Lady Saints get off to a 4-1 start

By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor Summerton – After having a turnaround season in Shannon Corbett’s first year as the Clarendon Hall volleyball head coach, Year 2 hasn’t gone quite as well. The Saints were off to just a 2-13 start after going 14-8 last season and making the AA state tournament. That was Clarendon Hall’s first tournament appearance in at least five seasons and it went 2-2. ` Even with the struggles this year, Corbett believes the program is moving in the right direction. “With a year under my belt I am still trying to learn,” she said. “We have more girls coming out for volleyball at Clarendon Hall than we have had in a while. We were even able to start a B team this year, which is a great thing, getting more girls involved and continuing to build the program up.” Corbett said inconsistency has been the biggest hindrance for the Saints. “This year's team has been a roller coaster,” she said. “Our record is not great, but we played a lot of super-close games that we were just now able to close out. We would jump ahead of a team and then get caught making a few too many mistakes that would hurt us in the end. “We have just been a little too inconsistent on some things. I know there are a few games we wish we could get back in the early part of the season that we let slip away from us.” Clarendon Hall returned three starters from last season in senior Brooke Corbett , senior Ashlee Berry and senior Maggie Harrington . The other two returning players are seniors as well in Hanna Ridgeway and Dhara Patel . “Those five played a lot for me last year, rotating in and out and even starting some games,” Coach Corbett said. “We had three girls move up from JV (junior varsity) and another girl that rejoined the team this year.” The returning player is senior Skylar Dymond . The newcomers to the roster are sophomore Allison Truett , freshman Brynli Brewer and freshman AJ Clark . “The strength of this team is they really do play well with each other, that they enjoy being on the court together,” Coach Corbett said. “We have really focused on making sure we are serving the ball well. That has kept us in a lot of games, not hurting ourselves by not getting the ball over the net.” Coach Corbett spoke highly of the performance of three of her seniors. “ Ashlee Berry and Brooke Corbett have been a huge part of this team over the past two years,” she said. “They both give great effort on the court at all times. Hanna Ridgeway really worked hard at the beginning of the season, and I have seen a big difference in her serves this year.” It remains to be seen if Clarendon Hall can work its way into the AAA state tournament, having moved up due to reclassification. The Saints are part of Region 1 along with Orangeburg Preparatory School, Thomas Sumter Academy and Calhoun Academy . The state tournament is set for October 18-19 in Myrtle Beach. Regardless of what happens the rest of the way, Coach Corbett is already looking ahead to next year. “I have six seniors on my team so next year's team will be a total new look for us,” Coach Corbett said.

By: Gerald Doolittle Goose Creek, S.C . - The South Carolina Independent Schools Association is preparing to open its 55 th football season with a new two-year alignment. Can Hammond (4A), Hilton Head Christian (3A), Bethesda Academy (2A), Patrick Henry Academy (1A) and Jefferson Davis Academy (8 Man) defend their 2023 titles? Hammond will be playing for their 8 th straight title in Class 4A. The top five pre-season ranking for Class 4A : 1. Hammond 2. Laurence Manning 3. Porter-Gaud 4. Northwood Academy 5. Cardinal Newman. Laurence Manning was runners-up to Hammond in 2023. Augusta Christian, Ben Lippen and Heathwood Hall will earn a playoff spot by finishing in the top eight. The top five pre-season ranking for Class 3A : 1. Hilton Head Christian, 2. Wilson Hall, 3. Pinewood Prep, 4. Florence Christian and 5. Trinity Collegiate. Hilton Head Christian defeated Wilson Hall for the 2023 title. John Paul ll, Palmetto Christian and Camden Military will earn a playoff spot if they finish the regular season in the top eight. The top five pre-season ranking for Class 2A : 1. Bethesda Academy, 2. Clarendon Hall Academy, 3. St. Johns Christian, 4. Orangeburg Prep and 5. Pee Dee Academy. Bethesda Academy defeated Williamsburg Academy (now in 1A) for the 2023 title. Greenwood Christian, Spartanburg Christian, Calhoun Academy, Dillon Christian, Thomas Sumter Academy, Hilton Head Prep and Christian Academy all will earn a playoff spot by finishing in the Class 2A top eight. The top five pre-season ranking for Class 1A : 1. Williamsburg Academy 2. Patrick Henry Academy 3. Lee Academy 4. Dorchester Academy 5. Thomas Heyward Academy Patrick Henry Academy defeated Lee Academy for the 2023 title. Colleton Prep, Beaufort Academy, Faith Christian, Andrew Jackson Academy, and Carolina Academy can get playoff spots by finishing in the top eight. The top five pre-season ranking for Eight Man are: 1. Jefferson Davis Academy 2. Holly Hill Academy 3. Richard Winn Academy 4. Wardlaw Academy 5. Laurens Academy W.W. King Academy, Newberry Academy and Oakbrook Prep can earn playoff spots by finishing in the top four of Region One. Cathedral Academy, Cross Schools and Conway Christian can earn playoff spots by finishing in the top four of Region Two. The Kings Academy is a new comer Region Two moving to 8-man play this season.

