Cardinal Newman, Pinewood Prep stay alive in AAAA,St. John's Christian, Calhoun in AAA

By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • May 6, 2025

Roundup on all eight games along with complete brackets are available here

Pinewood Prep and Cardinal Newman stayed alive in the SCISA AAAA baseball state playoffs, while St. John’s Christian Academy and Calhoun Academy kept their title hopes alive in AAA with victories on Monday in elimination games. Meanwhile, Lee Academy and Andrew Jackson Academy in AA and Richard Winn Academy and Holly Hill Academy in Class A won opening games in their best-of-3 semifinal series.

 

           AAAA

 

           Cardinal Newman 5

           Trinity Collegiate 3

 

           Columbia -- Alvin Murray III had two home runs, including a game-winning, walk-off, 2-run blast in the bottom of the seventh inning, to lead Cardinal Newman to a 5-3, come-from-behind victory over Trinity Collegiate at the CN field.

 

The Cardinals, who improved to 15-11 on the season, will be on the road on Wednesday for a 6:30 p.m. contest against Hilton Head Christian Academy in the championship round of the AAAA lower bracket. If the undefeated Eagles win, they will advance to next week’s state championship series. If Cardinal Newman wins, the teams will meet on Thursday at a neutral site.

 

Murray hit his first home run with one out in the first to give the Cardinals the early advantage. Connor Hooks followed with a double and scored two batters later on a single by Matthew Andrews.

 

The Titans scored three in the second, two earned, against Cardinal starter Cole Dinkins, but Dinkins settled down and did not allow another run. Roland Boyd hit a grounder to third to score Chaplin Cox and tie the score at 3. 

 

Hardt Rowland walked to lead off the inning and Murray hit his second blast. 

 

           The Titans finished with a 15-9 record.

 

           Pinewood Prep 15

           Hammond 2

 

           Columbia – Pinewood Prep avenged a loss earlier in the AAAA upper bracket with a 15-2 triumph over Hammond at the Skyhawks’ field.

 

           Hammond defeated the Panthers 11-6 in their first game of the playoffs.

 

           Pinewood Prep, which improved to 24-4, will come back to Columbia on Wednesday for a 6:30 p.m. game against Ben Lippen in the championship round of the AAAA upper bracket. If the undefeated Falcons win, they will advance to next week’s state championship series. If the Panthers win, the teams will meet on Thursday at a neutral site.

 

           AAA

 

           St. John’s Christian 1

           Pee Dee 0

 

           Mullins – Senior Mason Ritter tossed a 4-hit shutout to lead St. John’s Christian to a 1-0 victory over Pee Dee Academy on Monday at the PDA field.

 

           The Cavaliers, who improved to 12-8, will take on Orangeburg Prep on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Orangeburg in the championship round of the AAA upper bracket. If undefeated OP wins, it will advance to next week’s state championship series. If SJCA wins, the deciding game will be played on Thursday at a neutral site.

 

           Ritter struck out seven and walked just two. Senior Tyler Black had a run-scoring single in the top of the sixth inning to score pinch runner Wyatt Williams for the game’s lone run.

 

           Seniors Landon Chapman and William Rusch and freshman Parker Dinkens had the rest of the Cavaliers’ four hits.

 

           The Golden Eagles, who played for the state title last season, finish the year at 15-5.

 

           Calhoun 3

           Williamsburg 2

 

           St. Matthews Cullen Sightler’s 2-out, bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 11th inning drove in Cael Parler with the winning run in Calhoun’s 3-2 triumph over Williamsburg Academy at the CA field.

 

           The Cavaliers, who picked up their 20th win in 29 games, advanced to the championship round of the AAA lower bracket. They will be on the road against undefeated Hilton Head Prep on Wednesday at a time to still be determined. If HHP wins, it will advance to next week’s state championship series. If Calhoun wins, the deciding game will be played on Thursday at a neutral site.

 

           Layton Morris had a run-scoring double in the top of the third inning to give the Stallions a 1-0 lead. Sightler had a 2-run single in the bottom of the inning to put the Cavaliers on top. WA tied the game in the fifth with an unearned run.

 

           Chase Strickland got the win for CA, working the final three innings while allowing one hit and three walks against four strikeouts. Sightler worked the first eight innings and finished with eight strikeouts while allowing five hits and two walks.

 

           Bryce Blackburn started on the mound for Williamsburg. He worked 6 2/3 innings, striking out seven while allowing six hits and two walks. Ethan Jones took the loss in a great performance. He worked four innings and allowed the unearned winning runs while striking out two, walking two and allowing two hits.

 

           Sightler and Turner Hood both had two hits with Sightler finishing with three runs batted in. Morris led the Stallions with two hits.

