Gilbert baseball completes run to AA state title

By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Gilbert – From start to finish, the Gilbert Indians were the best baseball team in class AA. Gilbert completed its run for a state championship on May 16th, beating Hanahan, 3-2, to sweep the AA championship series in two games.
Gilbert defeated Hanahan, 8-3, in game one two days earlier. The Indians closed out the season with a 30-2 record, setting a school record for victories in a season. The championship was Gilbert’s third in the last seven years, joining the title teams in 2006 and 2008.
“This is a great group of young men and they certainly worked hard and deserve this championship,” said Gilbert head coach Ashley Burnette. “This team was very focused all year, from day one. It’s a veteran team that took care of getting themselves ready to play every day.
“You know it’s easy to be excited in the first few weeks of the season but it can be tough by the end of April to show up every day and play with energy. This team never let up. Their goal was to be the state champion and they would not be denied.”
Gilbert had plenty of motivation coming into this season. The Indians were one of the favorites to win the title last season but failed to advance out of the upper state. With eight seniors returning to stew over the disappointment for a year, the team returned with extra focus.
“Last year was certainly a bitter moment and they never forgot how that felt,” said Burnette. “If they any extra motivation, it was that feeling last year knowing they came up short. They were determined to not feel that way again.”
Gilbert entered the season ranked number one in class AA by the High School Sports Report and its only losses were meaningless games to Ashley Ridge in the first week of the season and to Bishop England during the middle of the season.
The strength of this year’s team was on the mound. No team in AA could match the depth that Gilbert had in the pitching department.
Seniors Mike Morrison and Austin LaBounty were the top two starters, each posting an 8-0 record this season. Morrison, headed to Coastal Carolina, finished with 58 strikeouts and a 2.02 earned run average while LaBounty, a South Carolina signee, fanned 47 with a 2.01 earned run average. LaBounty has been named the Class AA Player of the Year by the High School Sports Report.
Senior Connor Owings, the starting second baseman, doubled as the team’s closer. Owings finished with seven saves and did not allow an earned run in 19 2/3 innings pitched.
Junior Drew Moyer was 5-1 on the mound with a 0.59 earned run average.
Owings, named the Statewide Player of the Year for 2012 by the High School Sports Report, also led the way at the plate. The Coastal Carolina signee batted .481 with five homeruns and a school-record 46 RBI. He also swiped 16 bases and hit .524 in the playoffs.
LaBounty hit .453 with three homeruns and 38 RBI while Morrison added 24 RBI. Sophomore shortstop Jared Williams hit .420 with 14 stolen bases and Moyer batted .393.
Senior catcher Collins Shirley hit .375 and senior centerfielder Jason Smith hit .330 with 25 RBI and 15 stolen bases.
Sophomore infielder Mitch Spires hit .368 and had 25 RBI.

Holly Hill plays Williamsburg In Game Three Finale At Calhoun Academy

By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
St. Mathews--The third and deciding game between Holly Hill Academy and Williamsburg Academy (27-10) will be played at 6:30 Thursday at Calhoun Academy after the Stallions forced a third game with a 5-0 win over the Raiders Wednesday night.
Senior pitcher Shuler Ward gave up just a first inning single to Holly Hill while striking out seven in going the distance for the Stallions.
"Give a lot of credit to their pitcher," said Holly Hill head coach Matt Brownlee. "It's been a while since we've faced a pitcher that seemed to be in control like he was. We couldn't get to him and you have to give him credit for the job he did. "Tomorrow playing at a neutral field is fine with me because I will not have to worry about lining off the field and all the minor things you focus on in making sure everything is just right. Tomorrow I am going to be totally focused on a game strategy and what we need to win this final game. We'll go with Jonovan McWhorters and I like our chances with him on the mound."
Williamsburg Academy head coach David Rankin commented about both games his team had played on consecutive nights. "Last night we either hit or walked the first seven batters we faced and you can't win games doing that," he said. "Tonight Shuler Ward did a great job with total command of his pitches and he gave up on one hit and struck out seven so we are proud of his effort. We will probably use several pitchers in the final game. Right now our pitching choice will be a game time decision.  
In the first a single by Zach Gamble scored Jack Kellahan who had reached on a walk. The Stallions added two more runs in the third on a Hugh McCutcheon single, Chris Kellahan walked, and then Ward singled in both runners to put the Stallions up 3-0.
The Stallions scored insurance runs in the 6th and 7th innings from relief pitcher Justin Brownlee who came in for Kyle Clark who was just getting over a touch of the flu. Kellahan doubled down the line to start off the 6th and was brought in on an RBI single by Robbie Heathcott.  In the 7th left fielder Sam Plowden singled and later came in on an RBI by McCutcheon for the Stallion's 5th run.

Northwood closes out sweep of Laurence Manning for SCISA AAA softball title

Manning – Withstanding a bottom of the seventh inning challenge from Laurence Manning, the Northwood Academy softball team held on for a 7-4 win to capture the SCISA AAA state championship, sweeping the best of three series in two games.

The Chargers scored three runs in the third and added three more in the seventh inning on their way to a 7-1 lead. They needed just about all of them as the Swampcats scored three runs and had the tying run at the plate when senior second baseman Samantha Chubb squeezed her glove on the final out.

Northwood picked up 10 hits in the game with senior pitcher Haley Herndon pounding out two doubles and a single while Chubb and senior shortstop Danel Phillips added two hits each. Sydney Seagers added a two-run double. Herndon was equally effective in the circle going seven innings with three strikeouts and just one walk.

Laurence Manning had five hits led by Hannah Hodge with two. The Swampcats battled back late but come up short of their second consecutive state title.

The Chargers send out their three seniors with a second title in three years, having won the crown in 2010 as well.

Marlboro Academy Nips Thomas Heyward, 3-2 to Take AA SCISA Softball Title

By Billy G. Baker
Publisher

Ridgeland--Marlboro Academy (24-4) scored all three of their runs in the third inning to defeat Thomas Heyward, 3-2 to claim the SCISA AA softball title On May, 16 in Ridgeland.

"We proved all the doubters wrong," said head coach Boyd McLaurin. "Nobody gave us a chance when the season started. I am glad that we played Thomas Heyward twice during the season because it gave us a chance to figure out how to defense them. Their first two batters are very quick and once we understood where they hit the ball we shifted our defense to get them out and it worked very well for us. Knowing how to adjust our defense to stop their first two batters was the key to us winning the last two times we played them.

"It is an unbelievable feeling to win a state championship an I am excited for our players," said Coach McLaurin. "We have only one senior (Kristen English) and we are already thinking about next year. Thomas Heyward is a very talented team and both our games in the championship series were very intense with them."

It was the fourth time the two teams had played this season. Marlboro Academy came into the title game with a 1-0 lead in the best of three series after winning  at home Tuesday night, 4-3. Earlier in the season Marlboro Academy had lost twice to THA, 2-1 and 1-0. THA finished 26-3 on the season.

With one out in the Dragon third inning Cristen Crowley and Megan Quick drew back-to-back walks and then English reached on a single to load the bases. Crowley came in on a Sac fly from junior Katie McLaurin and both runners moved up to second and third on the throw in. Pitcher Bailey Jacobs then singled to right center to score Quick and English to put Marlboro up 3-0.

Thomas Heyward came back in the bottom of the third to plate one run. Brina Kelnhofer singled and later scored on  single by Breille Jungblut.

Then in the 6th inning veteran pitcher Ashli Layman, a USC-Beaufort signee, hit a solo home run to cut the lead to 3-2.    

The Dragons were led in the hit index by English who had one hit and scored a run while McLaurin had a hit and one RBI. Jacobs had a single and two RBI's and Megan Belcher had a hit also.

For THA head coach Bob Layman it was a matter of his team not getting a timely hit when they needed it. "We out hit them 9-4 and our five seniors had a very emotional night and sometimes you feel like you beat a team everywhere but on the scoreboard," said Coach Layman. "It was a very intense game and I really wanted it for our seniors."

In the bottom of the 7th Chandler Cook doubled for the Rebels. The next batter hit a ball towards the shortstop and Cook was called out for runner interference when she ran into the shortstop on her way to third base.

"It was a close play and a very aggressive play but nonetheless it was a call that hurt our chances to win the game," said Coach Layman. "Sometimes the breaks just don't go your way."

One situation weighing heavy on the minds of the five seniors on the THA team was the fact that all had booked a senior cruise leaving on Thursday morning. With the rain out on Monday the best of three series started Tuesday night in Bennettsville and Marlboro won that game 4-3. Had THA won the second game it would have forced a third game Thursday at a neutral site.

"I am sure that was weighing on the minds of the senior girls but their hearts were on the game all the way," said Coach Layman. "They are all planning on making the cruise now that the title series is over but I can tell you they had softball first on their minds."

Northwood forces game three with thrilling 2-1, 10 inning win over Pinewood Prep

By David Shelton
Senior Writer

Summerville – In one of the grittiest pitching efforts of the 2012 season, Northwood Academy senior right-hander Ryan Trout logged all 10 innings on the mound and helped propel the Chargers to a 2-1 win over Pinewood Prep in the SCISA Class AAA state championship baseball series on Tuesday night.

Trout allowed three hits and struck out 12 in the longest pitching performance of his career while helping  the Chargers snap a three-game losing streak to their cross-town rivals.

The two teams will play a decisive game three for the championship on Thursday.

Trout spent the first part of this season getting his arm back into shape from an injury suffered during football season and did not make his first appearance on the mound in a game until March 29. He has since posted six victories and has an earned run average of about one.

“I was a little tired about the sixth inning but I’ve been working to get my arm back into shape and it paid off tonight,” said Trout. “It feels good to come back and have a game like this after having been down for so long. I threw two-seam fastballs all night, and my curveball was working.”

Veteran Northwood coach Jerry Stoots, who has more than 700 career victories, calls Trout’s performance one of the best he has seen in his long career.

“That was quite a job by Trout tonight,” said Stoots. “He has been huge for us down the stretch. He really gutted it out tonight. At times we didn’t play too well behind him but he made some big pitches to get us out of a few jams.”