Pitcher Calli Yount chosen as Region Player of the Year

Larry Gamble Photo Editor, HSSR SCISA Softball Championship play kicked off on May 13th, 2024, with teams playing an intense two days of games hoping to make a sweep to victory in the best of three game series to crown State Champion this week. The HSSR photojournalist was at Colleton Prep for their home stand in the Softball Championship Game 2 against Clarendon Hall on May 15th. Clarendon Hall won Game 1 at home 6-1 on Monday. For Game 2, they were on the road home hoping for a sweep to close the deal for the State Title. In a tense, pitching duel game, the Saints managed hold off the determined War Hawks in a 3-2 victory to earn their third state title. More photos from this game are available by following this link or the one below. High resolution prints and digital downloads from this event are available at www.LarryGamble.com by clicking this link to the photos.

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Walterboro — The Clarendon Hall Saints softball team captured their second straight SCISA AA softball title, and third in a row counting the Class A title won over Wardlaw three years ago, with a hard-fought come-from-behind 3-2 win over Colleton Prep on May, 15. One of the largest crowds ever to witness a softball game at Colleton Prep observed the two teams battle with everything they got in this game. This was one of those games where both teams left it all on the field. CH head coach Jeffrey Bays shared his feelings with the HSSR soon after the game. “We lost four games this season but we had never been in a situation like this game with so much on the line,” said Coach Bays. “ Mandy (Wells) lives for the important moments, and her two-run homer in the third inning was the difference in the ball game. She struggled some at the plate in game one but she came in this game, like she has in so many, and delivered for the team at a crucial moment. “These girls have been playing together for a long time since rec ball, summer ball and together on our high school team and they have worked hard and they are a real close-knit group,” said Coach Bays. “They jell really well and they know and understand each other on the field. They pull for each other with great team chemistry. “ Colleen (McIntosh) gave us four strong innings but they were starting to hit her some as the game went on so we brought Calli (Yount) in to close things out and I am proud of both of our pitchers who combined for 12 strike-outs,” said Coach Bays. “We are going to miss the five seniors on this team. For the past two seasons we have had only one senior on those two teams. We do have a core group of younger players moving up from the junior varsity.” Mandy Wells made the final out of the game for the Saints, fielding a well hit ground ball, before racing to second base for the forced-out that ended the game. She and her teammates had “explosive confetti” in their back pockets as the game ended and a sea of confetti popped into the air above them shortly after the final out. “I am just so proud and inspired by my team to go out like this with a state championship,” said Wells. “I just want to give God all the praise and credit because we play for Him. I am so glad that we could win another championship and have fun while doing it.” With one more season of high school softball to go, what are Well’s goals with the sport? She recently hit three home runs in one game, that helped her team advance to the state title series. “I do not know if I want to go anywhere, or not, but we’ll see,” said Wells. “Of course, it would be great to play for a team like Oklahoma , or even a smaller college like Anderson College . Wells said she focuses on hitting a softball “back side” and the majority of her career home runs have landed over the fence, just to the right of dead center field. “I guess I get lucky with my timing,’ said Wells, who plans on majoring in Physical Therapy in college. It would not be a shock to this reporter to see Wells end up on the Lady Gamecocks roster at South Carolina, after her senior season. Wells has been taking hitting lessons from the hitting coach at SC the past two years and they have to be impressed with her quick wrist, how fast the ball explodes off her bat in a line drive trajectory, and how fast she reacts to all matter’s softball during live game action. Colleton Prep