The Dillon Wildcats earned a 7-2 win over Academic Magnet at home on Wednesday, May 6, to claim the Class 2A, District VIII title and advanced to the first round of the lower state playoffs to defeat Aynor 9-3 on Saturday.

On Wednesday, Dillon hosted the Academic Magnet Raptors and took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning off a walk and a double from Patrick Herring. The Raptors scored in the top of the second after reaching on a walk. Neither team could score again until the bottom of the fourth, where Dillon picked up two runners with a single from Joseph Scott and a double from Dekendrick Graves for a 4-1 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, the Wildcats increased the lead to 7-1 with three runs from Gunnar Grossetti and Graves, who reached on singles, and a Jon-Mitchell Carter, who reached on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly from Austin Moody. The Raptors picked up one last run in the top of the seventh after reaching on an error for the final score of 7-2.

Dillon’s Duncan Callahan pitched a complete game for six hits, two runs, one earned run, one walk, and four outs. Connor Woods pitched six innings for the Raptors for 12 hits, seven runs, six earned runs, one walk, and three outs.

At bat for the Wildcats, Omar McCollum went 2-for-3 with a triple, one RBI, and one run scored, also reaching on a walk; Patrick Herring went 2-for-4 for a double with two RBI; Duncan Callahan went 2-for-4; Dekendrick Graves went 2-for-3 with a double, one RBI, one stolen base, and two runs; Jon-Mitchell Carter went 1-for-3 with one run scored and a sacrifice bunt, also reaching on an error; Austin Moody went 1-for-3 with a double, a fielder’s choice, a sacrifice fly, and two RBI; Joseph Scott went 1-for-3 with one run; Gunnar Grossetti went 1-for-3 with one run; and Andrew Rowell scored one run with one stolen base. The Wildcats had 12 hits and two errors in the win.

For Academic Magnet, Adam Ackerman went 2-for-4 with one RBI, a stolen base, and a fielder’s choice; Zach Zuber went 2-for-3; Bekham Watkins went 1-for-3; Reaves Wannamaker went 1-for-3 with a double and one run scored, also reaching on an error; Josh Isaacks scored one run with one stolen base, reaching on a walk; Kyle Davis reached on an error; and Ethan Linhart picked up one RBI on a sacrifice fly. The Raptors had six hits and one error in the effort.

Click here to see more photos from the district championship game!

The Wildcats advanced to the first round of the lower state bracket, where they traveled to Aynor to face the Blue Jackets for a 9-3 win.

Dillon picked up three runs in the top of the first and one in the second to lead 4-0, but Aynor picked up a runner in the bottom of third and two in the fourth to trail 4-3. But Dillon scored three more in the top of the sixth and added two in the seventh to maintain the win.

Austin Moody pitched a complete game for five hits, one home run, three runs, three earned runs, four walks, and four outs. Nick Fowler pitched six innings for Aynor, giving up seven hits, seven runs, seven earned runs, three walks, one home run, one hit by pitch, and two outs. Grayson Long pitched one inning for two hits, two runs, two earned runs, one home run, and two outs.

Gunnar Grossetti and Duncan Callahan each had home runs for the Wildcats. Grossetti went 1-for-3 for two RBI and also had a fielder’s choice, a stolen base, and two runs scored. Callahan went 1-for-4 for three RBI and one run scored, and also had a fielder’s choice.

Patrick Herring led the Wildcats at bat, going 3-for-3 with a double and one RBI, also reaching reachin on a walk; Omar McCollum went 2-for-4 with a double, one RBI, and one run scored; Austin Moody went 1-for-3, also getting a fielder’s choice and reaching on a hit by pitch; Joseph Scott went 1-for-2 with a double and one run scored, also reaching on a walk; Kaleb Page scored one run on a walk; Dekendric Graves made a sacrifice bunt; and Andrew Rowell scored two runs.

At bat for Aynor, Nick Fowler scored a home run, going 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored, also reaching on an error. Jackson Woodle went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt; Caleb Nobles went 1-for-3 with one RBI, also reaching on a walk; Andrew Lovell went 1-for-2 with one run scored, also reaching on a walk; Austin Hucks went 1-for-3 with one run scored, also getting a fielder’s choice; Ridge Richardson and Ian Prosser both reached on walks; and Josh Page reached on an error and also made a sacrifice bunt.

Dillon improved to 14-7 overall and advanced in the winner’s bracket.

The weather forced a postponement in the other Class 2A lower state bracket game between Bishop England and Waccamaw. The game was rescheduled for Monday night, with the winner hosting Dillon tonight on Tuesday.

Photos by Shannon Sawyer Carter. Click the images below to view at full size!