Finished the job! Hilton Head Prep baseball rallies for SCISA 3A title

The wait was worth it for the Hilton Head Prep baseball team.

After having the deciding game of the SCISA 3A championship series pushed back because of graduation, the Dolphins were up to the challenge Monday and defeated Orangeburg Prep, 5-3, to win the best-of-three championship series.

The win continues another strong championship haul for the school, which also won championships in boys basketball, boys golf and girls soccer in the last few months.

The Dolphins (29-3) won the series opener, 3-0, on Wednesday but dropped Game 2, 6-5, setting up the deciding game at Dorchester Academy.

Orangeburg Prep led 3-1 heading into the sixth inning before the Dolphins responded with four runs to take a 5-3 lead.

Hilton Head loaded the bases in the inning on a pair of walks and a Brody Hausher single. A third walk to Sammy Middleton scored JP Pirkey to cut the lead to 3-2. The Dolphins took the lead on an Orangeburg Prep error that allowed Finnian Rooney and Hausher to score and make it 4-3.

Jackson Stanyard made it 5-3 on an RBI single to right field.

Orangeburg Prep got two on in the top of the seventh with one out. But Brandon Espinoza got the final two outs, including the final one by strikeout to win the championship.

Espinoza pitched a complete-game, allowing one earned run on four hits while striking out five.

Sammy Middleton was 1-for-4 with 2 RBIs while Espinoza, Stanyard and Calvin Middleton each had RBIs for Hilton Head Prep.

Eli Pantaleon was 2-for-3 with a solo home run to lead Orangeburg Prep.

SCISA Baseball

Class 4A Championship

Best-of-3 Series

Wednesday: Ben Lippen 5, Hilton Head Christian 1

Thursday: Hilton Head Christian 16, Ben Lippen 6

Friday: Hilton Head Christian 7, Ben Lippen 3, HHCA wins series, 2-1

Class 3A Championship

Best-of-3 Series

Wednesday: Hilton Head Prep 3, Orangeburg Prep 0

Thursday: Orangeburg Prep 6, Hilton Head Prep 5

Monday: Hilton Head Prep 5, Orangeburg Prep 3, HHP wins series, 2-1

Class 2A Championship

Best-of-3 Series

Tuesday: Lee Academy 6, Andrew Jackson 5

Wednesday: Lee Academy 11, Andrew Jackson 5, LA wins series, 2-0

Class A Championship

Best-of-3 Series

Tuesday: Richard Winn 5, Holly Hill 3

Wednesday: Holly Hill 7, Richard Winn 2

Thursday: Holly Hill 6, Richard Winn 2, HH wins series, 2-1