Beaufort’s all-stars came up just short of earning a berth in the state tournament, going 2-2 in the Dixie Youth Baseball District 8 AA Machine Pitch (7-8) Tournament in Walterboro.
Beaufort held off a fierce sixth-inning rally from Hilton Head to claim a 13-10 victory in its opener Friday. Beaufort used a seven-run third to lead 13-3 entering the bottom of the sixth before Hilton Head plated seven runs. Landen Davis, William Thompson, and Adam O’Dorazio all hit home runs, and Marshall Rhoten and Reeve Simmons each had three hits and two RBIs to lead Beaufort.
After being rained out Saturday, a 14-3 loss to Bluffton American on Sunday sent Beaufort into an elimination game against Colleton County later that evening. Hayes Tanner, Rawles Moore, and William Thompson each had a hit and an RBI for Beaufort in the defeat.
Beaufort stayed alive with a 15-8 win over Colleton, using five runs in the first and six in the second to build an insurmountable lead. Reeve Simmons was 3-for-3 with an inside-the-park home run and six RBIs, Marshall Rhoten was 3-for-3 with two inside-the-park home runs and four RBIs, and Joshua Martin was 3-for-3 with an inside-the-park homer and two RBIs to lead Beaufort. Cooper Gustwick added two hits and two RBIs, Hogan Wareham was 2-for-2 with an RBI, and Tanner and Landen Davis each added two hits.
But Bluffton American handed Beaufort its second loss, 13-2 on Monday. Gustwick had two hits and an RBI, and Rhoten added two hits in the finale.