Northwood took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single by freshman Billy Detyens and Trout was hot early, recording five strikeouts in the first three innings.

Pinewood tallied its first hit in the bottom of the fourth when junior J.D. Waite doubled to right, moving Brian Doucet to third. Johnny O’Shaughnessy tied the game on a grounder to third that was thrown wild to plate. Later in the inning, Pinewood later missed on a squeeze attempt and Waite was tagged out at the plate.

Pinewood had a major opportunity in the seventh but came up empty. Jack Buddin reached on an error by Trout but was erased on a fielder’s choice. With two outs, Zack Heaton was hit by a pitch and Kyle Hair hit a hard ground ball to the right side. Northwood first baseman Tyler Gross made a nice pick and tossed to Trout to end the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, Pinewood had runners on first and third with one out but Trout responded with two strikeouts to end the inning.

Northwood’s winning run came in the top of the 10^th. Gross had a one-out single and moved to second on a passed ball during a bunt attempt. Dalton Craven appeared to have fouled off the attempt but the umpire ruled the ball did not hit the bat.

Later in the at bat, Gross moved to third on a wild pitch and Craven scored him with a bloop single to left.

“We obviously thought it was a foul ball,” said Tobin of the game-winning series of events. “It’s a tough call and it didn’t cost us the game. We had our chances tonight to win this game a lot earlier than the 10^th inning.”

Pinewood threatened with two outs in the bottom of the 10^th. After Hayden Heflin walked, Doucet laced a double into the left centerfield gap. Heflin attempted to reach third but leftfielder Drayton Clutters rifled a throw right on the bag for Will Lloyd to apply the tag for the third and final out.

Northwood finished the game with only four hits, getting only two off Pinewood starter Hayden Heflin, who went eight innings for the Panthers.

“Offense was a struggle for both teams tonight,” said Stoots. “All of the pitchers did a good job.”

The two teams will meet for a sixth time on Thursday with Pinewood having won three of the previous five. Those first five mean very little now.

“This is the kind of game you expect in this type of setting and in these close games, the team that makes the fewest mistakes is going to win,” said Tobin. “Tonight, Northwood was the better team. Last night we were the better team. So now it all comes down to Thursday, which I guess is the way it should be.”

Northwood Academy softball beats Laurence Manning, 2-1; game two Wednesday

By David Shelton
Senior Writer

North Charleston – Northwood Academy moved a step closer to a state softball title with a 2-1 win over defending state champion Laurence Manning Academy in game one of the best of three state AAA SCISA championship series on Tuesday.

Senior second baseman Samantha Chubb had two RBI and pitcher Haley Herndon allowed three hits as the Chargers beat Laurence Manning after losing three times this season to the Swampcats.

Game two is set for Wednesday in Manning at 4 p.m.

Northwood was 12-9 during the regular season but is 5-1 in the post-season, including four consecutive wins. The Chargers also avenged three straight losses this season to Laurence Manning.

“I have preached all season defense, defense, defense and today we really stepped up and made some plays,” said coach Becky Ellison. “I have a lot of respect for Laurence Manning and I just told our girls to play one game at a time. Play one inning at a time. We can’t look ahead. We just have to play what’s in front of us. So far, we’ve been able to do that in the playoffs.”

While Chubb and Herndon were providing plenty of senior leadership, the play of two eighth-graders was key to the victory on Tuesday.

Catcher Katelyn Powell threw out two runners attempting to steal second and also threw a runner out trying to take second on a throw home.

Right fielder Bailey Westbury made the defensive play of the game in the top of the seventh. With one out, Westbury made a diving catch of a line drive hit by LMA’s Emily McElveen, a ball that appeared at the very least to be a single but could have been a triple had the catch not been made.

“That was really a big play for sure,” said Ellison. “We talk a lot about team concept and how it takes everyone to contribute. We seem to be doing a better job of playing as a team late in the year.”

Neither team had much offense, each picking up three singles, as defense and pitching dominated the play. Northwood scored a run in the bottom of the first on Chubb’s RBI groundout.

Laurence Manning tied the game in the fourth, taking advantage of an error with two outs. Emily McElveen’s shallow fly to left was dropped and McElveen took second aggressively on the throw back to the infield. Dixie Richburg followed with a ground ball through the middle, scoring McElveen.

In the bottom of the fifth, Chubb delivered a two-out RBI single between short and third for a 2-1 advantage.

“I knew coming in that beating a team four times in a row is just about impossible,” said Laurence Manning coach Maria Rowland. “I knew this would take a great effort because I knew Northwood would be ready to play, and they were.

“I don’t think we played poorly at all. I thought they made some really good defensive plays. It was two good ball teams battling out there and they scored one more run than we did. Both teams were ready to play and it was championship level softball.”

Northwood won the AAA title in 2010 but Laurence Manning took the crown last year. Rowland feels her team is completely capable of winning the next two games and defend the title.

“Nothing comes easy,” said Rowland. “We never expected this to be easy. We’ve got a little adversity now and it’s time to see how we respond. I thought we played a little tight today. I think we just need to relax. If we play the game the way we have played the game all year, we’ll be fine.”

Raiders Hold Off Late Charge By Stallions to Lead Series 1-0

By Mike Reed
Special Writer

Kingstree, SC- Threatening skies could not keep away the overflow crowd in Kingstree on Tuesday night for the opening game of the SCISA AA state championship series between the Stallions of Williamsburg Academy (24-8), and the visiting Raiders of Holly Hill Academy (20-7).

Holly Hill wasted little time setting the tone for this one as sophomore center fielder Jay Shuler lined a one out single into right field. As Stallion pitcher Christopher Kellahan tried to pick Shuler off of first, the ball got away allowing him to advance to second base. Shuler then advanced to third on a wild pitch, setting up senior Justin Brownlee's RBI single for the game's first run.

After catcher John Thomas Garrick was hit by a pitch, another wild pitch advanced both runners to scoring position. Senior Kyle Clark came through with an RBI groundout to increase the Raiders lead to 2-0 at the end of one half inning.

Sophomore pitcher, Seth Swank, now 11-2 on the year, established himself as well with three ground ball outs in the bottom of the first and the score remained, 2-0.

The Raiders would strike again in the top of the third inning. Shuler led off with a walk, Brownlee did the same, and then Garrick was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Williamsburg coach David Rankin was forced to make a pitching change and he brought in Zach Gamble, to try and put out the fire. After a strikeout, Raider third baseman Josh Herron drew a walk to drive in a run. Then right fielder Elias Dupree stroked a two-run single to right to make the score 5-0.

The score remained at 5-0 and the Raiders appeared to be cruising to an easy victory, until one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, when came the dreaded 30-minute lightning delay.

After the delay, Swank came back to the hill and got out of the fifth, but he gave up a walk and hit a batter, and wasn't quite a sharp as he was when the game started.

Then in the bottom of the sixth the Stallions mounted the charge. Kellahan led off with a walk and promptly stole second. Center fielder Shuler Ward, then laced an RBI double to center to plate the first run for Williamsburg. Gamble hit a ground ball to third and while the Raiders had Ward hung up between second and third, they left second base uncovered and both runners were safe. Robbie Heathcott, then hit a hard grouder to second that was misplayed allowing another run to score and the runners to advance to second and third with still no one out. Swank battled back to get a strikeout, but then walked pinch hitter Briley Steele to load the bases with one out. Raider coach Matt Brownlee made the move to his senior closer, Johnathan McWaters. After giving up a run scoring gound out, he enduced a ground ball to end the threat and preserve the now 5-3 lead.

Both teams went quietly in the seventh inning, and the final score was 5-3 HHA  and they hold a 1-0 series lead with the second game to be played in Holly Hill today at 6:30pm.

Coach Brownlee said, "We played great defense tonight except for one inning. They are a good ball team, and it's not over, there is no telling who will show up tomorrow."

When asked about his pitching performances Brownlee said, "Seth did what we needed him to do, and he pitched well enough to get a complete game, but we made some mistakes in the sixth. I can't say enough about Johnathan McWaters. He came in, threw hard, and pitched like a closer should."

Stallion coach Rankin said, "Both teams played hard, and both made some mistakes and the other capitalized on them when they did. They rolled two double plays on us that took us out of some innings. That is just baseball. Sometimes you hit it at them, and sometimes you don't, but we will head down there tomorrow and see what happens."

Pinewood Prep tops Northwood Academy, 7-3, in game one of AAA baseball title series

By David Shelton
Senior Writer

North Charleston – Junior ace J.D. Waite gave a complete game effort on the mound and senior Jack Buddin belted a go-ahead homerun in the sixth as Pinewood Prep defeated Northwood Academy, 7-3, in game one of the best of three SCISA AAA championship series on Monday night.

The Panthers will try to clinch their second championship in four years on Tuesday night at home. Pinewood Prep improved to 20-6 on the season in winning for the 15^th time in its last 16 games. Northwood Academy falls to 26-6 overall, having lost three straight meetings with their region rivals in the last three weeks.

Waite, a left-hander improved to 10-3 on the season with a complete game effort. Waite retired the last 11 hitters he faced after allowing a two-run homerun to Drayton Clutters in the bottom of the fourth, a blast that gave Northwood a 3-2 lead.

Waite allowed five hits total and struck out two.

“Give their guy a lot of credit because he hit a pretty good pitch out the other way and got it out but J.D. really dug in after that and did a great job,” said Pinewood coach Phil Tobin. “He wasn’t at his best early but he gave us a gutsy effort and kept us in the game.”

Pinewood Prep rallied to tie the game in the fifth on Hayden Heflin’s RBI double to score Stephen Hansen, who had singled and stole a base.

Buddin led off the sixth with a towering homerun to left off Northwood starter Andrew Lockliear, putting the Panthers on top, 4-3. After a walk and a wild pitch put a runner on second, Northwood reliever Alex Windham made an errant throw on Austin Morgan’s bunt, allowing a runner to score. Hansen followed with a two-out run-scoring single for a 6-3 lead.

