What was expected to be a landmark day for the No. 1-ranked Carolina Forest High baseball program turned out to be one of the longest and toughest.
Needing only to win one game in two chances against visiting Summerville in Saturday’s Class 4A Lower State final, the Panthers were swept in a doubleheader and saw their season end one step away from the state championship series.
The Green Wave won the opener 6-3 and took the nightcap 7-2 to bring an unexpected end to the Panthers’ season. Carolina Forest’s first win of the postseason was followed by its second and final a few hours later.
Trailing 3-2 after three innings, Carolina Forest allowed four runs in the fourth and couldn’t catch up against Summeville ace Bo Gobin, who struck out 11 and limited the Panthers to only two hits in the nightcap.
In the opener, the Panthers actually outhit the Wave by a 10-8 margin but let the game get away late. Carolina Forest led 2-1 entering the sixth inning but saw Summerville explode for five runs in the top of the sixth to force a decisive second game.