The Socastee High baseball team saw an early 7-0 lead evaporate into an 8-7 defeat at the hands of Wade Hampton in the first round of the Coastal Invitational Tournament at Waccamaw.

After erupting for seven runs in the second inning, the Braves allowed Wade Hampton to answer in the bottom of the next three innings to cut the deficit to 7-6. The Generals tied it up at 7-all in the sixth inning and the game-winner scored on an error, Socastee’s third of the game.

Socastee’s Hunter Haddock drove in a pair of runs for the Braves and Will Ainsworth, Troy Hancock and Cooper Bryson had two hits apiece. The Braves outhit the Generals 8-7.

Socastee’s Aaron Freer took the loss for Braves. He allowed two hits and two runs over 1 1/3 innings.

The Braves return to action Friday against Waccamaw.

* Carolina Forest 4, West Brunswick 3: The Panthers won their opening day game against West Brunswick High School (NC) 4-3 in dramatic fashion in the Carolina Border Battle opener.

Austin Padgett started on the mound for the Panthers and went 4 2/3 strong innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits. Konnor Walters, Nolan Edwards, and Blake Cox all came on in relief as the trio allowed 1 run and 2 hits over the last 2 1/3 frames. Cox got the win for the Panthers.

With the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 7th inning, Jackson Weatherwax got a one-out single and advanced to second on TJay Brunson’s groundout. Weatherwax stole his way to third before Nolan Edwards’ hit went through the shortstop’s legs and drove in the game-winner. Carolina Forest’s Dylan Jones was 2-3 and Jackson Weatherwax was 2-4.

The Panthers lost their ensuing game against Indian Land 9-6.

* Wando 6, St. James 4: The Warriors knocked off the Sharks in the opening round of the Coastal Invitational Tournament on Thursday.

Wando scored five runs in the second inning and held off the Sharks’ comeback bid. St. James was held to only three hits.

* North Myrtle Beach 5, North Augusta 2: The Chiefs rallied for four runs in the sixth inning to complete a comeback win over North Augusta in the opening round of the Carolina Border Battle in Thursday.

Trailing 2-1 for virtually the entire game, North Myrtle Beach finally broke out the bats and beat the Yellowjackets.

The Chiefs had the opposite issue in a 9-3 loss to Charlotte Country Day. NMB led 3-1 entering the sixth, when CCD cored three runs in the sixth and five more in the seventh to steal the win.

* Conway-Myrtle Beach canceled by rain. The game will not be made up as part of the Baseball at the Beach tournament, which continues Friday and Saturday at Myrtle Beach High.

– Photo courtesy of SJHS Athletics

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