LUGOFF, S.C. — The Andrew Jackson Volunteers, in four meetings with county rival and league champion Buford High School, has only prevailed once this baseball season, but it was the biggest win of the season for them so far.
The 17-15 Vols, the third-place team in Region 5-2A, used their lone win over the Yellow Jackets this season to extend their campaign with a 4-0 victory Thursday, May 16, at Lugoff-Elgin High School.
The Andrew Jackson High victory earned the Vols a return trip to the 2A Lower State finals to face Oceanside Collegiate Academy of Mount Pleasant.
The Vols fell to the Landsharks in the 2023 2A Lower State title game.
Last Saturday, the Jackets rallied for a 4-3 win over the Vols, who rebounded to earn another playoff shot against Buford with an 8-0 elimination game road win over Andrews High in the 2A Lower State championship tournament.
After its one-run win over the Vols, Buford found itself in a rematch with Andrew Jackson, following an 8-0 road loss to defending 2A state champion Oceanside.
Buford was slated to host the Vols, but after a rainout Wednesday, the game was moved to Lugoff-Elgin High due wet field conditions at Buford Park.
The game, like the May 11 clash at Andrew Jackson was scoreless to the fifth inning when the upstart Vols broke through for three runs to take a 3-0 lead.
That’s all that Andrew Jackson senior hurler Jackson Madden needed as the southpaw tossed a complete game, striking out nine. He allowed five hits, three walks and hit a batter.
“Jackson was excellent, giving us the type game you expect from a battle-tested veteran in a high-stakes game,” said Andrew Jackson head coach Mike Lucas. “We showed a lot of grit to get this win against a tough team. He was sensational.”
The Vols scored their three runs as Madden walked and Brady Faulkenberry was hit by a pitch. A Lawson Polson sacrifice bunt moved the runners up and Kenny Bailey responded with a hit to score two runs to highlight the rally.
Andrew Jackson added its final run in the sixth when Madden scored Lucas Deese on a sacrifice fly.
“We played real hard,” Lucas said. “We pride our team on energy, effort, teamwork and grit and that’s been the key for us over the last five weeks when we’ve gone 13-3, which includes a district title and a bid to the 2A Lower State championship series. We’re real proud of these players on how they have worked together and improved to become a good team in contention for a state title.”
Bailey led the Andrew Jackson effort with a hit, two RBIs and a run. Madden supplied a walk and RBI. Deese contributed a walk and a run. Polson had two walks and a sacrifice. Faulkenberry and Landon Neal each scored a run.
Buford senior Tanner Sellers, in five innings, took the loss, allowing a hit, four runs, three earned, and four walks. He fanned three and hit a batter.
Gavin Love went an inning and walked one. Trey Ewing pitched an inning and fanned two.
Mason Deese led Buford with two hits. Brayden Morgan had a hit and a stolen base. Jackson Sellers and Tanner Sellers each added a hit.
Buford, the region champion and District 5 champion, went 26-4, which included a 12-0 region record and 17-game regular-season winning streak.
May 17, 2024 | Lancaster News, The (SC
Author/Byline: Robert Howey Correspondent | Section: The Lancaster News