Southside Christian Wins Consecutive State AAA Title With Hard-Fought 8-7 Win Over Oceanside

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Simpsonville - Carson Boleman was not on the mound, but his two-run homer in the third inning, helped Southside Christian earn a hard-fought 8-7 win over Oceanside Collegiate on May 28 as the Sabres won their 5^th straight state championship under head coach Scott Freeman.

Only two other teams in Palmetto state history have won five or more consecutive baseball state titles. Lake View won five straight under Kip Herlong between 1997 and 2001 while David Horton’s Bamberg Ehrhardt teams won 8 straight between 1974 and 1981.

Boleman, considered a top 10 first round major league draft pick this July, is without a doubt the best pitcher ever in the prep ranks in South Carolina. He is 35-0 since his 8^th grade season on the Sabres varsity, and he was injured his freshman season and did not pitch.

In his career, Boleman faced 688 batters and he had an incredible 445 strikeouts as a varsity pitcher with a .033 ERA. Boleman’s (6-4, 210), fastball hit 94 mph during his final outing for the Sabres, in a 7-1 win over the Landsharks, in game one. Boleman has superb command of four pitches of the series with a dozen scouts watching from the stands.

After his final high school game, Boleman reflected on his historic journey as a prep baseball player. “It’s not about me,” Carson said. “I am just so proud of what we overcame as a team this season, to finish with our 5^th straight state championship. Just super pride of these guys, to see all the hard work that we put into this season, result in a state title. “

What are his memories, spread out over history making five-year varsity career with the Sabres? “Honesty, most of my memories center around the little things, and my experiences with the guys on my team,” said Boleman. “I can’t really recall all that much as an individual player, but striving to be a good teammate, and making small memories along the way with these guys is what I will cherish the most.”

Boleman, a truly humble player, said he will take some time to rest, while going to numerous private workouts with major league teams between now and the July draft. “I will not play any official baseball with a team, but I am planning to work-out with numerous major league teams before the draft,” said Boleman. “I will make myself available to any club who needs to see me work-out, and I will do whatever I need to do.”

Boleman wanted to thank his high school coach for helping develop him, not only as a player, but as a person. “Coach Freeman does a great job,” said Boleman. “What makes him special, is that he doesn’t just coach us on the field. He helps us to be better young men off the field and that is very important to me as well.” 

After the big win, Coach Freeman talked about many things. “Once we got into the playoffs we were really locked into finishing out this way,” said Coach Freeman. “They knew the goal that we had, and that we wanted to finish out this way, and this game today was the toughest game we have had in the playoffs.

“We hit the ball well, played good defense, and got good pitching so it was exciting,” said Scott Freeman, who also won a state title at Mauldin, and one as a player at Lancaster High in 1992. “Relief is also a way to describe my feelings right now. We have not verbalized it, (going for five in a row), but it has been in the back of everyone’s mind the whole time. We wanted to finish out this way for the seniors who have meant so much to this program.

“To be able to win it at home, the way the weather worked, was also special,” said Coach Freeman. “Our game one was supposed to be our place almost a week ago, but we switched some things around.”

Coach Freeman talked about just how special it has been to coach a player like Boleman. “He is a once in a lifetime talent,” said Coach Freeman. “He is an incredible kid to coach. He is the hardest working player I have coached, and he is such a leader as an example person on and off the field. I have no doubt that he will be voted as one of four captains for the season when the votes in a couple days.

“I am extremely proud of how he has handled the situation this season (40 scouts attended some games) and how the deflected the attention on himself as much as he could,” said Coach Freeman. “However, when you have his talent it’s hard not to be the focus of the team. He handled the situation very well. He always put the team first.”

Coach Freeman cited all the senior starters on the team. “Our right fielder CJ Aubuchon got the game winning hit today in the bottom of the 6th and he came through for us time-after-time throughout the season,” said Coach Freeman. “Will Fulcher had a great game on the mound tonight throwing three solid innings. Both guys might not have had a great start to the season, but they came on very strong with key moments in the playoffs.

“Will Swanson is another senior who played second and had a bunch of key hits this season,” said Coach Freeman.” Bennett Candler made unbelievable plays for us all year in center field, and he started the game on the mound tonight and got us into the 4^th inning. “

Oceanside Collegiate is coached by Britt Reames and the Landsharks were playing for their third state title in a row, after winning a title in Reame’s first year as coach in 2024. It was the second straight year losing to the Sabres.

“Baseball is all about the right pitch here or there, or one good at bat at the right time, or a good defensive play when you need it,” said Coach Reames after the tough loss. “This is what ir boils down to. They got a critical timely hit when they needed it, and it was the difference.”

Coach Reames was proud of the team for their grit and never give up attitude. Sophomore LHP Britt Reames Jr. started on the mound. “He gave us five quality innings on the mound until we turned things over to our relief guys,” said Coach Reames. “Baseball is a growing process, and we know our guys are just going to get better as they grow,”

Coach Reames said he was feeling good after his team scored two runs in the top of the 6^th to take the lead 7-5. “We never panicked, even when we started off the game with two runs in the first,” said Coach Reames. “Our offense scored three runs in the in the third and when they got the two runs in the 6^th we were just hoping to hang on and win the game. Give them credit for coming back in the bottom of the 6th and scoring three runs.”

Oceanside Collegiate will be just as strong next season as they lose only one senior. “Charlie Johnson is our only starting senior and he is headed to Florence-Darlington Tech, so he has a good future ahead of him,” said Coach Reames. “We have a lot of good young players in our program, and they just need to keep working hard to get better. We feel very good about the future success of our program.”

OCA’s all-region players were shortstop/pitcher Charlie Johnson, freshman pitcher Brayden Schwartz, second baseman Cash Crone, and center fielder Finn Kucaba.

In the title game the Sabres were led at the plate by LF Kaden Graham’s two hits and one RBI, along with Boleman’s two run homer. Also, third baseman Jacob Wiggs, DH Beckett DeSario (7^th grader), contributed one hit each. Aubuchon’s hit and three RBI’s were major factors in the win. Junior SS Reeves Israel had a hit also.

OCA was led at the plate by Crone who had two hits and two RBI’s. Johnson contributed a hit along with DH Barrett Svagerka. Third baseman Tanner Fleming had a hit and two RBI’s also. LF Christopher O’Leary contributed a hit and one RBI.     

 SC used four pitchers in the championship game. Senior LHP Bennett Candler started and went 3.2 innings allowing four hits and striking out three. Fulcher went three innings allowing two hits and striking out four and Wiggs closed out the game with one strike-out.

OCA started with the talented LHP Reames who went five innings, allowed five hits, and had four strikeouts. Hank Griffith worked 1.2 innings allowing a hit with one strike out and Johnson closed the game allowing one hit with one strikeout.