head coach Tiger Martin was also proud of his team and how they battled the entire game. “We lost six games this season, and four losses came from Clarendon Hall,” said Coach Martin. “We lost to them in our first game early in the season 14-0, then lost to them a second time 8-0, and then in the championship series we lost 6-1 and 3-2 so while I do not like moral victories that does show how much this team improved and continued to battle against a really fine softball team. “Back before the season started this team struggled for the first two weeks of practice and to see them make steady improvement and make it to the state championship series is why I love coaching and working with them,” said Coach Martin. “It was more exhilarating on this Wednesday night than any other Wednesday night we played back in March. We didn’t win today but our adrenalin was flowing and the max effort was there. Our other two losses were to Oceanside Collegiate and Calhoun Academy so we played some tough competition.” CP will graduate three seniors. “They are the last group from our 2021 state championship team,” said Coach Martin. “ Sidney Bailey has been a great hitter and a great athlete for the past four seasons and she had a decisive hit in our state finals game back in 2021. “I know coaches say they do not have favorite players but that is a lie when they say that,” said Coach Martin. “Senior MaKenzie Pellum is among my most favorite athletes I have coached. I have a picture on my desk of her playing pitcher and catcher. Early on in the program she told me, “Coach if you believe in me, I will always give it my very best, and I will there for you and the team. “Our third senior is left-fielder Hannah Strickland who had a key hit the other night,” said Coach Martin. “She has grown every year and I am happy to say that she has earned a spot in the upcoming North-South all-star game.” Colleton Prep went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first when MaKenzie Pellum drew a walk and later stole second. She came home two batters later on a sacrifice bunt by pitcher Sydney Stivender . In the top of the third CH took a 2-1 lead when junior catcher Skyler Dymond singled and stole second. Junioe shortstop Mandy Wells then hit her 28 th career home run to dead center field to put the Saints up 2-1. In the bottom of the third inning CP tied the score at 2-2. With two-out Ava Murray hit a home run to left field It looked like CP might add another run when Sidney Bailey followed the home run with a ripped double in the power alley. However, a pop up to the CH third baseman ended the inning. In the top of the 6 th inning Wells led off with a sharp single just to the left of second base. Two batters later Wells moved to second on a wild pitch while junior Calli Yount was at the plate. Yount delivered a double, easily scoring the speedy Wells from second to give the Saints a lead of 3-2 that held up for the final score. Both teams collected six hits in the game. Wells led the Saints at the plate with two hits and two RBI’s. Senior Lacey Corbett contributed a hit as did Dymond, leading hitter junior Maggie Harrington , and Yount who had one hit and one huge RBI. Colleton Prep got two hits from Bailey, and one hit each from Murray, Stivender, Hannah Strickland , and Pellum. Murray and Stivender each added one RBI. CH used two pitchers in the game. Senior lefty Colleen McIntosh started the game and worked four full innings with six strike-outs. Calli Yount came in for the final three innings and also recorded six strike-outs. Teams take the pressure off their defenses when 12 of the 21 outs in the game were strike-outs. Sydney Stivender worked all seven innings for CP in the circle allowing two runs and registering 6 strike-outs. Colleton Prep last won a SCISA AA softball title against Pee Dee Academy in 2021 in a third game tie-breaker won over The Golden Eagles (10-0) at Laurence Manning Academy . Clarendon Hall has now played in four straight state finals. They defeated Calhoun Academy in a third game tie-breaker (6-2) at Patriot’s Park in Sumter last year. CH will graduate five seniors ( Sidney Berry , Colleen McIntosh , Ashley Timmons , Lacey Corbett , and Macie McIntosh ) from this year’s team. CP is saying good bye to three seniors ( MaKenzie Pellum , Sidney Bailey , and Hannah Strickland ) who were three of the best hitters on the 2024 squad.

