Area teams found themselves on opposite ends of a pair of exciting finishes Monday at the Dixie Youth Baseball state tournaments in Hartsville.
After being rained out Sunday, the Bluffton American AAA all-stars and the Hilton Head O-Zone all-stars were back in action Monday afternoon, and both games came down to the last at-bat.
Bluffton American pushed defending state champion – and Dixie World Series runner-up – Union National to the brink in its second-round matchup. The game was tied at 2 in the sixth when Union claimed a walk-off win with a game-ending grand slam for a 6-2 victory.
Bluffton falls to the elimination bracket and will face Summerville at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Hilton Head staved off elimination with a thrilling victory over Pawleys Island in the O-Zone tournament, scoring in the top of the seventh to break a 1-1 tie and holding on for the extra-inning victory.
Hilton Head will face either Sumter or Blythewood in another elimination game Tuesday.