Pinewood added a run in the seventh for the final margin, finishing the game with eight hits. Buddin and Hansen had two hits each.

Clutters had two hits and three RBI for Northwood, delivering an RBI single in the second to give Northwood a 1-0 lead. Pinewood took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on an RBI triple by Johnny O’Shaugnessy and a Northwood error on an attempted squeeze.

“We know this thing isn’t over, not against a team like Northwood,” said Tobin. “Both of these teams played hard and they always do. Tonight we were able to play a little better and we got the win. But I know Northwood. They are backed into a corner and they will come out swinging. They’re a quality team with quality kids and great coaches and we know we will have to match tonight’s effort to have a chance.”

Northwood is making its fifth consecutive appearance in the AAA finals, having lost the previous four years. The loss on Monday marked the fifth consecutive game one loss.

Big First Inning Propels Gilbert By Hanahan, 8-3 In AA Baseball Finals 

By Billy G. Baker
Publisher

Hanahan--Gilbert's Collins Shirley hit  a first inning grand slam against Hanahan in the AA baseball best of three finals Monday night as the Indians went on to defeat the Hawks 8-3.

Hanahan starting pitcher Kyle Dyson walked four batters  and hit two more and all six base runners scored runs for Gilbert (29-2). South Carolina commitment Austin LaBounty faced 21 batters in four innings of work, walked four, but gave up just three hits in improving to 7-0 on the season.

The series now moves to Gilbert on Wednesday night. Hanahan will start Bret Hines on the mound while Gilbert head coach Ashley Burnett said his starting pitcher is yet to be determined.

"When you have quality young men who are committed to working hard every day you have a chance to be successful," said Coach Burdette after the game. "We are fortunate that the kids in our area grow up wanting to play baseball."

Gilbert won AA state baseball titles in 2006 and 2008 and with eight senior starters they appear to be in the drivers seat heading into game two Wednesday. "You can't count Hanahan out because they are too good a team," said Coach Burdette. "They beat some good teams to get to us I can assure you. Any time you can get up 4-0 early it's makes you a little more comfortable but you can never have a safe lead with the way they hit the baseball."    

Hanhan head coach Brian Mitchell is already focused on Wednesday's game. "Bret Hines will have the ball in his hands Wednesday night and hopefully we will go up there and continue to compete," said Coach Mitchell. "We were down 4-0 right out of the gates and you have to battle back from things like that. Our kids never gave up and this series is a long way from being over."

In the top of the 4th Connor Owings made the score 7-1 with a two run homer. Gilbert added their final run in the 5th when Shirley was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a double by junior Taylor Leaphart.

Hanahan sent eight batters to the plate in the 5th inning when LaBounty left after giving up singles to Ryan Manore and Nick Zerbst. Connor Owings came in to pitch for Gilbert and after striking out Hunter Bessinger he walked Seth Lancaster to load the bases. Skylar Hunter, who relieved Dyson, hit a double to score two runs to close the gap to 8-3.      

Ashley Ridge captures lower state AAAA baseball title with 2-1 win over Lexington

By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Summerville – Ashley Ridge rallied with a game-tying run in the bottom of the seventh and won with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth, advancing to the class AAAA state finals with a 2-1 win over Lexington on Friday night.
The baseball Swamp Foxes, now 28-1, became the first athletic program in the four-year history of the school to reach a state championship level.
The Swamp Foxes will travel to Byrnes, a 6-5 winner over Mauldin in the upper state finals, on Monday night for game one of the best-of-three AAAA state championship series.
“When we started this thing four years ago we sort of thought this freshman class would be the class to take us where we wanted to go and to be the first team to represent Ashley Ridge in a state championship is a great feeling and a great honor,” said head coach B.J. Bellush, who became a father for the third time during these state playoffs. “These guys never flinch when they’re down and that goes back to mental toughness, which we talk about and stress every day. We always feel we have a chance to win as long as there are outs left to play.”
Lexington came to town needing to beat Ashley Ridge twice and nearly had game one sewed up behind ace left-hander Josh Reagan.
The Wildcats scored a run on two hits off Ashley Ridge starter Patrick Mace in the top of the first inning as Collin Steagall’s RBI groundout gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
 Mace, however, scattered six singles the rest of the way. He logged all nine innings, getting out of jams in the eighth and ninth.
“I was a little nervous early but I settled down as the game went on,” said Mace, who improved to 8-1 on the season. “I just did what I had to do to keep us in it and give those guys a chance to score a run or two.”
Said Bellush of his pitcher’s effort, “Our big thing the last three years was mental toughness and Patrick just went out there and battled his tail off for nine innings and beat a very good baseball team,” said Bellush.
Reagan was equally impressive for Lexington, allowing only five hits in seven innings while striking out seven. But, getting that 21st out was tough to do.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh, right fielder Tyler Hamby tallied his second hit of the night, a single to right, with one out.
After a strikeout, leadoff hitter Lorenzo Wright went down 0-2 before flaring a single to right to keep the inning alive. Leftfielder Billy Seigler followed with a soft line drive to left center, tying the game and forcing extra innings.
In the bottom of the ninth, Irv Batten was hit by a pitch and Wright walked. Seigler laid down a bunt to sacrifice the runners over but reached first safely, loading the bases for catcher Nick Bell. Bell delivered the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly to right, setting off a wild celebration along the first base line.
“I think our strength is team chemistry,” said Bellush. “We have some very good individual talent on this team, guys that will be playing in college next year, but these guys are not playing for themselves. They play for each other. They’ve been together for four years and they have a very special, strong bond and they believe in each other.”
Ashley Ridge starts eight seniors defensively and its top four pitchers are seniors as well. The Swamp Foxes opened four years ago and spent two seasons in class AA before jumping to class AAAA last year. They have made the state playoffs in every year but the 2012 squad was able to go farther than ever before.
“It’s a special group because there are a few guys in this group that sat behind some other players and have really waited for their time,” said Bellush. “Guys like Irv Batten at shortstop, who was a backup for three years behind a guy and he has been really clutch for us defensively. Tyler Hamby is a senior that was a part-time guy before and he had two hits tonight. Every single player on this team is contributing and that makes it really special.”

Swampcats take series lead with 8-4 win over Pinewood Prep in SCISA AAA semi-finals

By David Shelton
Senior Writer

Summerville – Laurence Manning moved one win away from the SCISA Class AAA state championship series with an 8-4 win over Pinewood Prep in game one of the best-of-three semi-final series on Tuesday night.

Thomas Walker belted a three-run homer and sophomore Linc Powell scattered seven hits in a complete game effort as the Swampcats avenged a 10-0 defeat to the Panthers earlier this season.

Game two of the series is set for Laurence Manning on Wednesday night.

“You know, that first game back in April we walked six guys and made seven errors,” said LMA coach Billy Sylvester. “I told the guys if we play defense and throw strikes, we certainly had a chance to win. I thought we played very well. We did a good job at the plate, made their guy throw a lot of pitches. We got some hits with two strikes and Linc was really good.”

Pinewood scored two runs in the first off Powell but Walker’s blast followed Will McNair’s RBI double to erase the deficit and gave the Swampcats a 4-2 lead in the third. The Panthers tied the game in the bottom of the third on homeruns by Brian Doucet and Hayden Heflin but Powell allowed only three hits over the final four innings.

“He was able to throw his curveball for strikes all night and that was key,” said Sylvester of Powell’s effort. “He got in a groove and pitched with a lot of confidence, and we made some plays behind him.”

Laurence Manning took a 5-4 lead on Mark Pipkin’s RBI single in the fifth, then added three runs in the top of the seventh on RBI hits from Davis Martin and Pipkin, and an RBI groundout by Jack Martin.

Laurence Manning finished the game with 13 hits, 11 off Pinewood ace J.D. Waite, who suffered his first loss of the season. Pipkin, McNair, Corey Brown, and John Thomas Eppley each had two safeties in the game.

“We knew he (Waite) was going on three days rest and we had to take a patient approach and run his pitch count up,” said Sylvester. “I thought our guys did a great job of sticking with the plan and it paid off late in the game.”

          Pinewood Prep saw its 12-game winning streak. The loss dropped Pinewood Prep to 17-6 overall while the visiting Swampcats improved to 22-5.

“We have to win one game, that’s all,” said Panthers head coach Phil Tobin. “You have to win two to advance but right now our thoughts have to be on winning one game. We’ve got a good baseball team and we’re capable of winning. We just didn’t bring our best game tonight. We didn’t play as well as we would have hoped but tomorrow is a new day.”

Tobin felt Waite performed with grit working on short rest and was pleased that he competed into the seventh inning.

“J.D. was going on three day’s rest but he pitched well enough tonight to win the game,” said Tobin. “We let a couple of fly balls drop, kicked it around a little. We didn’t give him great support. He was tiring there late but he’s our guy and we just felt with the score 5-4 in the seventh, we had to see how far he could take us.”

Tobin was also quick to acknowledge the effort by Laurence Manning’s starter.

“Tip your hat to their guy, he did a great job,” said Tobin. “He threw his curveball for strikes and kept us off balance.”

Heflin had two hits and two RBI for the Panthers, who finished with seven hits.

College Coaches Invade State of South Carolina As May Evaluation Is In Full Force

By Billy G. Baker
Publisher

Goose Creek - With the May evaluation period for football in full spring college coaches form all around the nation have been visiting spring football practices so when LSU defensive co-coordinator John Chavis appeared at Pendleton High on May, 1 to observe defensive lineman Michael Hill (6-3, 300) doing drills it created a little spark in the community.

Before we proceed any further the HSSR would like to thank Dusty Rhodes and all the Josten’s reps across the state of South Carolina who make this feature page possible.   

Chavis is a native of Dillon, S.C. and he only ventures into South Carolina to recruit the very best. Sam Montgomery is a lineman from Greenwood who now starts at LSU. Hill is rated the number two over-all prospect in the state by the HSSR for the upcoming season. Earlier this spring Hill attended scrimmages at Clemson, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia Tech. He is real shy with the media and his recruiting is being handled though his high school coach Paul Sutherland.

