Hartsville baseball's season ends in deciding game of SCHSL 4A Lower State finals
HARTSVILLE, S.C. − Hugs, tears and goodbyes − at least until next season.
That was Hartsville baseball after the Red Foxes' 7-3 loss to Airport in Saturday's deciding game of SCHSL 4A's Lower State finals at Jimmy White Park.
Hartsville coach Daniel Twitty, right, huddles with players after Saturday's season-ending loss in the SCHSL 4A Lower State finals.
Airport, the defending state champion, wins the series 2-1 and will next play A.C. Flora in the overall state finals.
First-year Hartsville coach Daniel Twitty took pride in his program's season.
"They're brothers; they grew up together, all Hartsville kids, homegrown," Twitty said. "I'm proud of them, and I'm proud to be coach at Hartsville High. So, I'm super proud of the team and the super-competitive spirit they had.
"They never thought they were out," he added. "They took it pitch by pitch, game by game."
Airport, which won 9-7 in Game 2 because of a four-run fifth inning on Thursday, put together a five-run second on Saturday and never looked back.
"They got more hits and had put some nice bunts down and capitalized on some of our mistakes," said Twitty, whose Red Foxes end the season at 27-9. "But Airport is a good team; they're going to battle in the state championship against A.C. Flora. I'm pretty sure they have a good shot."
Isahia Clemons' two-run single to center highlighted Airport’s five-run second.
Hartsville responded with two in the bottom of the third. Ford Wallace doubled to right, Brandon Anderson drew a walk and both scored on Luke Holloman's double. Wallace's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth accounted for the 2026 Red Foxes' final run.
But Airport's Landon Jeffcoat drew a bases-loaded walk in the top of the fourth, and Cooper Chavis scored on an error in the fifth.
Hartsville's Wells Bannister finished Saturday 2 for 3.
Twitty said "6 or 7" Hartsville starters return for next season.
"I want them to remember this, remember our losses. But also remember all the good stuff we've done," Twitty said. "I don't think we've come this far since 2022 when we went to the state championship. I'm just super proud of these guys."
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Hartsville coach Daniel Twitty talks about the Red Foxes' season after falling to Aiport 7-3 on Saturday in Game 3 of the 4A Lower State finals.