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Summerton — Softball championships are not always won just by the plays of the moment; they are won by the players on championship teams who prepare on a year-round basis, through summer ball, fall ball, outside instruction, and a total commitment to the sport. In Clarendon Hall’s 6-1 win over Colleton Prep (18-5-2) in Monday’s first game in the best- of- three SCISA AA state title series, observers could see the aforementioned on full display as a relaxed and well-trained team from Clarendon Hall played error free softball. Pitcher Calli Yount had 11 strike-outs, and the Saints produced timely hits with runners in scorer’s position.  It was the third time the two teams had meet this season and it was the third win for Clarendon Hall. The two previous wins were 8-0 and 6-0 so Colleton Prep improved by scoring a run this time. They hope to score even more as the two teams (weather permitting) get ready to play game two at 5 p.m. at Colleton Prep today. After the game Clarendon Hall head coach Jeffrey Bays , told the HSSR, “We definitely got some timely hits today but we didn’t hit the ball like we usually do,” said Coach Bays. “You do have those games where you are not as strong as you usually are at the plate, and we tell our girls to be patient and wait on their pitch. “Getting some walks, mixed in with a few timely hits, proved to be a game changer for us, said Coach Bays. “I was really proud of how the girls responded to the challenge today. I can’t think of an error we made, and that is really important, and we have played very clean ball most of the year. “Our pitcher tomorrow will be a game time situation,” said Coach Bays. “Calli had a good outing today but we do have several pitchers who can throw strikes so we’ll just have to wait and see.” Colleton Prep head coach Tiger Martin told the HSSR , “They scored six runs total and five of them came in the second inning and then they got a solo home run later and made some errors and gave them some walks that helped them score the six runs,” said Coach Martin. “More games are lost then ever won. The team that makes the fewest mistakes usually comes out on top and they played a cleaner ball game then we did tonight. “It didn’t help that we had four backward K’s and we need to swing the bats more,” said Coach Martin. “We have to lay off her riser ball that was coming in high today and it can be virtually unhittable. Hopefully, we will have an umpire today that likes them thrown a little lower. We have to hope she can bring the ball down a little.” The Saints pushed across five runs in the bottom of the second inning. Yount led off with a single and then Colleen McIntosh drew a walk. Lacey Corbett singled to score Yount for a 1-0 lead and a throwing error on the throw in allowed both runners to advance to second to third. Two batters later, Macie McIntosh drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Brynlee Brewer , the only new starter on the team this season, reached on an error allowing two runs to score to make it 3-0. Two batters later, Macie McIntosh , drew a one-out walk to load the bases. An RBI ground-out RBI by junior Mandy Wells made it 4-0. The Saints 5 th run scored on a passed ball. In the CP 4 th inning, Ava Murray led off with a double down the third base line. She was brought in on a two-out single by Hannah Strickland to close the deficit to 5-1. CH added an insurance run in the bottom of the 5 th on a solo home run by Yount over the left field fence. Yount had three hits in the game including a home run. Clarendon Hall had six hits for the game and they benefitted from several CP errors and five walks they were issued. Yount gave up five hits in the game with two walks to go along with her 11 K’s. Senior Sydney Stivender pitched all six innings for CP. She recorded four strike-outs in taking the loss.

