The Marion High School Baseball team used a two out rally in the second inning Monday night to post up five runs and begin pulling away from the Loris Lions just as they have pulled away from their field of Region AA competitors all year.
With Russ White onboard at second, Martin Gasque at first, and two outs, Matthew Harrelson walked and Sam Maddox singled to pick up two RBIs. For the first time in 13 years, the Swamp Foxes claimed their Region AA title after declawing the Loris Lions 12-6 yesterday.
Justin Brock also singled and Chris Washington tripled to complete the rally. Marion would tack on four more in the third before placing in substitutes to make this one closer than it really was on a “Joe Allstaff" feel-good win, culminated by the presentation of the Region Championship banner.
It was Senior Leadership Night at the ballpark. The team is graduating eight. Marion only lost one region game and was 14-4 overall in the regular season. Senior Russ White picked up the win making him 3-0 on the year, and Senior Martin Gasque was 2-3 with a crushing two-run homer.
Marion has precious little time to celebrate the Championship before Region 7 titan Timberland rolls into town on Thursday to begin the State playoffs at 6 p.m.
Truthfully, Marion has not played its best baseball in the last three games and Coach Don Cribb is hoping that they will begin a new streak of intense play based on their talent level.
BOX SCORE: Loris (4-15, 2-8)1020003, 6R8H2E; Marion (14-4; 9-1 region) 054102x, 12R16H4E. Pitchers: WP) Russ White (3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 K) LP) Francis Chock (1 1/3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K). LEADING HITTERS: Marion: Justin Brock (2-3, 4 RBI); Sam Maddox (3-5, 2RBI); Martin Gasque (2-2; HR, 2RBI). Loris: Dedrick Searcy (3-3, HR, RBI).

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