Raiders prove coach right in winning title
Holly Hill – During an early season interview in March, Holly Hill Academy softball coach Kally Knight made somewhat of a bold prediction.
Knight was confident that he had the right personnel on his 2023 roster to make a serious run at the SCISA Class A state championships.
“One of our goals that we set at the beginning of the season was to win a state championship,” Knight said. “I really believe we have what it takes. I have seen us be very good at times this season. When we are playing well, we’re pretty good. I think we can definitely be in the hunt.”
Well, the Raiders were certainly in the hunt and then some. Holly Hill Academy navigated itself through the Class A state tournament, culminating in a two-game sweep of Jefferson Davis Academy in the best-of-three championship series.
The clinching victory in game two brought out the very best. The Raiders racked up 23 hits in posting a 16-1 game two victory.
The team was led by four seniors that mixed well with a talented group of underclassmen. There were bumps along the way as Knight moved pieces around. Poor defense was a major factor in some early losses.
“Errors killed us in losses,” the coach said. “We had like nine errors in two of the losses and we had seven errors in the other. In our wins, we played great defense. We just weren’t real sharp early in the season. We made a special effort in our practices to get better. We can hit the ball up and down the lineup. The key to our success is making the plays defensively.”
The four seniors that worked among the starters included pitcher Julianna Grooms, centerfielder Karsyn Smoak, third baseman Dakota Canterbury and leftfielder Laura Grace Atkinson.
Smoak is a quality defender in the outfield and hit third in the batting order. Canterbury has solid power.
The freshmen middle infield tandem of shortstop Kayley Bell and second baseman Abby Burleson were solid defensively with Bell also contributing several home runs offensively.
Freshman Peyton Strickland played rightfield and was among the leading hitters in the lineup.
Sophomore catcher Kaylee Brabham was the leading hitter throughout the season. Eighth-grader Taylor Wright was a huge factor offensively as well.
Wright saved her best game for the last game, going five-for-five with three doubles and six runs batted in. Burleson had four hits while Brabham had three hits.
Grooms handled the tough duties inside the circle all season, allowing six hits with seven strikeouts in the championship game win.
About us
Recognizing the achievements of young athletes in South Carolina since 1986.