Over the summer Hill plans to visit Ohio State, Michigan, Florida and Alabama. He has already visited South Carolina, Clemson, Georgia Tech and Tennessee. He has no favorite at this time. He is a defensive tackle with a 355 pound bench and he squats 550 pounds.

Dillon running back Jabo Lee (5-11, 185, 4.4) recently pledged to East Carolina. As a junior he rushed for 1,557 yards on 133 carries averaging 11.7 yards per carry.

Lee is rate as the 8^th over-all prospect in the state of South Carolina by the HSSR. He is rated as the number two running back in the state behind Carolina Forest’s Harold Atkinson (6-1, 244). Lee is more of a slasher and can cut on a dime really well. Atkinson is also being looked at as a fullback by some colleges.

In all around 40 South Carolina seniors are expected to sign with major football colleges by February, 2013. Last year 39 players signed on with 16 different schools ranging from Miami of Ohio to Notre Dame.       

Some of the Top 15 prospects in the state include number one rated D.J. Park (6-6, 321) a right offensive tackle from Dillon, who has committed to South Carolina along with number 7 rated offensive lineman Bryce King (6-4, 295). The state’s top receiver is Goose Creek’s Tramel Terry (6-1, 180) who has pledged to Georgia.

Mike Williams (6-4, 180) a receiver from Lake Marion is rated as the state’s 5^th over-all prospect and he has drawn comparisons to former Summerville and Georgia first round pick A.J. Green. Williams is thought to be leaning to the SEC at this time although schools like Clemson are doing a good job with him as well.

In baseball recruiting news Summerville senior shortstop Matt White III, recently signed to play baseball at Spartanburg Methodist College in the offices of athletic director John McKissick.

White has been starting in the infield for three years for the Green Wave and he has a .355 lifetime batting average on the varsity. With the AAAA baseball playoffs starting at White Knoll on Thursday White is batting .345 with 15 RBI’s and 13 stolen bases so far this season. He also has 9 doubles and three triples and he has scored 18 runs.

“I know that I have played two sports (football) all my life and I have never played a full year of just baseball so I am hoping at Spartanburg Methodist I will be able to focus on baseball for the first time in my life and I am real excited about the opportunity,” said White. “I know that I can develop into a good player and hopefully after two years I will be able to transfer to a division one program.”

White said he has been asked to focus on playing second at the next level but he also has the option to try out at short or play anywhere in the outfield. White ran a 6.7in the 60 at a Diamond Prospects Showcase earlier this spring.

White was also a member of the Sandlappers Shrine Bowl team back in August.White said he looks up to Boston Red Sox infielder Dustin Pedroia.

“He gets after it on ever play and he can swing the bat and he has been a good role model for me,” said White.

Summerville head coach Burt Bazzle called White among his favorite players ever at Summerville going back over 25 years as a head baseball coach.

“Matt White comes to play every game,” said Coach Bazzle. “When he turns a double into a triple running the bases it is just so special seeing him get that first quick first step out of the batter’s box.

“His best baseball is yet to come,” said Coach Bazzle. “There was a time Matt was even a three sport guy but I think he cut out basketball last year. When he starts focusing strictly on baseball I think you will see his real potential coming out. He’s a gamer. He has so many positives going for him and he is a pleasure to be around. The sky is the limit for him in baseball once he starts focusing just on baseball.”

Why do some colleges in South Carolina Not Recruit This State For Athletes?

Goose Creek--We all have opinions. As a journalist I have many more questions than I have answers. This column is a little different from most that I write. This is something to think about and please feel free to e-mail me with your own thoughts.

The question of the day for me is why do certain college programs in this state, continue to have losing records, and yet they recruit very little within the borders of our state? It seems to me that if I am going to have a losing program, or if the administration at my college accepts losing, then why not have a few fans in the stands cheering on young people from great high schools like Dorman, Hilton Head, Stratford, Myrtle Beach, or Byrnes High etc.

Why lose with a roster full of kids from New Jersey or Florida? What the heck is wrong with some of the players from our own state who are often overlooked, under valued and simply never properly evaluated? Am I right or wrong?

I will not mention any colleges by name but for the record we have nearly 30 colleges that field athletic teams and give some form of financial aid in the state of South Carolina. For the record we have nine college football programs, 25 college baseball programs, and 26 college softball programs. In recent years even the technical colleges have been offering aid for athletes by starting baseball and softball programs.

Florence-Darlington Tech, Aiken Tech, come to mind in the sports of baseball and softball. In the upstate Greenville Tech has evened started a college football program.

Over the years I have had the pleasure of forming relationships with both college coaches and the parents of the athletes they are recruiting. It is understandable that rarely is a parent upset when they have football offers from schools like Clemson and South Carolina but in a state with over 4,000 senior players we average about 40 major college signees a year. When you do the math it comes out to one in 100 seniors gets to play big time football. In my mind one on 100 in well above the national average.

 Last year we had one football program in this state with 63 full scholarships lose to two college teams who didn't offer athletic scholarships at all! This particular college has very few players from the state of South Carolina. Why?

Would you believe that one explanation is that that the high school coaches in South Carolina don't get along with this college and that they refuse to advise their own players to go there. In my own research I have not found one high school coach who has something against this college other than to say, "For whatever reason they would rather recruit kids in Florida!"

In the sport of softball I also have major concerns. When I have witnessed Paige Deschaine of Ashley Ridge pitch and Sarah Montei of Summerville hit, field and run I am shocked to my core that their best offers ended up being Augusta State and USC Aiken. I certainly have nothing against these two schools. I am thankful they offered these two talented players but I can think of many larger schools who should have offered them based on what I see about their own teams when I see them on television.

There are countless examples of other softball players I could use but these two players play near where I live and I get to see them often.

College coaches have a saying that they are all hired to be fired.  I say that those colleges in the state who have losing teams for three to four years in a row that is time to hire a coach with ties to the state. You will start getting more in-state players signed if your head coach has ties to this state. When you hire a coach from New Jersey you usually end up getting players from New Jersey because that is where the coaches relationships exists. If you continue to lose with mainly out-of-state players, and your administration tolerates this practice, then they are to blame as much as anyone with the mediocrity that has become woven into the fabrics of some colleges across the state. It is time for a new way of thinking in my opinion.

For the past 28 years I have been in just about every high school in the state of South Carolina. I get it when a college soccer coach says he can go to Atlanta and see more talent at one tournament then he can visiting five tournaments in South Carolina. What I say is that no one questions your recruiting practices if you win and if you have a history of winning. What I am saying is that we have every right as parents and high school coaches to question your recruiting methods if your current practices have produced losing and more losing. Change your bad recruiting habits or change jobs?

I would like to challenge the administrations of all colleges in South Carolina to stress the value of their coaching staffs in using the South Carolina Education Lottery as a great recruiting tool. Why recruit a kid from New Jersey, and pay the higher out-of-state scholarship fee, when you can get that young man or woman from Dorman or Hilton Head with a 3.0 GPA who you get a lot of help from this educational program that is the foundation of the lottery itself. Does this make sense or what???       

This is something for all of us to think about. I just feel like we have a great state with hard working athletes. Seeing some more of their names on in-state rosters would be a step in the right direction!

Spring Banquet Set For June 10

  Please be watching hssr.com as we will soon announce our Spring all-state teams in the sports of baseball, softball, boy's golf, boy's and girl's track, boy's and girl's tennis, soccer and possible lacrosse.

The banquet will be held at Seawell's on Sunday, June 10 at 6 p.m. Right now we are planning for just one banquet that day and the seats should fill up fast. Please call our office at 800-489-0649 the day you see your child's name on the list.

Wilson Hall girls’ send Ard out with state title; Porter-Gaud boys’ roll in AAA

By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Charleston – In her very last act as the girls’ track coach at Wilson Hall School, Stacey Ard hoisted the 2012 SCISA AAA state championship trophy high above her head as tears streamed down her face.
Winning her 12th state title in her 13th and final season as coach, Saturday’s SCISA state meet at Porter-Gaud School was a day full of emotion for Ard.
Entering the final race of the day, the 1600 meter relay, Wilson Hall needed to finish at least fourth to hold off hard-charging Ashley Hall. The Lady Barons finished second in the race, setting off a raucous and tear-filled celebration. Wilson Hall edged Ashley Hall by six points (107-101) in the final team standings. Heathwood Hall was third with 68.5 points, followed by Hammond (67.5) and Orangeburg Prep (45).
“I won my first one at this very place (2000 at Porter-Gaud) and to go out with a state title in my last year, at this track, it’s all very special,” she said. “I am so grateful for all of the wonderful athletes that have come through Wilson Hall over the years. They built quite a tradition here. It’s a bittersweet moment because I’m going to really miss all of this but I am looking forward to watching my daughter play softball at Carolina and just be her mom.”
Ard’s daughter, Ansley, has signed to play softball at South Carolina next season but wrapped up her track and field career with a solid day as her mother cheered her on. Ansley won the state title in the shot put, finished second in both the 200 and 400 meter races, and placed fourth in the 100 meter dash.
“It’s very special to be here with my daughter and to see her perform so well,” said Ard. “She had a great day today and that helped us a lot as a team. Several of our athletes had personal bests today. It all came together for us and I’m so proud of them all.”
Porter-Gaud captured the AAA boys’ team title in impressive fashion, scoring 143 points to finish ahead of Wilson Hall’s 102. Ben Lippen was third with 66 points and Laurence Manning was fourth with 46 points. Rounding out the top five in AAA was Augusta Christian with 46 points.
Porter-Gaud came into the meet as the heavy favorite and won with depth, especially in the middle distance and distance events. The Cyclones finished first, second and third in the 800, first through fifth in the 1600 and claimed the top three spots in the 3200.
Brent Demarest won the 3200 and finished second in the 1600 and 800 while teammate Layne Mather won the 800 and 1600. Cameron Cane was second in the 3200 and third in both the 800 and 1600.
“Everyone knew our strength was in the middle distance and distance and that was evident today,” said coach Larry Salley. “We had guys with solid mental toughness and with experience. “I told them this week that we were favored this year the way Wilson Hall was favored last year and we ended up winning it. You can never take anything for granted in a meet like this. You have to go out and perform and meet or exceed your expectations. Our team came ready to go.”
The state meet capped the outstanding career of Wilson Hall sprinter Robert Rohner, who was spectacular in his final prep event.
Rohner, headed to Duke next fall on a track scholarship, dominated the competition in four events. He won gold medals in the 100, 200, 400 and triple jump, setting state records in the 100 (10.91) and 200 (21.93).
Rohner was pushed in the 100 and 200 by Hilton Head Christian’s Jamario Williams, who finished just milli-seconds behind Rohner.
“Definitely having Jamario on my tail all year was a huge benefit, having someone to really push me to run my best,” said Rohner. “Last year I really didn’t have that at the state meet and I had more cushion, which didn’t really push me to go after the state records. I know he didn’t like the outcome but I appreciate him being here to push me.
“I really felt good today.I had personal bests in two events and set two state records. I came here to end it on a good note and I wanted to do my very best since this was the last high school meet.”
Trinity Collegiate captured the team title in the AA-A meet, finishing with 54 points overall. Palmetto Christian was the runner-up with 21 points.
Trinity’s Mark Buyck, Boone Aiken and Daniel Young were one, two and three in the 800 meter run while Aiken won the 3200 meter run and Young the 1600 meter run. David Stanton won the 400 meter hurdles and Matthew Lee won the discus. The boys’ team also won all three relay events.
Spartanburg Christian and Trinity Collegiate tied with 39 points in the AA/A girls’ final team standings. Each school won six events on the day.

