AAAA softball championship series could be region showdowns

           Sumter – The upper state and lower state championship series in the AAAA softball state playoffs could be shaping up as showdowns between region foes. One of the matchups would not be a surprise, while the other one – well, at least one of the teams – would be.

           In the upper state, York, the No. 3 team from Region 3, has advanced to the championship round in its 8-team, double-elimination bracket and could be setting up a showdown against defending state champion Catawba Ridge.

           The lower state brackets have a pair of Region 6 teams undefeated and waiting to play in the championship round on Saturday, May 11. And neither one is defending lower state champion South Florence.

           Instead, they are West Florence and Hartsville.

           AAAA does things a little differently than the other four classifications when it comes to the state playoffs. While AAAAA, AAA, AA and Class A have eight 4-team district tournaments with those winners going on to play in two more 4-team, double-elimination tournaments, AAAA has four 8-team, double-elimination brackets. The four winners then play best-of-3 championship series with those winners playing a best-of-3 series for the state championship.

           York has been a surprise just in the fact it is a No. 3 seed. It was on the road for each of its first three games. The Cougars are now 15-7 on the season after beating Region 2 No. 2 Wade Hampton 5-3, outlasting Region 1 champion Greenwood 8-7 and beating Region 1 No. 1 North Augusta 7-3.

           York now waits to play host to one of three teams in the championship round, needing just one win to advance to the best-of-3 upper state championship series.

           Greenwood is to play host to Indian Land, the No. 2 seed from Region 3, on Tuesday, May 7. The winner of that game will play at North Augusta on Thursday, May 9, with the winner of that one getting York, needing to beat it twice.

           The other upper state bracket is behind after May 4’s winner’s bracket game between Catawba Ridge and Airport as well as an elimination game between Easley and Lancaster, the No. 4 team from Region 3, were postponed due to rain.

           Catawba Ridge, which is 23-2 and has outscored the opposition 216-46, and 17-8 Airport will play on May 6. The Eagles are 17-8 after finishing third in Region 4.

            The Copperheads hammered Greer 16-0 in their opener and followed with a 5-0 win over Midland Valley. Airport beat Region 1 No. 2 Greenville 8-3 in its first game before getting to play host to Lancaster after the Bruins whipped Region 2 No. 1 Riverside in their opening game. Airport edged Lancaster 1-0.

           Lancaster and Easley will also play on May 6 which should get the schedule back on track.

           West Florence has been dominant in its trek to the championship round of its brackets. The Knights have won their three games by a combined score of 20-1. The Region 6 champions beat Berea 9-0, Irmo 7-0 and Region 5 No 2 Lugoff-Elgin 4-1.

           West Florence is waiting to face one of three teams in the championship round – Lugoff-Elgin, May River or Lucy Beckham. May River, the Region 7 No. 2 team, plays host to Region 7 No. 3 Lucy Beckham on May 7. The winner of that game will travel to take on Lugoff-Elgin on May 9.

           West Florence is 16-4 and has been led by the pitching of Annie Ruth Eliason. In 121 innings of work entering the playoffs, Eliason had a 13-2 win-loss record with a 0.81 earned run average in 121 innings of work, a number that has certainly dropped with her playoff performance. She had 233 strikeouts while allowing just 43 hits and 21 walks.

           Eliason was also strong in the batter’s box with a .348 batting average through the playoffs. She has nine doubles, three home runs and 25 runs batted in.

           Taryn Weatherford is leading the Knights in hitting with a .475 average. She has eight doubles, two home runs and 21 runs batted in.

           Mia Boykin is the major power source for West Florence, however. She had nine doubles, three triples, six home runs and 24 runs batted in to go with a .458 batting average.

           Charisma Williams leads in runs scored with 28 while .327, as is Hannah Marsik.

           Hartsville finished second to West Florence in Region 6. The Red Foxes opened the playoffs with a 4-2 home win over Colleton County before traveling to Columbia and edging A.C. Flora 2-1. The Red Foxes advanced to the championship round by hammering Region 7 champion James Island 14-2 in the winner’s bracket contest.

           Hartsville, which is 13-6, is led offensively by eighth-grader Aliyah Smith. She was batting .471 with six doubles, one triple, two homer and 21 RBI. Jaysha McCullough was batting .391 while Mary Ellen Hickey had two home runs and .370 average.

           Junior Elena Mathys had a 9-3 record entering the James Island game with a 1.76 ERA. She had 80 strikeouts in 79 1/3 innings.

           South Florence is still looming in this bracket, however. The Bruins, who finished third in Region 6, were upset by Westwood 1-0 in their first game. They recovered with a 10-0 win over region foe Myrtle Beach and eliminated A.C. Flora with a 3-1 triumph.

           South Florence plays host to Colleton County on May 7 with the winner of that game traveling to James Island for a chance to advance and face Hartsville.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS REPORT POLL

AAAA

1.  Catawba Ridge

2.  West Florence

3. Hartsville

4.  North Augusta

5. Lugoff-Elgin

6. York

7. Greenwood

8. South Florence

9. A.C. Flora

10. Airport

11. Midland Valley

12. Riverside

13. James Island

14. Wade Hampton

15. Colleton County