Ready for Game Three

We're just going to focus in and play Lexington softball.”

Lexington softball coach Laurie Epps

With cool temperatures, mostly clear skies and a standing-room-only home crowd, the stage was set for a celebration Thursday at Lexington High School.
A second win over visiting Fort Mill would not only clinch a sixth Class 5A title for the softball program. It would provide the perfect career bookend for a senior class who were freshman on the 2019 championship team three years earlier.
A victory would also close out an undefeated season at home where the Lady Wildcats had won 20 consecutive games.
Wearing the same blue and gold colors as Lexington, the Lady Yellow Jackets turned the tables in game two. Led on the mound and at the plate by pitcher Maddie Drerup, Fort Mill defeated the Lady Wildcats 7-2 to even the best-of-three series.
A night after allowing 13 hits in a 8-0 game one loss, Drerup struck out 10 and held Lexington to a season-low one hit. She also had a go-ahead grand slam home run in the top of the fifth off previously undefeated starter Mackenzie Mathis.
Capitalizing on four errors, Fort Mill (18-6) pounded out a season-high 11 hits against the Lady Wildcats. They also implemented a strategy of intentionally walking All-State catcher Sarah Gordon for every at-bat.
This included walking Gordon with the bases loaded to force in the Lady Wildcats' first run in the bottom of the fifth. Jessica Senn followed with an RBI sacrifice fly, but Sam Craig was picked off third base to end the inning.
"Sarah Gordon is one that can change the game in one swing," Fort Mill head coach Chuck Stegall said. "And she can change the dynamics of their team with one swing. I'm sorry. I love the kid. We just couldn't let her bat. We couldn't let her bat."
"I'm not surprised at all," Epps said. "I'm surprised more teams haven't done that. So, I'm not surprised."
Fort Mill added three runs in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by Brynn Bartolini and two-run homer by Ava Balsinger.
Livi Warren singled with one out in the seventh to end Drerup's no-hitter. The game ended with an infield flyout and groundout at second base.
For the second time four years, Lexington (27-3) now finds itself playing in a deciding game for the state title. This time, it's scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday at Blythewood High School.
"We're just going to focus in and play Lexington softball," Epps said. "We deviated a little bit from that tonight at our bats. We didn't make the adjustments we needed to with pitch selection and we'll work on that tomorrow and then, we'll be ready go for Friday."

Lexington Hall of Fame Nominations

The Lexington High School Athletic Hall of Fame will be selecting members for the class of 2022 soon.

If you would like to nominate someone, please send nominations to:
Lexington High School
c/o Brandon Smith
2463 Augusta Hwy
Lexington, SC 29072

For consideration for 2022, nominations must be delivered by June 1 and include a picture of the nominee. If you have any questions, please email Coach Smith at cbsmith@lexington1.net.