For a moment, Lexington baseball coach Brian Hucks was speechless after his team’s loss in game three of the 5A Division I championship.

The Wildcats’ quest for consecutive state titles came to a close Saturday after losing their second game of the championship series to James Island in an extra-inning thriller. The loss marked a devastating end for Lexington and its many seniors, who elevated the program to another level. 

“ I don't have any great words,” an emotional Hucks said after the game. “ I told them that they've left this place better than they found it. That's just two extra-inning losses in the state championship man. I just hate it.” 

Lexington lost game one of the series at James Island in extra innings as well. Game two at Lexington swung the Wildcats' way, forcing the critical game three in Sumter. 

Jake Amman hit a walk-off RBI double in the eighth inning to clinch the championship for James Island. The dramatic finish was sparked by a late Lexington comeback that put the Trojans on their toes.   

The Wildcats trailed 3-0 through five innings. The team couldn’t get anything going on offense with just one hit on the board at this point. 

Things changed in the top of the sixth. 

Lexington scored two runs in the sixth inning after hitting two singles, earning a walk and having two players hit by a pitch. Brandon Cromer’s RBI single got Lexington’s first point on the board. Logan Blight was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring the team’s second run. 

James Island also made the first of its many pitching changes in the top of the sixth, a decision that would bite the team later on. But first, during the bottom of the sixth inning, the Trojans scored a crucial run to gain separation and put more pressure on Lexington. 

With one guaranteed batting opportunity left, Lexington needed to score at least two runs in the seventh to tie and hope for extra innings. James Island, now on its third pitcher, could win it all with three outs. 

Lexington took advantage of some poor pitching from James Island. The Trojans made two more pitching changes in the seventh, bringing their total to four changes in two innings. 

James Island’s pitchers threw a slew of balls and wild pitches, which allowed Lexington to load the bases and have a chance not just to tie, but to take the lead. The Wildcats were only able to get two across home plate, good enough to tie. 

“ Things were looking bleak. I didn’t know if we were going to really be able to square up enough balls to get back in the game, and then all of a sudden, we start making the adjustments like we've done all year,” Hucks said. To be down and then come back and score, and be down and come back and score, it's just about the toughness and the heart and the grit of these young men.” 

On defense, Lexington clutched up and got three outs before James Island could score a run. The Trojans had opportunities with runners on second and third, but they were left stranded. 

In the extra inning, James Island continued to struggle on the mound, and Lexington capitalized. The Wildcats’ first two batters were walked before Jonathan Waldrop singled to load the bases.  

Two batters later, Toby Sobieralski gave Lexington its only lead of the game after hitting a sacrifice fly. 

James Island made two additional pitching changes in the eighth inning, eventually circling back around to Collin Anderson, who started on the mound. He closed the inning for the Trojans and gave his team a shot to tie or win the championship. 

The final half inning did not go well for Lexington. The Trojans’ first batter was hit by a pitch, taking first. A sacrifice bunt advanced him to second but gave James Island its first out. But that would be the only out. 

The next Trojan batter doubled, scoring the tying run and putting the game-winning run on second. A walk put the next batter on first, setting Amman up for his shot. 

Amman connected with the first pitch thrown his way and drilled the ball to left field, bringing in the final game-winning run. 

“ That's a heck of a baseball team over there,” Hucks said. “You’ve got to tip your hat. They were one run better than us twice.” 

After the loss, Hucks addressed his team one final time. He hopes one day they can look back on this season and remember all they accomplished.

“ They're gonna be my boys for the rest of their lives,” Hucks said. “ We ask a lot of these guys, and the commitment they make and the love they have for the blue and gold is remarkable. I just hate they didn’t get the feeling of winning the last one. This one will sting, but it's a situation that they'll look back on and understand what we overcame.”