By Thomas Grant, Jr.
Irmo Little League sent seven teams to the Southeast Regionals this past weekend.
Both the softball and baseball Seniors came away with League titles to earn a ticket to their respective World Series.
All of the games will be available through the ESPN+ app.
IRMO SENIORS SOFTBALL
Irmo opened the tournament in Salisbury, N.C. with a 5-4 win over Port St. Lucie Fla). McKenna Reimer went 3-3 with an RBI, Haley Alderman of Dutch Fork had a 2-run double and Sami Stephenson hit a 2-run home run.
The next game saw Irmo rally from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Central Accomack (Va) 7-4. Alderman’s 3-run homer highlighted a 6-run third inning for Irmo. Bridget Kean went 3-3 and Stephenson went 2-3 with 3 RBI. Layla Peppers struck out four in her second complete game win. On Sunday, Irmo suffered its first loss to Mallard Creek 5-2 in a game continued from Saturday. It rebounded with a 14-0 rout of Hart County (Ga.) in six innings to set up a rematch with Mallard Creek in the final.
Chapin High teammates Eason Davis went 3-5 with a home run and Reagan Haggard went 4-5 with 2 RBI.
In the rematch, Alderman homered again and Irmo came away with an 8-4 victory for the title. They will now prepare for the Senior League Softball World Series in Sussex County, Del. starting July 29.
IRMO SENIORS BASEBALL
The Irmo All-Star Seniors went 5-0 in claiming the Southeast Regional in Safety Harbor, Fla.
Led by Dutch Fork’s Raleigh Salters’ 3 RBI and a combined seven strikeouts from pitchers Reese Jolley, Colby Smith, and Griff Harper, it opened the tournament with a 6-1 win over Viginia.
On Saturday, Irmo defeated West Virginia 14-6. Ethan Offing of Dutch Fork went 2-4, including a 2-run homer. And Charlie Todd and Denzel Posey both had two RBI.
The Seniors returned to action Monday and defeated Haines City 7-2 for their third final appearance in four years. Kaedyn Harris went 3-4 with a solo home run and two RBI, Flecha drove in two runs and he and Charlie Mejia went 2-4 and Salters went 2-3 with an RBI.
Denzel Posey struck out six and allowed two hits and one earned run for the victory.
In the championship game Tuesday against Virginia, the bats exploded in a 10-0 victory in six innings over Virginia. Kaedyn Harris went 4-4 with four RBI, including a two-run homer.
Charlie Todd also had a 2-run homer and Charlie Mejia hit a solo shot. Griff Harper struck out eight batters in 5 2/3 scoreless innings and Reese Jolly retired the final two batters with runners on second and third to close out the championship victory.
The Senior League World Series starts July 27 at J.B. Red Owens Sports Complex in Easley.
The Irmo Juniors also played for the Southeast Regional championship Tuesday in Broadway, Va. It was defeated 7-3 by Keystone Juniors All-Stars for the second time in the tournament.
Photos by Irmo Little League
