The Hilton Head Ozone All-Stars’ outstanding season ended in heartbreaking fashion Sunday, as Hallsville (Texas) overcame a three-run deficit in the sixth inning to earn a 10-9 walk-off victory over Team South Carolina at the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series in Laurel, Mississippi.
The Lowco squad found the scoreboard first with a bases-loaded walk in the opening frame, but Hallsville answered with three runs in the second inning and another in the third to grab a 4-1 advantage. Hilton Head quickly erased the deficit in the top of the fourth, as an Alan Wolf triple set up a Brandon Espinoza sacrifice fly before a clutch two-out single from Will Chapman knotted the contest at 4. A pair of Hallsville runs in the bottom half gave the Texas squad a two-run lead, but Wolf promptly trimmed it in half with a rocketed line drive to center field in the fifth.
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Trailing 6-5 heading into the top of the sixth and final inning, Hilton Head pulled off what seemed to be the game-winning rally. After an Espinoza walk started the frame, Colin Lozan notched an infield single to even the score at 6. Chapman scorched a line drive to right field for his third RBI of the day, and AJ Petro sizzled a ground ball into center to make it a 9-6 South Carolina lead. But they couldn’t seal the deal in the bottom half, as Hallsville plated four on six singles and a walk to come from behind and end Hilton Head’s World Series campaign.
Chapman was spectacular at the plate for Team South Carolina, going 2-for-3 and driving in three runs. Wolf was 2-for-2 with a triple and an RBI, while Lozan added a pair of hits and knocked in a run. Phoenix Shapiro delivered a stellar start on the mound, striking out three batters and allowing just two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings.
By Wes Kerr
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