WEST POINT — Oak Hill baseball was one inning away from getting swept out of the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools Class 4A semifinals on Saturday.
Trailing in the top of the seventh inning of game two, the Raiders rallied to score three runs against Kirk Academy, winning 3-2 on the road.
That left a winner-take-all game three for a chance to play for a state title, and Oak Hill wasted no time, scoring in all six innings for a 13-3 mercy rule win and a North State title.
“Our guys came out ready to play on Sunday,” Oak Hill head coach John Siary said. “We had the momentum after Saturday’s come from behind win in the top of the seventh at Kirk. Our fans showed up in force and the environment was electric.”
The Raiders (19-9) led 6-0 through the first three innings, and despite a three-run fourth from Kirk, Oak Hill responded with a run in the bottom-half, outscoring Kirk 7-0 the rest of the way.
Oak Hill scored three runs in three different innings on Sunday, benefiting from two Kirk errors and eight walks.
Defensively, the Raiders were errorless, and on the mound, the trio of John Ross Craven, John Leyton Lewis and Gunter Reed allowed four hits and eight total baserunners.
“We played a clean game defensively, scored with two outs multiple times and filled up the zone,” Siary said.
Now, all attention turns toward the 4A championship series and a shot at a state title against Wayne Academy. Oak Hill travels to Waynesboro for game one at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
“There is great energy and confidence going into the State Championship Series against Wayne Academy this week,” Siary said.
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