A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE Lexington High School baseball TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR A stellar SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2024 SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS AAAAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the Lexington High School baseball team captured the state title at the state series in Summerville on May 24, 2024; and

Whereas, to the cheers of their exuberant fans, the Lexington High School Wildcats defeated Ashley Ridge High School in the best-of-three series with a 3-1 victory in the second game, finishing the season with a terrific 27-7 record and an impressive 8-0 playoff record.  The team took tournament championships at the Opterra Solutions Invitational and at the Diamond Invitational; and

Whereas, in the first game, Lexington baseball took a 1-0 victory over the Ashley Ridge Swamp Foxes in a three-hit, six-strikeout performance by Wildcat pitcher Jackson Burton. The only run of the first game came in the first inning for senior Jackson Cionek; and

Whereas, on Friday, the teams squared off in Summerville for the second game, but the Swamp Foxes took an early 1-0 lead and held it for four innings. In the top of the fifth, Tradd Burton started Lexington's eleventh successful comeback of the season with a one-out double. After teammate Lincoln Hill was hit by a pitch, Will Burgess doubled to bring in Tradd Burton and tie the game; and

Whereas, Lexington's Brandon Cromer, whose father played on Lexington's 1992 state championship team, followed with the go-ahead sacrifice fly for a 2-1 lead. Wildcat Brayden Studebaker took the mound and kept Ashley Ridge scoreless during more than three innings of relief, and Lexington added a run in the sixth inning on an error off a bunt by Ryder Kellis; and

Whereas, with only one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, Brandon Cromer came in as a relief pitcher for Lexington and finished the inning with a strikeout and pop out. In the seventh, after one strike out, Ashley Ridge had two straight singles and a walk that loaded the bases for the Swamp Foxes. Another strike out and a fly out ended the game with a 3-1 win for the Wildcats; and

Whereas, Wildcats Jackson Burton and Jackson Cionek were selected for the Baseball Coaches of South Carolina North-South Game, and teammate Brandon Cromer has committed to play for the University of South Carolina next year; and

Whereas, the outstanding Lexington High championship team also included Connor Holmes, Owen Watts, Bryce Mobley, Cam Sutton, Logan Blight, Wally Bledsoe, Toby Soberalski, Andrew Kaufman, Jack Cooper, Brystol Shannon, Brayden Jeffcoat, Christian Spivey, Grant Kissner, Graham Coleman, Jake Epps, and Team Manager A. J. Ioveno; and

Whereas, completing his five hundredth win this season, Head Coach Brian Hucks was named the 2024 South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association's Baseball Coach of the Year and earned his fourth career state title, the second at Lexington. In a sport that demands strength, speed, and strategy, Coach Hucks and his skilled coaching staff used their athletic experience and training to forge a championship-caliber team and teach these athletes life principles that will endure beyond the diamond; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives values the pride and recognition that the Lexington baseball players have brought to their school and their community, and the members look forward to following their continued achievements in the days ahead. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Lexington High School baseball team, coaches, and school officials for a stellar season and congratulate them for winning the 2024 South Carolina Class AAAAA State Championship title.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Interim Principal Ann O'Cain and Coach Brian Hucks.

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