CLEMSON — One week after winning the regional tournament in Lancaster, the Union NL All-Stars traveled to Clemson for a chance to win the state tournament and ultimately advance to the World Series.

So far, so good for the team as they won their first two state tournament games and received a a third round bye for Monday. The team will face the Surfside/Dillon winner tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Clemson.

On Saturday, the Union NL All-Stars defeated Hartsville 7 – 3. The team could only manage five hits in the game but three were home runs. Franklin “Red” Thompson swung a big stick, as he homered twice versus Hartsville. JD Cheek added a 3-run home run and AJ Hunter had two singles to power the team’s offense.

“They came out ready to play.” Union NL All-Stars head coach John Cheek added. “They asked no questions, they just come out to do what they have to do.”

Shamar Glenn, Thompson, and JD Cheek gave their team what they needed from the pitcher’s mound. The three pitchers threw 12 strike outs to lead their team in a dominating first round win versus Hartsville.

In Game Two on Sunday, the score board could barely hold what the Union NL All-Stars had to offer. The team more than doubled their run total from the night before, en route to victory over Lake Marion 17 – 10. The Union NL All-Stars used 16 hits to earn their second consecutive state tournament victory- and more importantly- a 3rd round bye on Monday in the Dixie Youth State Tournament held in Clemson.

The 17 runs scored is a team-high during tournament play.

“This win gives confidence. Teams didn’t get here by accident, you got to swing the bat,” Union’s head coach John Cheek added.

10 Union batters combined for the 16 hits versus Lake Marion. Shemar Glenn and Franklin “Red” Thompson each had a single and a home run. Twin brothers JD and JT Cheek each contributed 3 singles. Dexlie Inman, AJ Hunter, Jay Thompson, and Princeton Hunter singled for their team. Byran Savage added a double. La’Brayon “Debo” Woods blasted a grand-slam home run to propel the Union NL All-Stars to victory Sunday.

Glenn, Inman and Thompson split the pitching duties in Sunday’s game. They combined for seven strikeouts in the second round win.