 

 

           AA

           Lee Academy 11

           Dorchester 1

 

           Bishopville – Freshman left-handed pitcher Brayden Davis tossed a 1-hitter as Lee defeated defending state champion Dorchester Academy 11-1 in five innings.

 

           Davis struck out four and walked two for the Cavaliers, who improved to 14-7. Offensively, Davis had a triple, two runs and two RBI.

 

           Lee had just six hits but took advantage of seven walks, one hit batter and six errors committed by the Rebels. Noah Brazell scored three times and had three stolen bases. Others getting hits were Anrew Bowers, Carson Davis, Landon Olson, Myles Frye and Cash Holloway. Bowers and Olson both scored twice, while Bowers also had an RBI. Tucker Rodgers had a run and an RBI.

 

           Wyatt Byrd had the only hit for DA. Abe Shuler had an RBI.

 

           Game 2 is set for a 7 p.m. start on Tuesday in St. George.

 

            Andrew Jackson 5

           Oakbrook Prep 3

 

           Ehrhardt – Andrew Jackson took a 1-0 lead in its series with a 5-3 victory over Oakbrook Prep at the AJA field.

 

           Landon Johnson got the victory for Andrew Jackson, working six innings while striking out 10 and allowing just one earned run. Jack Walling pitched the final inning, striking out two to get the save.

 

           The Warriors, who are 13-7, were led offensively by Hayden McClung. He was 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Walker Terry had two RBI, and Hall Sease had two hits and a run. Kaiden Kinard had a hit and an RBI.

 

           Oakbrook Prep, which fell to 19-5-1, was led by Dallas Collins. He had a hit and scored twice. Sam Hatcher had a hit, a run and an RBI. Bryce Horton and Austin Bright both had an RBI.

 

           The second game will be played on Tuesday in Spartanburg beginning at 6 p.m.

 

           CLASS A

 

           Richard Winn 4

           Jefferson Davis 1

 

           Winnsboro Charlie Bonds struck out 18 batters in six innings – meaning he recorded each of his outs with a K – and allowed just one hit as defending state champion Richard Winn beat Jefferson Davis Academy 4-1 at the RWA field.

 

           Owen Martin pitched the final inning, striking out two, to get the save for the Eagles, who improved to 14-3.

 

           Jonathan Bonds led the Richard Winn offense, going 2-for-3 with three RBI. Bennett Nicholson scored two runs, Dylan Albert had a hit and a run, Charlie Bonds scored a run and Martin had a hit.

 

           Landon Williams had the only hit for the Raiders, who fell to 13-8. Payton Payne scored the run and Corbin Perry had an RBI.

 

           The second game will be played Tuesday in Blackville beginning at 6 p.m.

 

           Holly Hill 9

           Marlboro Academy 4

 

           Holly Hill – Holly Hill moved within a game of getting back to the state championship series with a 9-4 win over Marlboro Academy at the HHA field.

 

           The Raiders, who improved to 10-8, were led by Tyler Green. He was 3-for-3 with a walk, three stolen bases and two RBI. Ethan Siau and Brodon Murray had two hits apiece.

 

           Ashton Soles got the win, pitching 6 2/3 innings. He struck out eight and allowed two earned runs.

 

           Marlboro completed its quarterfinal series against W.W. King prior to the opening game of the semifinals at the Holly Hill field, winning 6-3. King had won a protest following Thursday’s game, and the final 1 1/2 innings had to be replayed.

 

           Game 2 will be played on Tuesday in Bennettsville beginning at 5 p.m.


AAAA

Upper Bracket

Monday, April 28

Game 1 – (5) Wilson Hall 7, (4) Porter-Gaud 1

Tuesday, April 29

Game 2 – (3) Hammond 11, (2) Pinewood Prep 6

Game 3 – (1) Ben Lippen 10, (5) Wilson Hall 0

Wednesday, April 30

Game 4 – (2) Pinewood Prep 12, (4) Porter-Gaud 2 (Porter-Gaud eliminated)

Thursday, May 1

Game 5 – (2) Pinewood Prep 5, (5) Wilson Hall 2 (Wilson Hall eliminated)

Game 6 – (1) Ben Lippen 7, (3) Hammond 0

Monday, May 5

Game 7 -- (2) Pinewood Prep 15, (3) Hammond 2 (Hammond eliminated)

Wednesday, May 7

Game 8 – (2) Pinewood Prep at (1) Ben Lippen, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 8

Game 9 – If Necessary at Neutral Site

 

Lower Bracket

Monday, April 28

Game 1 – (4) Hilton Head Christian 9, (5) Augusta Christian 6

Tuesday, April 29

Game 2 – (2) Cardinal Newman 4, (3) Trinity Collegiate 0

Game 3 – (4) Hilton Head Christian 7, (1) Laurence Manning 3 (9 innings)

