The Bluffton American all-stars saw their impressive postseason run come to an end Thursday, losing 11-4 to Hartsville National in the championship round of the Dixie Youth Baseball AAA state tournament in Hartsville.
Bluffton found itself in a big hole early, as Hartsville scored three runs in the first and five in the second for an 8-0 lead, and couldn’t dig out. Bluffton scored two runs in the fourth to try to mount a rally, but Hartsville answered with three in the bottom of the frame for an 11-2 advantage.
Bluffton pushed across two more runs in the fifth but left the bases loaded with a chance to further chip away at the deficit. Bluffton again loaded the bases in the sixth but came away empty-handed.
The state runner-up team was made up of Jackson Arseneau, Roman Colella, Brady Copeland, Kevin Doughit, Miles Frye, Chipper Hetzel, Joe Maybank, Walker Mikkelson, Dylan Mischik, Trace Mischik, Bradley Robbins, Colton Young, and Jake Lewis. The teak was coached by Ryan Mikkelson, Alan Arseneau, George Mischik, and Toby Colella.