A.C. Flora rallies past Berkeley, 3-1; face St. James Monday

By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Moncks Corner – A.C. Flora’s baseball team has experienced many high’s and several low’s during the 2012 baseball season but coach Andy Hallett feels his team is playing its best baseball of the season in the class AAA state playoffs.
The Falcons won their fourth consecutive playoff contest on Saturday night, beating Berkeley, 3-1, in a first-round game of the AAA lower state championship finals. The Falcons will play at St. James, a 10-0 winner over Chapin, on Monday night. The winner of that game will be one win away from representing the lower state in the state championship series.
“We started the season 10-1, then we went 1-5, and now we’re 10-1 again,” said Hallett. “Hopefully we can keep this thing going in the right direction. We played solid tonight, nothing spectacular, but very solid. It was a good high school baseball playoff game. Both pitchers threw pretty well. We got some breaks and made the most of it.”
The Falcons sent ace left-hander Player Loving, a College of Charleston signee, to the mound and the 6-3 senior scattered four hits and struck out seven.
Berkeley ace Garrett Gallagher also was solid, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out eight in 5 and 2/3 innings.
“It was a close game and we just came up on the short end,” said Berkeley coach Landy Cox. “We made a couple of mistakes, little things. We played hard but Flora played a little better. They’re the top-ranked team in the state and we played right there with them. We just have to bounce back Monday and keep this thing alive.”
Berkeley will host Chapin on Monday night in an elimination game.
The Stags struck first with a run in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded and no outs, sophomore Dylan Baker singled to right to score a run. Josh Simmons attempted to score from second on the play, but was gunned down by Flora right fielder Connor Desmond. Simmons did not attempt a slide at the plate and was ejected from the game.
“Only getting one run out of all that hurt but we have to be able to keep going and find a way to score,” said Cox.
Hallett said that second inning was the only inning that he felt Loving was not sharp.
“I had to go out there and get in him a little bit,” said the coach. “All year he seems to have one inning where he just loses some focus. He got it back after that inning and did a really nice job. Getting out of that mess with only one run was the key to the game.”
Flora tied the game at one on freshman Donald Gillespie’s two out, RBI single.
The Falcons took a 2-1 lead in the sixth on a two-out passed ball, then added an insurance run in the seventh on Schroeder Carlton’s steal of third and subsequent errant throw on the play.
“We manufactured a few but that’s how you have to win in the playoffs,” said Hallett. “The teams that get this far usually have good pitching so you have to try and make some things happen.”

Summerville nips Wando 1-0 to Advance in AAAA Softball Playoffs
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Summerville—The Lady Green Wave (30-2) softball team has certainly given their fans some nervous play the last three games as they came from behind twice to beat South Florence earlier in the week and then at home Saturday they wriggled out of a bases loaded 7th inning situation by Wando (22-8) situation to win 1-0.
Summerville will meet the White Knoll versus Carolina Forest winner at 6 p.m. Monday in Summerville as the Lower State finals have begun involving Summerville, Wando, Carolina Forest and White Knoll. Should Summerville win Monday they will not play again until Friday.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third when Taylor Powell reached on a single. Sarah Montei bunted her over to second and then senior catcher Kaitlyn Clark doubled her in for the only run of the game.
Wando came back in the top of the 7th as Nicole Pellegrini reached on a one out single and then Emily Stafford singled to put runners on first and second. Mary Margaret Taylor struck out to for the Warriors second out but the next batter Katie Denning singled to load the bases. Tori Frank then grounded out to second to end the game.
“This team is playing like the cardiac kids and they are putting many years on the top of my head,” said Green Wave head coach Heather Tucker after the game. “With one out and runners on first and second I went out to talk to the team because we felt like they might be bunting in that situation. We were able to compete today and get those final two outs and we are glad to be playing at home Monday.”
Summerville pitcher Taylor Wuerful pitched a five hitter in gaining the win. Danica Newton was the losing pitcher for Wando.

Cobras beat Berkeley, 6-5, to advance to District finals

By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Summerville - Berkeley and Cane Bay met for the third time this season in the winner’s bracket game of the District Five playoffs on Saturday night.
Cane Bay had won the previous two meetings this season, both by one run, but the visiting Stags had upset on their minds Saturday night.
However, after taking a lead for the third straight game against Cane Bay, the Stags could not finish as Cane Bay rallied for a 6-5 victory.
Cane Bay advances to the finals of the District tournament on Wednesday while Berkeley hosts Socasteen for the right to face Cane Bay on Wednesday.
Senior first baseman Ty Wilder hit a two-run double to give Cane Bay a 6-5 lead in the fourth and senior right-hander Zach Wimmer escaped a bases loaded jam in the seventh to send Cane Bay to its 19th win this season.
A week after getting no-hit by Wimmer, the Stags tallied eight safeties against Wimmer on Saturday night but could not deliver in the end. The 6-2 Wimmer, who has signed with The Citadel, fanned nine hitters, including six in the final three frames. Wimmer improved to 8-0 on the season, recording his third victory over Berkeley.
“I didn’t have my best stuff tonight but it was decent and it was good enough to win,” said Wimmer. “This is a fun game to pitch in and obviously it was the most important of the three games.”
Cane Bay struck early with three runs on four hits, aided by an error, in the bottom of the first.
Berkeley got a run back on Garrett Gallagher’s solo homerun to left, then scored four runs in the  third, aided by an error, to take a 5-3 lead.
The Cobras cut the lead to 5-4 on Blaine Peck’s RBI groundout in the bottom of the third but it could have been worse had Berkeley centerfielder Eric Orton not saved two runs with a diving catch in the right center gap on a line drive off the bat of Austin Timm.
Cane Bay took the lead for good on Wilder’s double down the left field line in the fourth.
Things got interesting in the seventh. Sophomore Connor Teague led off with a double to left center, his second of the game, and moved to third on an errant throw back to the infield. After a strikeout, Wimmer walked Josh Simmons and hit Gallagher with a curveball to load the bases.
Wimmer, however, threw seven straight fast balls and fanned Nick Hill and Dylan Baker to seal the victory and improve to 8-0 on the season while raising his season total in strikeouts to 103.

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Summerville softball pushes on with 13-4 win over South Florence

By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Summerville—The Green Wave softball team (28-2) continued to play outstanding softball with a 13-4 win over South Florence (18-8) Saturday behind a 13 hit barrage and steady defense.
Summerville will play again next Wednesday at home starting at 5 p.m.
“I think we have the right tools to compete for a state title if we bring our “A” game but as you saw their four runs were unearned so we still have some work to do with being more consistent on defense,” said nine year head coach Heather Tucker. “It’s playoff time and I hope we continue to play well. I am pleased with our hitting and pitching so far. We just need to tighten up some on defense.”
After spotting the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the top of the first the Green Wave scored four runs in their first at bat. Senior Sarah Montei led off the game with a single and was sacrificed to second by short stop Sarah Windham. Senior catcher Kaitlyn Clark singled and then sophomore pitcher Taylor Wuerful reached on an error scoring the speedy Montei. Summer Jenkins drew a walk to load the bases for power hitter Taylor Wuerful who doubled in all three runs and the Wave were well on their way to advancing in the Class AAAA playoffs.
South Florence came back and added two runs in the third as lead- off hitter Nicole Rogers reached on an error and then junior Lauren Burt singled. With two out senior Taylor Young rolled a grounder that was misplayed twice allowing Rogers and Burt to score. All four of the Bruins runs were unearned in the game.
The Green Wave added two runs in the second as Montei walked and stole second, moved to third on a passed ball and then came home on another passed ball. Jenkins scored the other run on a single by Wuerful.
In the third the Wave added three runs around an error, two singles and a walk. Clark was the big hitter of the inning with a two RBI single. Summerville added three insurance runs in the fifth sending seven batters to the plate.
“We didn’t pitch very well at all today but give Summerville credit because they hit the ball well today,” said Bruin head coach Bobby Jones. “Hopefully we can win our game Monday and get back here Wednesday.”
Coach Jones said he was proud of the way Lauren Burt hit against Summerville and also cited the play of Brianna Kelly, Taylor Young, and Jessie Sims. “They have all played well this year and under the circumstances of losing our top pitcher and three hole hitter to an ACL before the season started I think we have done well to win 18 games so far.”   

