Gamecocks commit Sightler ties state record with 21 strikeouts

Josiah Sightler had a game to remember on Saturday to keep the Swansea’s baseball season alive.

The Swansea pitcher and South Carolina commit tied a state-record with 21 strikeouts in the 11-2 victory over Bluffton in an elimination game in the Class 3A playoffs.

Sightler, a junior, tied Waccamaw’s Wesley Welchel’s for a seven-inning game set in 2004. Jonesville’s Carl Rochester has the nine-inning mark with 24 set in 1950.

“I didn’t really think of it until the game was over and everyone was talking about it,” Sightler said. “Then that’s when I realized what I had did. My key pitch was my fastball and I was spotting it up pretty well. My curveball came in big too when I needed to get ahead.

The left-hander allowed just four hits and walked one in the victory. Sightler also hit a homer in the game.

The Tigers will travel to Lake City on Monday for the district title and need to beat the Panthers twice.

This story was originally published April 30, 2017 at 1:15 AM with the headline "Gamecocks commit Sightler ties state record with 21 strikeouts."