Southside Christian erupted on the diamond on Tuesday night, routing Chapman 12‑4 to seize the SCHSL Class 3A Upper State championship and etch their name into the record books.
The Sabres exploded for 26 homers in a single season, a milestone sealed when CJ Aubuchon launched a three‑run blast in the second inning and added another round‑tripper later in the game.
A Record‑Setting Onslaught
Aubuchon finished 3‑for‑3 with six RBIs, his second homer cementing a 12‑4 lead and underscoring a season in which he has already knocked out six long balls.
Kaden Graham also chipped in a two‑run shot that tied the team’s record at 25, a moment that highlighted the depth of the lineup.
Despite a rocky start that saw Chapman take a 4‑0 edge without a single hit, Southside’s pitchers settled in, walking a dozen batters and plunking four, before shutting out the Panthers over the final six innings.
The victory propelled the Sabres into a best‑of‑three state championship series against either Oceanside or Hanahan, giving the program its next chance to add to the home‑run tally.
Notably, the win was achieved without the team’s top senior arms, Bennett Candler and Carson Bolemon, with Bolemon — a Wake Forest commit and top MLB draft prospect — watching from the bench.
Coach Scott Freeman and veteran Nate Ianitello will now look to carry the momentum into the championship, where the Sabres hope to translate their offensive fireworks into a title.