Whale Branch rallied late to tie the game, but host Philip Simmons pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to claim a 5-4 win in the first round of the Class 2A District 8 playoffs Tuesday.
Josh Fields was 3-for-3 and Clarence Stephens added an RBI double for the Warriors. Fields was tagged with the loss in relief, allowing the winning run in the seventh.
The Warriors will face the East Clarendon-North Charleston loser in an elimination game Thursday.