Barnwell Softball Ranked Third In HSSR Softball Ranking With 10-1 Record At Break

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Barnwell — The Barnwell softball team went into Spring break (10-1, 4-0) ranked number three in the first HSSR softball statewide AA ranking of the 2024 season.

In the Lady Warhorses claimed a 5-2 win over Wagener-Salley just before Spring break on March, 26. In that win talented junior Jaidyn Devore had 14 strike-outs and hit a two-run homer to key the win.

Going into the break head coach Mike Beasley told the HSSR, “Our team really played well before our Sprin break; the pitching was good, the hitting was good, and defensively we played well and these factors helped us compile a 10-1 record,” said Coach Beasley. “When we come back together, we have some games that will help us move towards the State Play-offs.

“We scheduled to challenge us, and push us, so we can better prepare for the post season ,” said Coach Beasley. “All of our players have been working hard to improve their skills and it strengthens our team to be competitive. I’m extremely proud of our players and what they accomplished over the first half of the season. We appreciate all the support we have received from our parents and the community. It takes all of us to build a championship caliber team.”   

On March, 19 the HSSR covered the game between Barnwell and Aiken. A year ago, Aiken beat Barnwell 4-0. One year later, Barnwell dominated in a 18-0 three inning mercy rule win.  .After the win over Aiken, Barnwell head coach Mike Beasley, shared his thoughts with the HSSR, “We didn’t know what to expect from Aiken, other than they had beat us last year, but they did have some graduation losses, and their top pitcher is currently out with an injury,” said Coach Beasley (230-121) now in his 25^th season as a head varsity softball coach. “I am pleased with our start for this season, and we hope to keep improving. Our number one goal to finish strong and win a region title, and make a dep run in the play-offs.”

Against Aiken, junior power pitcher Jaidyn Devore had all of her pitches working well. In three innings of work she tossed a no-hitter while striking out 7 of the 10 batters she faced in the game. At the plate she was 2-for-2 with two RBI’s and one double.

Other top hitters against Aiken included junior third baseman Brooklyn Gordan who had three hits and two doubles in the game along with senior catcher Bre’anna Buckmon who went 2-for-3 with three RBI’s including a double. Five other players each had one hit in the game. They included sophomore right fielder Abigial Corley, freshman center-fielder Kendall O’Berry, senior left-fielder Kahmiyah Williams, sophomore outfielder Layla Bishop, and junior utility infielder/pitcher Tiera Arnold. 

Freshman second baseman Laney Grubbs scored two runs with one RBI against Aiken and she is the team’s number two pitcher. Freshman shortstop Kaylen Mayes scored two runs in the win. Jessica Williamson scored one run in the game. Senior outfielder Jamicka Jenkins is also a contributor to the team along with sophomore outfielder Bri Croft, who scored one run and freshman Molly Wilson who can catch and play second base.

“It all starts in the circle and the catching spot,” said Coach Beasley. “If you are strong at those two positions, and can hit the ball a little bit, and we had 12 hits tonight, with an average of 9 or 10 hits per game thus far this season, along with averaging 10 runs then you should win most of your games with these kinds of numbers.

“Our team assessment is good pitching from our top three pitchers along with good hitting right now,” said Coach Beasley. “Jaidyn Devore currently has five college offers and she was the Region Player of the Year as a sophomore. Her fastball has been clocked as high as 68 mph which is outstanding.

“Tiera Arnold is our second pitcher and she started at first base tonight,” said Coach Beasley. “Our third pitcher is freshman Laney Grubbs who started at second tonight. All three of our pitchers have no-hitters so far this season and they have each performed well. We are trying to bring all our pitchers along this season but when you have a Jaidyn Devore throwing in the 60’s it is a big adjustment for opposing batters to adjust to our other two pitchers when we bring them having to adjust 68 to a 55 miles per hour pitching.”

Buckmon is a four- year starter behind the plate with a strong delivery to second. Buckmon and Devore comprise one of the strongest batteries in the SCHSL AA softball ranks in South Carolina.

Going into Spring break, six players are batting .300 or better for Barnwell, and the team batting average is an impressive .355. Devore is at the top of the hitting index at .645 including a team leading 19 RBI’s along with four doubles and three triples. Corley is at .550 with seven RBI’s with one double and two triples. Grubbs is hitting .435 at the break three RBI’s  and one double. Arnold is hitting .375 with 9 RBI’s and 2 doubles. 

Buckmon is at .333 with 9 RBI’s, including two doubles and two triples. Williams is hitting .300 with seven RBI’s followed by Croft (.286), Jenkins (.273) and Gordan (.269) round out the top 9 hitters on the team. 

In the circle, Devore went onto the break with a 6-1 record. She has an incredible 95 strike-outs in 45 innings of work with a superb 0.31 ERA. Davore has great command of both her screw ball and curve ball. Grubbs and Arnold are both 2-0 and both have 0.00 ERA’s. Grubbs has 10 strike-outs in five innings of work while Arnold has mowed down 13 batters in her six innings of work.

Barnwell’s 10 wins this season have come over Williston-Elko (11-3), beat Ridgeland-Hardeeville twice (16-0, 10-0), beat Branchville (5-4), and Silver Bluff (2-0), Aiken (18-0), Edisto (12-1, 15-0) and Wagener-Salley (5-2).  The team’s only loss was to Colleton County 8-6.

“Our top goal is to win the region again this year, advance in the playoffs, win the district, and that will give us an opportunity to play for the lower state,” said Coach Beasley. “This team last won a lower state title in 2011. We were 14-2 last season and we had a lot of rain-outs at the end of the season that hurt us going into the playoffs.

“This season we are playing 25 games and we have several strong teams scheduled to play just before we enter the playoffs at the end of the regular season,” said Coach Beasley. We have already had two-rainouts this season.”

After Spring break, Barnwell has beefed up their schedule on the back-end with 11 games on the schedule. They resume play against Woodland at home on April, 9 then host Swansea the next day. The team plays at Woodland on April, 12. The rest of the schedule they will play Hampton County twice, Bamberg-Ehrhardt, R-S-M, Aiken, Williston-Elko, and Silver Bluff. Barnwell concludes the regular season hosting Branchville on April, 26.