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Holly Hill Academy defeats St. Johns Christian, 6-5 Over Bat Controversy 

By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Moncks Corner—Down by one run in the bottom of the 7th it is always a good thing that you get your lead runner on base and that is what happened for  St. Johns Christian Academy when Sarah Ham crushed a ground ball down the first base line that was too hot to handle.
Holly Hill Academy (13-9, 8-2) had just overcome a 5-2 deficit by scoring four runs in the top of the 7th and the Holly Hill folks were looking for a quick exit with the sun going down on a field with no lights. All of a sudden, as the St. John fans rose to their feet sensing a rally of their own, the home plate umpire picked up Ham’s bat that had come to rest right in front of the plate. He asked for help from the on field official who also agreed it was an illegal bat. With the bat ruled illegal Ham was now out as St. Johns head Coach Todd Manley (a lawyer in real life) argued with both officials that the bat had a legal stamp.
Holly Hill Academy relief pitcher Morgan Cantley, who had doubled in two runs with the hit in the game in the top of 7th, then struck out the next batter and the final batter hit a lined shot to second for the final out. The air still was thick with bitterness on the St. Johns side of the field after the game.
“I can assure you that I reported nothing to the official,” said Holly Hill head coach Henry Lockey. “I was just as surprised by the ruling as their fans were.”
Despite playing the game minus three starters, who were away on an educational field trip, St. Johns (10-10, 4-6) jumped out to 4-0 lead after two innings taking advantage of two walks, an error and timely hitting by Ham, Megan Hutson, and Savannah Taylor. Taylor’s single in the first brought in two runs, Julie Robinson had walked and Ham had singled ahead of her.
In the 4th St. Johns made it 5-0 after Danielle Manley and Robinson drew consecutive walks and Ham had a hard hit ground-out that scored Manley.      
With the sun fading and down by five, Holly Hill plated two runs in the sixth against freshman pitcher Manley who went all seven innings and she has a solid future ahead of her. Elizabeth Jane Lewis hit a single and took second on a throwing error. Then Cantley crushed a hit in the gap for a double scoring Lewis. Jesse McWhorters then singled in Cantley.
In the top of the 7th Katie Dickson reached on a single, Marissa Becker walked, and two batters later Dickson scored on an error by the shortstop and the score was now 5-3. Brantley Easterlin’s fly ball was misplayed allowing one to score making it 5-4. Cantley then singled in two runs with a hit to left giving her team the 6-5 advantage.
“We are 8-2 in our last 10 ball games so we are starting to find our stride,” said Lockey. “Morgan had the big hit of the day for us in the 7th and she pitched well also. We still have to play Colleton Prep and Thomas Sumter so we hold our future in our own hand.”
In honor of breast cancer awareness the Holly Hill team wore pink uniforms during the game.
“Our pitcher (Manley) and shortstop (Sara Ham) played really well today and we had three starters missing on a field trip and we are a real young team,” said Coach Manley. “This is our second one run loss to them this year. We played Dorchester Academy Tuesday and win or lose I think we are going to make it into the playoffs. We need to win just in case.”
In regards to the bat issue Coach Manley said. “The umpire could see the stamp had a 2004 date but he said he couldn’t see the stamp on the bat. The problem have with the ruling is the timing of everything. She has hit with that bat all year. You wait until you get the tying run on base to make such a ruling, that’s what bothers me.”

Barnwell upends Bishop England in opening round of AA softball playoffs

By C.R. Cumbee
Staff Writer

Daniel Island—The District 7-AA softball tournament got underway in exciting fashion Thursday as third-seeded Barnwell scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning to knock off no. 2 seed Bishop England, 6-3.

Barnwell got off to a quick start, thanks in part by a pair of errors in the top of the first inning.  Taylor Priester drew a one-out walk before Nyesha Arnold sacrificed her to second base. 

Dallas Hutto and Rebekha Debruhl followed with ground balls on the infield that were misplayed, then Gillie Smith and Lauren Perry had consecutive RBI singles to push the lead to 3-0.

Debruhl, who started at pitcher, cruised through the first five innings before running into trouble in the fifth.  Bishop England loaded the bases with nobody out and forced a change in the circle.  Arnold came in and struck out three batters in a row to end the threat and preserve the lead.

“She was able to come in and shut down their three, four and five hitters so that was huge.  I felt like that gave us the life we needed because we had gotten runners on but weren’t really able to move them around,” Massengale said.

However, the Bishops finally broke through against her.  Four singles in a row by Elena Salmorin, Olivia Schertz, Stephanie Johnson and Sam Manucy cut the deficit to 3-1.  Erin Artigues then drew a bases-loaded walk to bring Bishop England within a run.

After a strike out and force out at home, Anna Marie Corder was walked on a full count to bring home the tying run and send the game into extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, Cierra Bell, Priester, Arnold and Hutto each had one-out singles to retake a 5-3 lead.  Smith’s two-out RBI base hit set the final margin.

“They showed a lot of character to be able to come back after giving up those runs and put up three in the eighth inning,” Massengale said.

The Lady Warhorses move on to face Andrews in the winners bracket while the Bishops host Loris in an elimination game.  Both contests will be held Saturday.

“I hope this gives us some momentum going into Saturday.  I don’t want them to think they can get behind and always come back.  We’ve done that in a few games, but we want to get ahead and stay ahead,” Massengale said.

BHS     300   000   03—6

BEHS   000   000   30—3

WP: Arnold.  LP: Pinillos.

Pinewood Prep Wins baseball Region Title With 5-3 Win Over Northwood

By Billy G. Baker
Publisher

North Charleston—Pinewood Prep (15-5,7-2) won the region baseball title over Northwood Academy, 5-3 Thursday night at Collins Park in a tie-breaker game that also decided which bracket the two top seeds were going to be placed in for the upcoming AAA SCISA playoffs.

Pinewood Prep will now be in the bracket with Laurence Manning and Northwood will be bracketed with Hammond. Both Pinewood Prep and Northwood Academy received byes as top seeds and will not play again until a Friday double header on Friday, May 4. against  yet to be determined opponents. 

“The SCISA by-laws states every region has to have one clear cut champion so you can’t have ties for seeding purposes,” said Pinewood Prep head coach Phillip Tobin in his second year at the school. “I feel when both these two teams bringing their A game we are the best two teams in SCISA. You have to go play and compete and I was real proud of our guys tonight.”

Veteran coach Jerry Stoots (22-4,8-3) called the need to play the game “meaningless” (due to the fact both teams were already declared one seeds by the SCISA office) and he was disappointed in his team losing for the second time in three days to Pinewood. “The first inning was a problem with a bunt play not getting an out and a ball hit back to the pitcher we didn’t get an out and it helped them score three runs and they were huge for them coming in the first inning,” said Coach Stoots.

In the first inning Pinewood’s Steven Hanson doubled and then designated hitter Zach Heaton singled to put runners on first and third. Doucet reached on a fielder’s choice but a throwing error scored Hanson on the same play. Heaton scored on a ground out by J.D. Waite. Doucet scored Pinewood’s third run on a passed ball.

In the Northwood third Will Lloyd singled and later scored on a sac fly by catcher Charles Odom. Tyler Gross’ RBI scored Gene Howard for the other run.

in the 7^th the Chargers loaded teases with one out but Pineowood pitcher Hayden Helfin was able to strike out Ryan Trout and .400 hitter Billy Detyens  hit a line drive to center that looked like it might drop in and tie the score but a diving catch ended the game.

“We needed someone to step up with a big stick in the 9^th inning but it didn’t happen,” said Coach Stoots. “We had our chances tonight. That was twice we left the bases loaded. We just couldn’t get the clutch hit with runners on base. The same thing happened to us the other day.”

Coach Stoots said he was proud of the pitching effort by Bryan Trout who came in for starting pitcher Tyler Gross. “This was a playoff atmosphere tonight and unfortunately we loss and things are kind of on a down note,” said Coach Stoots. ‘We had only loss twice all year prior to the pass three days. We have exposed our weakness for sure and we have a short period of time to make corrections.”

Coach Tobin said the first inning was huge for Pinewood. “It calmed our nerves a little bit and put some pressure on them and we needed that,” said Coach Tobin. “They didn’t make a couple plays they usually make and we benefitted from it. We turned around and went flat for a while and that disappointed me. Over the next eight days we have to find a way to stay sharpe and that’s a challenge for us. I happy for our kids winning the region and we hope to be playing our best baseball at the end of the season.” 

Summerville Softball Advances To Play South Florence Saturday With 8-0 Win Over South Aiken

By Billy G. Baker
Publisher

Summerville—Good pitching, timely hitting, and solid defense led the Summerville (24-2) girls’ softball team to an 8-0 first round win over visiting South Aiken Thursday.

The Wave will now host South Florence at 3 p.m. on Saturday in a winner’s bracket game of the AAAA playoffs.

The game was never in doubt as the Wave scored two runs in the second on a leadoff single by Summer Jenkins and a double by Taylor Belfiore. Hannah Horton’s ground out RBI scored Jenkins and Taylor Knight then reached on an error that scored Belfiore.

Summerville added three insurance runs in the third as senior catcher Kaithlyn Clark, doing a good job behind the plate, singled and moved to second on a bunt by Taylor Wuerfeul.  Jenkins then singled in Clark for the team’s third run Belifore’s double broke the game open leading to two more runs.

In the sixth the Wave got back-to-back singles from Taylor Powell and Miss Softball candidate Sarah Montei who is batting around .500 and playing with gold glove status in center field. Clark’s single loaded the bases and then Wuerful brought in a run with a single and the final run of the game was scored by Montei on a wild pitch.

“I thought we played today and keeping everyone focused was our main job,” said head coach Heather Tucker. “It doesn’t matter who you are playing you need to come out and play your game too. We just need to keep doing our thing.”

Coach Tucker said she was proud of her team’s defensive play. “It’s playoff time and everyone comes to play and I thought our defense was solid today, Our defense has kept us in a lot of games all year.”

