The host team is still around at the Dixie Youth Baseball O-Zone (11-12) State Tournament, as Bluffton American stayed alive with a 4-2 win over Sumter on Tuesday at Oscar Frazier Park.
Nico Martucci turned in another outstanding pitching performance, striking out six and allowing just one run over 5 2/3 innings, and Bluffton American took advantage of four Sumter errors to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament.
It didn’t look good early for Bluffton American, as Sumter led 1-0 and had the bases loaded with no outs, but Martucci came on in relief and worked out of the jam with no further damage.
After going down in order in the first two innings, Bluffton broke through in the third. Max Van Esselstyn and Scottie Budrow started the inning with back-to-back singles, and Sumter was unable to field Colin Hetzel’s bunt attempt, loading the bases with no outs. Henry Parrott was hit by a pitch to force home one run, and two more runs scored on passed balls. Bluffton added another unearned run in the fourth.
Meanwhile, Martucci held Sumter at bay, allowing four hits and four walks. He gave up one run in the fifth and a leadoff double in the sixth, but he was able to get two strikeouts before hitting his pitch limit. After two walks loaded the bases, Bradley Robbins recorded a strikeout to seal the win.
Bluffton American will face Edgefield County, the only undefeated team remaining in the bracket, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday with a spot in the championship game on the line.