Bluffton American’s run at the Dixie Youth Baseball O-Zone (11-12) State Tournament ended in the final four with a heartbreaking 6-5 loss to Edgefield County on Wednesday at Oscar Frazier Park.
The host team once again was able to recover from an early deficit, falling behind 3-0 after two innings before striking for three in the third and two in the fourth to take a 5-3 lead.
Edgefield chipped away with a run in the fourth and took the lead with two in the fifth, and Bluffton stranded the tying run at third in the sixth.
Colin Hetzel was 1-for-3 with a two-run double, Max Van Esselstyn and Tanon Mankowski each had a hit and an RBI, Roman Colella drove in a run, and Bradley Robbins, Miles Frye, and Talon Putnam each added a hit.
Frye kept Bluffton in it with a solid effort in relief but took the tough-luck loss, allowing three runs (one earned) over three innings.
Edgefield remains undefeated in the tournament and needs just one win in two games against North Myrtle Beach on Thursday to claim the state title.