Summerville has not played South Florence for a few years. “They are a two seed and well coached and have a good tradition so we know it will be a hard fought game for both teams,” Coach Tucker,  “Montei is having a great senior season. She has it all with her bat, speed and such a strong arm.”

Jimmy Grimes is the head coach of South Aiken. ”We ran into a good number one seed today with good bats and a good defense,” he said. “We played about three innings with then better than I expected but the errors caught up with us.”

South Aiken starts one senior, two juniors, a sophomore and the rest of the starting group are 8^th and ninth graders. “My sophomore pitcher is Anna martin and she has a bright future along with several of the younger players.”

South Aiken will travel to Goose Creek Saturday for an elimination game in the AAAA playoffs.

Gilbert opens playoffs with 10-0 win over Cheraw

Staff Report

Gilbert, SC – One of the top contenders for the class AA state baseball title got off to a great start in the 2012 upper state district playoffs as the Gilbert Indians whacked the Cheraw Braves, 10-0, on Thursday night.

Gilbert improved to 23-2 on the season with the easy win and will host Mid-Carolina on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Starting pitcher Austin LaBounty earned the win over the Indians while sophomore Jared Williams and senior Connor Owings led the way offensively with two hits each.

“I thought we came into the game with the right mindset and took control early on,” said head coach Ashley Burnette. “Our guys are getting after it. We’ve had a good season so far but we all know this is when it matters the most.”

Gilbert began the season as the top-ranked team in AA and has been in the top three all season long. The Indians were favored to win the upper state title a year ago but were upset in the district playoffs, something that the 2012 Indians have not forgotten.

“We have a veteran team and we know what can happen if we don’t play to our potential,” the coach said. “This group remembers the disappointment of last season and they don’t want to feel that again.

“It’s the playoffs. Every team still playing has earned the right to be here. We can’t take any team lightly and we have to play every day.”

Cane Bay, Berkeley advance in first round; meet for third time on Saturday

By David Shelton
Senior Writer

Summerville – Berkeley County and region 7-AAA rivals Cane Bay and Berkeley will meet for the third time this season after both teams captured first-round victories in district play of the lower state class AAA playoffs on Thursday night.

Cane Bay captured the region seven championship and beat Berkeley twice, both by one run, during the regular season.

The Cobras improved to 18-5 this season with a 9-2 win over Georgetown while Berkeley, the third-place team in region seven, advanced with a 9-6 win at Socastee.

Senior Zach Wimmer had four RBI to pace Cane Bay, which finished with nine hits.

In Cane Bay’s victory, senior leftfielder Quinton Cable and junior right fielder Blaine Peck had RBI singles in the first inning for a quick 2-0 lead.

The Cobras added three runs in the second, the first coming when first baseman Ty Wilder was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Wimmer followed with a sacrifice fly and Cable picked up an RBI single for a 5-0 lead.

Georgetown scored a run in the third but Cane Bay answered with two more runs when Wimmer delivered a two-run single with two outs.

Wimmer added his fourth RBI with a single in the fifth, upping the lead to 8-1.

Junior Justin Shelton improved to 5-0, tossing five innings while allowing four hits with four strikeouts.                             

Berkeley improved to 17-6 with their victory over Socastee. The Stags staked starter Garrett Gallagher to a 3-0 lead in the second as sophomores Kyle Garrick and Connor Teague had RBI singles and sophomore Dylan Baker hit a home run.

Garrick and sophomore Josh Simmons each had three hits with Simmons picking up three RBI. Sophomore Eric Orton had two hits as well. Berkeley tallied 13 hits in the game.

“We hit the baseball as well as we have all season,” said coach Landy Cox. “Getting an early lead was big for us and then coming back after we fell behind showed that our kids had some fight in them.”

Socastee rallied with four runs to take a 4-3 lead into the fourth but Berkeley answered with four runs to take a 7-4 lead.

Gallagher earned the victory, going five innings, allowing five runs.

Cane notched a 6-5 victory at home over Berkeley in the initial region meeting, overcoming an early 5-0 deficit.

In the second meeting, last Friday night, Wimmer no-hit the Stags in a 2-1 win.

Saturday’s game will be at 7 p.m.

Lexington knocks off Lugoff-Elgin in playoff opener, 13-3

Staff Report

Lexington, S.C. -- Nick Ciuffo collected two hits, including a two-run homer, and Collin Steagall drove in three runs with three hits to propel top-ranked Lexington to a 13-3 win over Lugoff-Elgin in AAAA District V playoff action at Wildcats Field on Thursday.

Lexington, which improved to 23-2 overall, plays host to James Island in second round play at 7:00 on Friday. James Island beat  West Florence, 4-2, on Thursday. The Demons fell to 13-11 and play host to West Florence on Saturday.

"It was good win," said Lexington coach Brian Hucks, whose team has won 12 in a row. "We had a five to six day layoff and you could tell we weren't in rhythm early, but we relaxed and as the game moved on we played much better."

Ciuffo's two-run homer to left center staked Lexington to a 2-0 first inning lead. Ciuffo added a single in the third and walked in the sixth. Steagall's two-out RBI double in the third gave Lexington the lead for good at 3-2. Steagall added a two-run double in the fifth inning.

Nursing a 4-3 lead entering the bottom of the fifth, Lexington sent 12 batters to the plate and parlayed seven hits, two walks and three errors into nine runs and the final margin.

Josh Reagan (6-0) was the winner allowing three runs, one earned, on seven hits over five innings. He walked none and struck out five. Zack Bowers (6-2) suffered the loss.

click to see more images

By Billy G. Baker
Publisher

Columbia--"Don’t ever give up on your dreams" formed the basis of USC's Dawn Staley address to the HSSR winter sports honorees at Seawell's restaurant on April, 15.

Staley, recently named on the first ballot of the WNBA Hall of Fame as one of the Top 15 players of all-time, said that she was originally told she was too short to play for the United States in the Olympics and that she needed to go to Europe and get some international playing experience.

"At the time there was no WNBA and was I was devastated to be told that I was too short and that I lacked international playing experience," said Coach Staley. "There was a girl already on the team shorter than me so that didn't make any sense to me."

Staley said she went to Europe, joined a team, and never unpacked her suit case the six months she played shortly after graduating from Virginia in 1992. "I used my suit case like a dresser drawer,' said Coach Staley. "I hated every minute I was in Europe. It was what I had to do in order to realize one of my dreams."

Staley said her future brightened when she got that "phone call" she had been waiting for and without going into detail one concluded it was a call from one of the coaches of the USA team inviting her to be a part of the team.

Staley became a three-time Olympian and a flag bearer for the team and no other American player has more Olympic experience than her to date. "You have to be willing to do what you don't want to in order to reach your dreams.," said Coach Staley. "Success is not always easy. Success will test your will."   

Charleston Southern men's coach Barclay Redebaugh served as the boy's all-state presenter. "The second you put yourself over the team, you still might win a championship and you still might get a trophy afterwards, but you'll always regret not being more of a team player," said Coach Radebaugh. 'Basketball is a team sport and it must be played in an unselfish way."

CSU will have four starters back next year and after winning 19 games this year Coach Radebaugh earned Big South Coach of the Year honors.

"We at the HSSR certainly appreciate Coach Staley and Coach Radebaugh coming out an helping us recognize the hard work of so many athletes," said HSSSR Publisher Billy G. Baker. "The players just keep getting bigger, stronger and faster all the time. We enjoyed honoring them for sure."

The banquet honored around 400 athletes and coaches from basketball and wrestling during the 2011-12 season. One highlight was a Lifetime Achievement Award  for retiring Burke coach Earl Brown who won 743 games over 43 seasons. He was introduced by Charleston County Schools athletic director Dave Spurlock.

Summerville's Jordan Wigger, named Mr. Wrestler after winning 130 consecutive matches since the end of his freshman year, said that he was going to train at the Olympic training Center in Colorado Springs for six months and that he would start his college education at The Citadel next year. Dutch Fork's Alaina Coates took Miss Basketball honors and she was on hand at the banquet. At 6-5 she is one of the most sought after players in the nation along with sophomore Ajar Wilson of Heath wood Hall another 6-5 player who earned co Miss SCISA Basketball honors.

The HSSR's Mr. Basketball for the 2011-12 season Brice Johnson was on hand and he said his goal in choosing North Carolina was to help the Heels win a national championship. Johnson was coached by his father at Edisto and is among the top players in the nation this season.  

