game two will be at Airport.

Gray Collegiate’s softball team is also aiming to defend its championship from last season.

The War Eagles are going for a three-peat, winning the 2024 2A title before winning in 4A last season.

No team has been as dominant as Gray this season. The team is still undefeated on the year, entering the title series (32-0). Gray is the No. 1 team in South Carolina and the No. 6-ranked team in the country, according to MaxPreps.

Gray beat South Florence 4-2 in the Upper State final last week.

The team will play A.C. Flora in the state championship. Games one and three are at Gray, with game two being played at A.C. Flora.

Lastly, Chapin’s baseball team is back in the state championship for the first time since winning the 4A title in 2018.

The Eagles are eight-time champions in baseball, winning most of them in the 2A classification.

Chapin earned its first appearance in 5A after beating West Florence in two games last week. The Eagles held their competition to three runs in each of their games, winning 7-3 and 6-3.

The team will play T.L. Hanna in the best-of-three championship series. Game one will be at T.L. Hanna, game two will be at Chapin and game three will be at a neutral site, if necessary.

Lexington County Championship schedule

5A Division II baseball

Chapin at T.L. Hanna - May 26 - State Championship game 1

Chapin vs. T.L. Hanna - May 28 - State Championship game 2

Chapin vs. T.L. Hanna - May 30 - State Championship game 3 (if necessary; at neutral site)

4A baseball

Airport at A.C. Flora - May 27 - State Championship game 1

Airport vs. A.C. Flora - May 28 - State Championship game 2

Airport at A.C. Flora - May 30 - State Championship game 3 (if necessary)

4A softball

Gray Collegiate vs. A.C. Flora - May 26 - State Championship game 1

Gray Collegiate at A.C. Flora - May 27 - State Championship game 2

Gray Collegiate vs. A.C. Flora - May 29 - State Championship game 3 (if necessary)

Week 3 playoff scores

5A Division I baseball

James Island: 10, River Bluff: 4 - Lower State Championship game 1

River Bluff: 11, James Island: 10 - Lower State Championship game 2

James Island: 3, River Bluff: 1 - Lower State Championship game 3

5A Division II baseball

Chapin: 7, West Florence: 3 - Lower State Championship game 1

Chapin: 6, West Florence: 3 - Lower State Championship game 2

4A baseball

Hartsville: 2, Airport: 1 - Lower State Championship game 1

Airport: 9, Hartsville: 7 - Lower State Championship game 2

Airport: 7, Hartsville: 3 - Lower State Championship game 3

4A softball

Gray Collegiate: 4, South Florence: 2 - Lower State Championship

2A baseball

Batesburg-Leesville: 4, Chesnee: 1 - Upper State elimination game 2

Clinton: 4, Batesburg-Leesville: 3 - Upper State Championship