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Sumter — The good news was that no rain fell on Sumter’s Patriot Park on May, 11 providing for some great games in the annual SCISA softball playoffs with 8 teams qualifying to compete for AAAA, AAA, AA and Class A state titles starting on Monday. Game two will be played on Tuesday at the opposite site of the home team on Monday. If a third game is needed it will be played at a neutral site on Wednesday. One notable highlight from the games on Saturday was junior Mandy Wells of Clarendon Hall hitting three consecutive home runs in her team’s 15-0 win over Calhoun Academy to advance the Saints to the AA finals on Monday against Colleton Prep . Wells hit her two home runs to dead center field and her second homer was a base clearing grand slam. Her third home run was a line drive over right center field. Wells came into the SCISA tournament batting .481 with 28 RBI’s. Game one between Clarendon Hall and Colleton Prep is schduled for 6pm on Monday in Summerton. Laurence Manning defeated Hammond 5-3 to advance to the AAAA finals. The lost sent Hammond to the loser’s bracket finale against Wilson Hall and Hammond the defeated the Barons 14-4 to earn the right to play Laurence Manning for the title starting on Monday at 6 p.m. in Manning. “We started out hitting the ball right at people and Hammond gave us a great game,” said LMA head coach Buddy Truett . ´We didn’t like having to get up at 7 a.m. to get over here by 9 a.m. and it took us awhile to get going. We are excited to playing for a state championship. It should be a very competitive series and having finished runner-up the past two seasons we are focused on winning it all this year.” LMA trailed Hammond 3-3 going into the bottom of the 6 th inning. Lily Welborn led off with a single and made it all the way to third on a throwing error. An RBI single by Kaylee Avins scored Welborn to tie the score at 3. The difference in the game was a two- run homer from 8 th grader Karly Bjork the next batter up for LMA. “I told her after she hit the home run that I didn’t think I could love her anymore but I do now,” said Coach Truett. “I am very proud of the girls. We made some errors early in the game we do not normally make but we came back from being down and I very proud of all of them. ”We know that Pee Dee has good pitching and they are a solid hitting team also so we are expecting quite a series against them,” said Coach Kinard. “We went over there last year and kicked the ball around a bit. Our goal is playing better defense against them. Defense wins championships.” In Class AAA action, Orangeburg Prep defeated Thomas Sumter 15-0 to advance to the AAA finals. The Class AAA championship games for Pee Dee and Orangeburg Prep start Monday in Mullins at 6pm. Pee Dee Academy head coach Wes Eskridge told the HSSR after his team’s big win over John Paul II Saturday: “We have been fortunate to win three state titles in a row and we are competing in the finals for the 7 th straight time and I could not be prouder of this team,” said Coach Eskridge. ”Jo Jo Perritt is just a sophomore and she gets the job down in the circle for us. “Orangeburg Prep is a tough team and the key for us is for us to play our game and not theirs,” said Coach Eskridge. “We know we have to keep working hard.” In Class A action Jefferson Davis Academy will compete against Cross Schools , who defeated Laurens Academy 4-3 to advance. Jefferson Davis earned the right to play for a Class A title by defeating Cross School 7-1 on Saturday. Head JDA head coach Bart Owens told the HSSR , “Regan Still did a great job pitching all three games in the tournament and she is headed to Florence-Darlington Tech to play next season,” said Coach Owens. “We beat Wardlaw 16-3 and Laurens Academy in our other two tournament games ”Regan is an outstanding pitcher and she is the best that I have ever had at JDA,” said Coach Owens. “Super proud of the whole team today. Or goal now is to win the state championship next week.” The Class A championship series starts Monday at JDA game time is 6pm.

Larry Gamble Photo Editor, HSSR SCISA Softball Tournament play kicked off in Sumter, SC with teams from around the state playing an intense two days of games to determine the top teams in each class to challenge each other for the final championship that will decide each Class' State Champion later this week. This photo gallery is just some of the Seniors who will be on the diamond and giving it their all one more time for a championship. More photos from the softball games, at Palmetto Park and Patriot Park from Friday and Saturday are available by following this link or the one below. High resolution prints and digital downloads from this event are available at www.LarryGamble.com by clicking this link to the photos.