Wednesday, April 30

Game 4 – (3) Trinity Collegiate 11, (5) Augusta Christian 7 (Augusta Christianeliminated)

Thursday, May 1

Game 5 – (3) Trinity Collegiate 6, (1) Laurence Manning 5 (Laurence Manning eliminated)

Game 6 – (4) Hilton Head Christian 13, (2) Cardinal Newman 6

Monday, May 5

Game 7 -- (2) Cardinal Newman 5, (3) Trinity Collegiate 3 (Trinity Collegiate eliminated)

Wednesday, May 7

Game 8 – (2) Cardinal Newman at (4) Hilton Head Christian, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 8

Game 9 – If Necessary at Neutral Site

 

Championship Series

Best-of-3

May 12, 13, 15

 

AAA

Upper Bracket

Monday, April 28

Game 1 – (4) Patrick Henry 5, (5) Spartanburg Christian 1

Tuesday, April 29

Game 2 – (2) Pee Dee 4, (3) St. John’s Christian 0

Game 3 – (1) Orangeburg Prep 11, (4) Patrick Henry 3

Wednesday, April 30

Game 4 – (3) St. John's Christian 6, (5) Spartanburg Christian 1 (Spartanburg Christian eliminated)

Thursday, May 1

Game 5 – (3) St. John's Christian 3, (4) Patrick Henry 2 (Patrick Henry eliminated)

Game 6 – (1) Orangeburg Prep 2, (2) Pee Dee 1

Monday, May 5

Game 7 -- (3) St. John's Christian 1, (2) Pee Dee 0 (Pee Dee eliminated)

Wednesday, May 7

Game 8 – (3) St. John's Christian at (1) Orangeburg Prep, 7 p.m.

Thursday, May 8

Game 9 – If Necessary at Neutral Site

 

Lower Bracket

Monday, April 28

Game 1 – (4) Greenwood Christian 16, (5) Florence Christian 5

Tuesday, April 29

Game 2 – (3) Calhoun Academy 11, (2) Williamsburg 10 (8 innings)

Game 3 – (1) Hilton Head Prep 4, (4) Greenwood Christian 1

Wednesday, April 30

Game 4 – (2) Williamsburg 4, (5) Florence Christian 0 (Florence Christian eliminated)

Thursday, May 1

Game 5 – (2) Williamsburg 6, (4) Greenwood Christian 5 (Greenwood Christian eliminated)

Game 6 – (1) Hilton Head Prep 10, (3) Calhoun Academy 0

Monday, May 5

Game 7 -- (3) Calhoun Academy 3, (2) Williamsburg 2 (Williamsburg eliminated)

Wednesday, May 7

Game 8 – (3) Calhoun Academy at (1) Hilton Head Prep, TBA

Thursday, May 8

Game 9 – If Necessary at Neutral Site

 

Championship Series

Best-of-3

May 12, 13, 15

 

AA

Semifinal Series

Best-of-3

Upper Bracket

No. 2 Dorchester vs. No. 1 Lee Academy

Monday, May 5 -- Lee 11, Dorchester 1 (Lee leads series 1-0)

Tuesday, May 6 – at Dorchester, 7 p.m.

Thursday, May 8 –at Lee (if necessary)

Lower Bracket

No. 2 Oakbrook Prep vs. No. 1 Andrew Jackson

Monday, May 5 -- Andrew Jackson 5, Oakbrook Prep 3 (Andrew Jackson leads series 1-0)

Tuesday, May 6 – at Oakbrook Prep, 6 p.m.

Thursday, May 8 –at Andrew Jackson (if necessary)

 

Championship Serie

Best-of-3

Monday, May 12 – at Lower Bracket Winner

Tuesday, May 13 – at Upper Bracket Winner

Thursday, May 15 – at Neutral Site (if necessary)

 

CLASS A

Semifinal Series

Best-of-3

Upper Bracket

No. 2 Jefferson Davis vs. No. 1 Richard Winn

Monday, May 5 – Richard Winn 4, Jefferson Davis 1 (Richard Winn leads series 1-0)

Tuesday, May 6 – at Jefferson Davis, 6 p.m.

Thursday, May 8 – at Richard Winn (if necessary)

Lower Bracket

No. 3 Marlboro Academy vs. No. 1 Holly Hill Academy

Monday, May 5 – Holly Hill 9, Marlboro 4 (Holly Hill leads series 1-0)

Tuesday, May 6 – at Marlboro, 5 p.m.

Thursday, May 8 – at Holly Hill (if necessary)

 

Championship Series

Best-of-3

Monday, May 12 – at Lower Bracket Winner

Tuesday, May 13 – at Upper Bracket Winner

Thursday, May 15 – at Neutral Site (if necessary)


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