Lexington Takes on No. 4 Mauldin in I.P. Classic Opener Thursday

Lexington, S.C. – Lexington, ranked No. 1 in the South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association (SCBCA) preseason AAAA poll, takes on 4th-ranked Mauldin in the opening game of the International Paper High School Baseball Classic in Georgetown, S.C. at 2 p.m. Thursday.

Lexington opened its 2013 campaign with a 10-0 win over rival Irmo on Monday.  Three pitchers combined to one-hit the Yellow Jackets. Reece Burnett (1-0) picked up the win allowing only a second inning infield hit over the first 3 1/3 innings.  Elliott Lance struck out three in 1 2/3 innings of work and 8th-grade lefty Chase Williamson struck out the side in his only inning of action.

Burnett, David Barboza and Dalton Addy led the Wildcats with two hits each.  Lexington finished the 6-inning affair with just eight hits but also used six walks, two hit batters and seven stolen bases to score 10 times.

Mauldin beat Wade Hampton  3-1 on Monday in the team’s season and Region II-AAAA opener. Righty Cory Thompson earned the win allowing a run on three hits in five innings. He walked five and struck out four.

Lexington won last year's I.P. Classic with wins over Mauldin (9-3), Wren (9-0), Carolina Forest (10-4) and A.C. Flora (3-1) in the title game. After Thursday’s tilt with the Mavericks, the Wildcats play 5th-ranked Conway on Friday at 10:30 a.m., battle No. 6 Wando at 1:30 p.m. Saturday and conclude the event on Sunday against an opponent that will be determined.

Lexington opens Region V-AAAA play on Tuesday, March 12 when they host Aiken at 7 p.m. at Wildcats Field.