Thomas Heyward Survives “White Knuckler” To Win AAA SCISA Girl’s Title

By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Sumter—Slugfest, white knuckler and other words depicting aggressive play describes the SCISA AA girl’ basketball final between two undefeated teams.
Fans, coaches and players were emotionally spent at the conclusion of this game between Thomas Heyward (27-0) and Richard Winn (30-1). Raw emotions poured over at the end of the game as both teams met for a team prayer at center court after spending 32 minutes of flat out hand-to-hand combat against one another.  Both teams dove at loose balls, ran full speed into the bleachers chasing balls. It was 39 combined fouls later that the Lady Rebels got out of the Sumter Civic Center with a hard fought 46-42 win.
“We beat a well-coached and disciplined team today,” said THA head coach Gary Mazzanna afterwards. “I would not call them a one person team. They had other good players too. We came into the game hoping to do our usual man-to-man full court pressure but Maas was too much. We went to our second game plan which was a triangle and two and it worked like a charm.
“Only down by three at the half we were not overly concerned because we played about as bad a first half as you can play on offense and we were still in the game. Winning a state championship means that we have a lot of good players dedicated to the sport.  It was a complete team effort. I was fortunate enough to win a state title with the boys too. Last year we lost in the finals so I guess the third time is the charm.”  
Richard Winn led 18-9 after the first period. The Rebels closed out the second period with an 8-0 run to trail 20-17 at the half.
“In the second half we ran a triangle and two and wherever Maas went we had her double teamed in the zone,” said senior leader and point guard Caitlyn Cooler. “Layman and Malphrus were guarding her down low. We missed a lot of easy shots in the first half. We got back in the game by shooting better in the second half and playing good defense.”    
Win or lose give high fives to Richard Winn senior Alex Maas who scored the first eight points of the game and claimed 14 of her team’s 18 first quarter points as the Eagles led 18-9 after the first period. Maas went on to score a game high 30 points.
Richard Winn head coach Jason Haltiwanger said a critical call that fouled out one of his players late in the final period was key to his team losing. “I think she went up and down with the ball and it should have been a turnover,” he said. “Instead they get a basket out of it and it fouls out one of our better players. That play could have gone either way.
“We recovered from that and we kept scrapping,” said Coach Haltiwanger. “I tell our girls that God gave us the ability to come out here and play. We play under him and give it all we got and at the end of the day that’s all we can control. My girls gave it all they had and I am very proud of them. Maas is a special player and that is why she has so many offers at the next level. She’s a great player and a great person.”   
 THA fought back in the second period using a triangle and two defense to slow down Maas.  At the half the Rebels trailed 20-17 closing out with an 8-0 run. The third period was dominated by both defenses as Richard Winn held a 29-28 advantage entering the final period. Cooler and Jamie Malphrus teamed up for 10 points to keep the Revels close going into the final period.
In the final period THA took their first lead of the game at the 5:20 mark when Ashli Layman scored on a baseline jumper. At the 4:41 mark they extended the lead to 34-30 on a jumper by Malphrus.
With 1:04 left in the game Maas closed the deficit to 41-39 with a driving lay-up. In the final minute of the game Kayla Canavan, and Brielle Jungblut made several free throws that sealed the game.
However, Maas sent her fans home with one last cheer as she hit a three point shot from the next zip code with three seconds left but it was too little too late. Maas has nearly 20 offers from among the sports of volleyball. basketball and softball.
“I am still weighing my options,” she said after the game. “We wanted this game really bad and it hurts to go out a senior without winning the state championship. I will pray about my future I am sure I will make the right decision.”  
Thomas Heyward countered with a balanced attack with two players in double figures and all five playing good defense. Senior point guard Caitlyn Cooler scored 14 points and Malphrus, a hard- nosed performer, led the Rebels with 15 points and drew the defensive assignment on Maas.  Layman chipped in with six points.
 Other scorers for Richard Winn included Carson Justice with four points, Emily Brigman had five points, and Jaycie Johnson added two.

Pinewood Prep Wins Thriller Over Northwood, 52-51 In SCISA AAA Girl’s Action

By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Sumter—It’s never how you start but rather how you finish that matters most in games.  Had the AAA SCISA girl’s final at the Sumter Civic Center lasted just a few more seconds Northwood Academy (23-6) might have won the AAA girl’s SCISA title.
Instead, Pinewood Prep (21-6) held on behind Maria Corella’s 16 points to win the game, 52-51 to claim their second straight SCISA AAA title under head coach Nancy Beatty on Feb., 25. Pinewood also got 13 points from junior Bri Boyd, mainly on inside baskets. Gutty point guard Raygon Hendrix handled a Northwood press well on her way to scoring ten points and handing out six assists.
  “I can tell you I don’t want to watch video of the last four minutes of that game,” said head coach Nancy Beatty after the game. “Our young players didn’t want to lose, they wanted to maintain it. Give Amber Campbell credit, she had another great game for them.
“Maria Corella stepped up big time once again with her two free throws making it a two possession game there at the end,” said Coach Beatty. “When Rhodes fouled out it gave them momentum to attack us more in the paint because Rhodes was having a great defensive game.
“This win is really sweet, really sweet,” said Coach Beatty. “The kids reminded me that this was not just one time, or two times but this is our third state title. These kids worked really hard and I am proud of all of them. I feel really good about our returning players and I feel really good about how we finished our season.  We finished our season playing four solid games in a row.”
Coach Beatty said earlier in the season the team struggled a bit. “We started the season lacking leadership and a couple other issues but we as the season moved on we got it together more and more. It’s always your goal to be playing your best basketball at the end of the season.”  
Despite the one point loss the facts of this game verify that Campbell’s 32 points distinguish her as one of the best sophomore players in the region. However, Pinewood Prep was the better team in this game building leads of 12 to 14 points throughout the contest.  It was only after junior Jennifer Rhodes fouled out with 5:35 left in the game that Northwood was able to make a solid run that came up just short.
Pinewood led 20-12 after a fast paced first quarter and built it to a 31-19 lead at the half.   
Down 52-51 with 1.1 seconds on the clock the Chargers inbounded the ball and in the melee the ball went helplessly out of bounds as time expired. Northwood had no time-outs at the time and they had fought back from a 44-32 deficit entering the final period. In the 4th period the Chargers outscored Pinewood 19-8 mainly behind the heroics of Campbell who put on a shooting clinic. .
“On the very last play of the game I had a screen coming for Amber and a screen coming for Alyssa (Kinsey), our two best finishers, and I was hoping to get the ball on the block so they could get a quick shot off the glass,” said Chargers head coach Presley Singleton. “The ball got knocked around and deflected and we never got a shot off before the horn went off.”
These two teams met four times this season with 2-2 records against one another. Going forward Pinewood Prep will return all five starters next year. Northwood will graduate starters Danel Phillips, Jazzmine Butler, and Meaggan Thomas, along with sixth player Emily Hosington who had eight points in the championship game.
“Amber wants the basketball in her hand and time after time tonight she knocked down big shots from all over the court,” said Coach Singleton. “I can’t say enough about Amber Campbell. She’s a gamer and we are excited about her next two years. I was proud of the way the team battled back in the fourth period after being down most of the game. We just ran out of time at the end .”  
Junior shooting guard Maria Corella, a next level prospect in her own right, scored the first points of the game for Pinewood and she scored the last points of the game that proved to be the difference. With 9.3 seconds left Corella was fouled and sank two free throws to put her team up 52-48. Campbell came down and buried a three with 1.1 seconds left to cut the lead to one. On the inbounds play Pinewood point guard Raygon Hendrix stepped on the line and the ball went over to the Chargers.
Other scorers for Pinewood in the game included Rhodes with six including four blocked shots. Marrissa Patton and Katelyn Dambaugh also added one basket each.  The other Charger with points was Butler who closed out her prep career with four points.

Palmetto Christian’s Triple Threat Outscores Coastal Christian, 70-54 To Take SCISA Class A Boy’s Title

By Billy G. Baker
Publisher

Sumter—Led by the triple threat of veteran seniors Micah Vasko and J.T. Waters, who combined for 34 points, and a 16 point effort by lone junior starter Gabe Hogan with 16, Palmetto Christian (18-9) won their second SCISA Class A boy’s title in three years with a 70-54 win over rival Coastal Christian at the Sumter Civic Center Feb., 25.

The schools are located four miles apart and during the regular season PCA won two of the three games they played.

“We hit some big shots at opportune moments,” said PCA head coach Brian Stanley. “When they were making their run we found a way to get a big shot or two. In the second half we went to a 1-3-1 defense that they had problems with in earlier games. They did a better job against it this time.”

“We have been playing our best basketball late in the season and getting everybody back from injuries helped out,” said Coach Stanley. “While some our guys were out others stepped out and that gave us some depth. We have seven seniors on this team and we’ll miss all of them.”

The four senior starters for PCA included guard Vasko, forward Jackson Pinney, guard Connor McClure, and Hogan, a forward.
Coastal Christian (28-4) was led in scoring by senior Michael Graham who had 21 points and he really played well in the fourth period when Coastal outscored PCA 19-16. However, they came into the final period down 54-35. Graham had 10 points in the final period.

“Give all the credit to Palmetto Christian because they outplayed us today and deserved to win,” said Coastal head coach Bernie German. “When I got the technical I just wanted to stand up for my guys because I didn’t feel the ref’s were calling them both ways. We started playing better after the technical.”

Coastal also started four seniors. “We’ll miss all of them but we are looking forward to next year already,” said Coach Coaxum.   

Javed Reid was the only other Coastal player in double figures with 11. Dillon Poole had six followed by Michael Smoak and Noah McBreairity with five each.
Other scorers for PCA included Pinney with 8, senior Josh Mulvaney had five off the bench and McClure had two points. 

Lowcountry Prep Wins Second Straight SCISA Title Over James Island Christian, 50-42

By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Sumter –Lowcountry Prep (21-4) head coach Danny Bell told his Marlin basketball team (leading 22-20) at the half that it would take better rebounding to win the game and by controlling the boards in the second half his team pulled out a 50-42 win over James Island Christian to win the SCISA Class A girl’s title for the second year in a row at the Sumter Civic Center Feb., 25.
“Our guys challenged their guys and I told our players to just to keep digging and we were able to pull it out,” said head coach Danny Bell. “They never cease to amaze me. I don’t give them enough credit a lot of times but today they stepped up and gave it their all.
“I felt in the first half our rebounding was not very good. I felt like the team came out and did a much better job on the boards in the second half.  It was all about rebounding when we had to. It feels great to win two in a row.”
 The Marlins were led in scoring by a pair of juniors Rachael Exum and Elizabeth Zieser who had 14 points each and junior Leldon McClary chipped in with 13 points.
Going into the final period the Marlins had a 36-33 lead. They made only 6 of 16 free throws but managed to win the game with good defense and better rebounding in the second half.
James Island Christian was making their fourth straight appearance in the finals and they are now 1-3. “We have everybody back next year so we are hoping to take our experience and finally win one after losing the past two,” said head coach Bethany Smith. “Our point guard Hannah Heschorm makes things go for our offense at the point. At this level you have to have a good point guard to make things work and she does a good job for us.  Lori Guerard is a good scorer for us along with 
“Having all of them back next year is a huge plus but right now it is so frustrating losing this game,” said Coach Smith. “In the first half I felt like our defense and rebounding kept us in the game.  In the second half they became the better rebounding team and it was the difference in the game. I was still proud of our effort. We battled the whole game.”  
 JI Christian was led in scoring by Guerard with 17 points along with  Rebecca Duggan’s 12 and Hannah Heschorn’s nine points.