FLORENCE — On June 22, Texarkana was participating in the Palmetto Legion Invitational Tournament in Florence. Texarkana was the 2016 American Legion World Series champions. The 2016 champs wanted to play the 2015 champs — Chapin-Newberry — in a kick-off game.
It was a competitive game that was completed when Robert King hit a two run walk-off home run in the bottom of the 12th inning. The final score was 7-5.
Texarkana scored three in the third, two in the fourth, and was held scoreless the fifth through the 12th innings. Chapin-Newberry scored two in the first, one in the second, two in the eighth, and the two-run walk-off in the 12th by King.
The winning pitcher was Tristan Smaltz, pitching the final 5 1/3 innings, allowing no runs, while Jordan Beatson tossed the first 6 2/3 innings. Smaltz and Beatson combined for 14 strikeouts and no walks.
Completing the battery for both pitchers was Taylor Wiggins.
Leading batters for Chapin-Newberry were Andrew Livingston and Chandler Todd with two hits each and King’s two-run homer.
Chapin-Newbery’s regular season will be completed during the last week of June with the playoffs to follow.
The final regular season home game for Chapin-Newberry is scheduled for June 29 at the Newberry College Smith Road Complex at 7:30 p.m.