Winners! Ashley Ridge Claims State 4A Crown

LEXINGTON — It looked a little bleak for the through the first five innings Monday night. 

Playing on neutral territory at in Lexington, the Foxes found themselves down 3-1 to Byrnes High School and momentum seemingly in Byrnes' favor. But as they showed against the a little more than a week ago in advancing to the state championship series, a deficit is hardly much to get too worried about.

, the Foxes managed to claw back to tie the game and send it into extra innings, this time thanks to some timely hitting and the arm of Ashley Ridge ace, Austin Livingston.

And, in the bottom of the 10th, after squandering golden opportunities in the eighth and ninth innings to send the Rebels home, slugger Jason Miller delivered. 

With bases loaded, Miller hit a sacrifice pop fly off Byrnes' ace Alex Cunningham, sending the winning runner home, and giving Ashley Ridge it's first state Class 4A baseball title, in a 4-3 win.

Monday's victory happened almost exactly like Ashley Ridge's win against Lexington -- a sac fly with bases loaded in extra innings. A coincidence that was not lost on some Swamp Fox fans.

"That's why I didn't get too concerned," said Ashley Ridge fan Danny Fortis. "After Lexington, it was like deja vu all over again. OK, I was a little worried, but this team really seems to have something special, and I knew they could pull it out -- and by God they did. I think I speak for everyone here tonight not wearing (Byrnes) blue — it's going to be a fun ride back home tonight to Summerville."