Baseball Wins District Again; Boys Soccer Loses

For the SJCS baseball team, it was worth the wait.

After two days, and rain that led to a postponement on Tuesday, and a loss when that game was completed Wednesday, and a sun delay that interrupted the second game Wednesday, the Knights defeated Broome 3-1 to win the Class 3A District 2 championship at Lasorda Family Field.

It's the third consecutive district title for the fourth-seeded Knights (17-8), who advance to the Upper State tournament. They will play on the road at 6:00 PM today against third-seeded and District 3 champion Southside Christian (27-1-1).

CLASS 3A BASEBALL BRACKET

Also a Region 3 rival, Southside Christian -- which won Class 1A state titles each of the past three years -- beat St. Joe's twice during the regular season, by scores of 7-3 and 10-0.

Against Broome in Wednesday's second game, the Knights rode the tremendous pitching of sophomore righthander Lucas Thompson, who went the distance and allowed one run on six hits, struck out three and walked two.

The Knights scored all of their runs in third inning. Ben McKay was hit by a pitch to lead off, and one out later Jackson Campbell singled. Quinn Walsh then lined a single into right-center field to score McKay and send Campbell to third.
 

John Campbell hit into a fielder's choice that scored Jackson Campbell to make it 2-0. Frank Remsberg then dropped a single down the left-field line that knocked in Walsh, and St. Joe's had a 3-0 advantage.

That was plenty for Thompson, who gave up a run in the top of the fourth but blanked the Centurions the rest of the way.

The teams began the day with the resumption of Tuesday's game, with the Knights trailing 3-1 in the top of the fourth. Broome added a run that inning, but Remsberg pulled St. Joe's to within 4-3 in the fifth, crushing a pitch over the right-field fence for a two-run homer.

Dean Dryden had three hits in the game, and Jackson Campbell drove in the other run. Cade Alt pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

The Knights fell short in that game, but given another, Thompson and company took full advantage of the opportunity.

PHOTO GALLERY

Boys Soccer

The SJCS boys soccer team fell short in the third round of the Class 3A playoffs Wednesday night, losing 1-0 against Christ Church at Fulp Field on the campus of Converse University.

It was the completion of a match that had begun Tuesday at Christ Church. That match was stopped and then postponed due to rain with about 10 minutes remaining in the first half and Christ Church -- which had scored early -- leading 1-0.

It was moved to Converse on Wednesday and resumed, and the Cavaliers maintained their advantage. 

Still, it was a highly successful first season in Class 3A for the Knights, who ended with a record of 13-6. Five of the six losses came against teams from their Region 3 (the other came against Marist of Georgia), which put six of the final eight and all of the final four in the Upper State.

PHOTO GALLERY

Girls Soccer

Third-seeded Christ Church defeated No. 10 Southside Christian 1-0 on Wednesday in a Class 3A third-round playoff match at Converse University.

That means fourth-seeded St. Joe's (14-5) will play at Christ Church (16-3-1) in the Upper State final, and that match is set for 3:00 PM Saturday at the Cavaliers' Carson Stadium.

Christ Church won both regular-season meetings between the region rivals, by scores of 6-0 and 4-1.

The Knights advanced with a 3-1 double-overtime win over Greer Middle College on Tuesday.

CLASS 3A GIRLS SOCCER BRACKET