The 2025 baseball season ended this past weekend with back-to-back 1-run losses in the Upper State playoffs.
The Silver Foxes opened Friday against Region 4-5A rival Lexington. They took a 2-0 lead in the Bottom 5th as Raleigh Salters and Jarvis Jackson both scored on an error off a ball hit by Ethan Offing.
After a solo home run by Christian Spivey, the Wildcats loaded the bases and Jackson Cionek put them ahead 3-2 on a single.
Dutch Fork answered with a 2-run single by Salters in the Top sixth and added a sacrifice fly by Chris Morden in the seventh for the 5-2 lead.
The Silver Foxes were one out away from remaining in the Upper State winner’s bracket when University of South Carolina signee Brandon Cromer singled to keep the Wildcats’ hope alive. A Jackson Cionek single and Tradd Burton walk set up a scoring opportunity for Braydon Jeffcoat, whose 2-run double tied the game.
Burton then completed the Wildcats’ 10th comeback win as he scored off a wild pitch for the 6-5 victory.
The loss sent Dutch Fork to Dorman for an elimination game. The Cavaliers led 2-0 through four innings when the Silver Foxes tied the game in the Top 5th off an error and RBI fielder’s choice.
Aaron Sturgil put Dorman ahead with an RBI single in the Bottom 6th and Dutch Fork stranded the go-ahead run in the Top 7th for the 3-2 loss.
While the Silver Foxes’ season ended, Lexington advanced to the Upper State final with a 4-3 win over J.L. Mann.
Cionek put the Wildcats ahead 2-0 with a double and Spivey followed with a RBI fielder’s choice. Lincoln Hill added an RBI single in the second inning and Cromer held the Patriots scoreless through 6 ⅓’ innings.
Cam Sutton relieved Cromer with the bases loaded and one out. After getting Dawson Siffri to fly out, Sutton gave up a bases-clearing single to get within a run.
Brayden Studebaker entered the game after Sutton allowed another single and retired the final four batters for the 4-3 win.
Lexington will host the JL Mann/Dorman winner on Wednesday for the Upper State title.
Photo by GoFlashWin.com
