War Hawks' Anne Hatcher White scores 1,000th career point

Larry Gamble Photo Editor Walterboro – Basketball is in full swing at Colleton Prep with the War Hawks first games starting at the end of November. Girls Basketball The War Hawks’ girls opened their season on Nov. 21 st with a win over Holly Hill Academy and kept this winning streak going for seven games until falling to Andrew Jackson Academy 42-39 on December 13 th . After that close game, they met Thomas Sumter Academy on Dec 20 winning 35-20 to start a three-game winning streak to close out 2024. Talking with head coach Belinda McCoy , who is in her second season with Colleton Prep, she acknowledged the early season fast start, but she’s also “excited to be in the position we’re in.” She has two returning seniors in Anne Hatcher White who is leading the team with 17 points per game, plus 10 rebounds per game. Senior Shelby Baker is averaging 6 points per game. Junior Ava Murray averages 9 points and 5 rebounds per game. Starters also include sophomore Millie Drew who averages 6 points a game and freshman Bre Cain averaging 4 points per game. Returning to the court this year is freshman Addie Busch who did not play last season. New faces on the War Hawks squad are freshmen, Anne Howell , Cecilia Williams , and Graycen Bryan . All three are up from last year’s junior varsity squad. Coach McCoy commented about the return of Busch to the team. “Addie is a talented player; she gives us a boost on defense and she is working hard to get back.” When asked about her vision for the season, Coach McCoy replied that she is “hoping to take the start we’ve had and improve on that as we go through the season.” With the new year, the War Hawks face three opponents this week, and two for the first time this season. On Monday, Jan 6, they host Orangeburg Prep followed by hosting Jefferson Davis Academy on Jan 7. Then, on Jan 9, the War Hawks travel to Thomas Heyward Academy who they defeated 46-34 on Dec 12. Boy Basketball First year as head coach of the War Hawks, John Caldwell is working on his inherited team. He brings a strong resume to that job. Coach Caldwell played college ball on the D-3 level at Roanoke College before transferring to Radford University and playing at the D-1 level in the Big South conference. This season Coach Caldwell is coaching both the Varsity and JV boy’s team. On the court, the War Hawks return seniors Blake Spears , Bryce Kinard who averages three points per game, and Braeden Hiers who averages five points per game and three rebounds. The team’s juniors are Colin Hiers , averages 12 points per game with 3 rebounds, Greyson Martin , and Mateo Castillo who leads the team averaging 24 points per game. Sophomores are Cale Owens , who averages 5 points per game, Charlie Walker , who averages 9 points per game, Perry Corbitt , who averages 6 points and 2 rebounds per game, and Tylor Riesnor . Plus, Nick Martin is the lone freshmen this season and averages 6 points per game. Starting the season with a 5-6 record, his team were close several times. They must keep the pressure up and take advantage of scoring opportunities as they come up. Coach Caldwell stated (we’re) “getting better every practice and game, we look to get better day by day. Next for the War Hawks is Jefferson Davis Academy on Jan 7 followed by a road trip to Thomas Heyward Academy on Jan 9.

By David Shelton Senior Writer Walterboro – With four regular season contests remaining on the schedule, the Colleton Prep volleyball team needs a strong finish to enhance their chances of qualifying for the SCISA state tournament. As of Oct. 6, Colleton Prep had posted just three wins against 12 losses, hence the need for a strong finish. “We have four games left so I guess there’s a chance,” veteran coach Belinda McCoy reports. “We play in a very strong region so wins are hard to come by. We’ll see what we can do.” Certainly in a weaker region, the record may be better and the playoffs would be a shoo-in. Andrew Jackson and Thomas Heyward are setting the pace in the region. McCoy has five seniors on the roster this fall. Those leaders include Addison Crosby , Reese Carelock , Shelby Baker , Kylie Roper and Ava Murray . Four juniors include Sydney Stivender , Kennedy King , Kaylin Bishop and Maddie Tomashpolsky . Rounding out the roster are sophomore Millie Drew , freshmen Addie Busch and Bre Cain , and eighth-grader Brooklyn Whitney . Colleton Prep’s girls tennis team has no worries about making the SCISA state tournament. The team was put in the state bracket and was set to play Thomas Sumter in a first-round match on Oct. 7. Coach Ladson Fishburne had a young squad this fall with only two seniors – Anne Hatcher White and Makayla Odom . There also was just one sophomore, Jaylyn Gates , and the rest of the team were freshmen and younger. Freshmen included Betts White , Cooper White , Ann Howell , Marie Molinari , Caroline Molinari, and Lizzie Sheffield . Rounding out the roster are eighth-grader Maddie Howell , sixth-graders Raelynn Lyons and Kylie Spell , and fifth-grader Anna Cate Evans . The Colleton Prep cross country teams are gearing up for the state meet in late October. Expected to be a strong contender in the boys race is Braylon Smoak , who recently posted a second-place finish in the Hampton County Hurricane Invitational meet. Also placing among the top 25 finishers were Braeden Sheppard (16 th ) and Isaac Tuten (23 rd ). Andrew Wargo ran 35 th overall and Hase Blakeley finished 46 th . Bryn Campbell (67 th ) and Sheldon Kearse (68) also competed in the race. The top finishing girls runner was Emersyn Polk in 17 th -place. Sarah Branam ran in 23 rd , followed by Magnolia Halley in 37 th . Emalyn Joyner and Anna Kay Tuten ran 41 st and 42 nd , respectively.

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.

Walterboro - In a perfect world, Colleton Prep athletic director Greg Langdale would love to offer as many sports opportunities as other small private schools in SCISA. However, to have a lot of sports you need a lot of willing participants. While Colleton Prep’s participation rate in athletics is very good, there simply is not enough student-athletes to go around. “There are very few high school kids in the school that don’t play something,” said Langdale, who is also the head football coach. “The participation rate for the kids that we have is really good. We have a good many athletes who are two sport athletes and several that play three sports. We just don’t have the overall numbers to add sports.” Langdale says adding a boys soccer program and possibly getting more involved with track and field are on the wish list. However, the turnout of players for soccer was minimal, less than enough to field a team. “We try every year but you can’t do it with five or six boys,” Langdale said. “We have good numbers in baseball during the spring. We just don’t have enough boys in the school to spread around.” Colleton Prep has fielded a girls soccer team in recent years, joining basketball, volleyball, tennis and softball as girls sports are offered. Cross country is another sport that has been hit or miss in terms of participation numbers. There has been growing interest in wrestling and several wrestlers have competed well, though the roster for all weight classes is still incomplete. One of Langdale’s primary tasks is making sure his teams have coaches. There will be a new varsity boys basketball coach this coming year as John Caldwell will step into that role. Caldwell is replacing veteran coach Belinda McCoy, who last season coached the varsity and junior varsity in both boys and girls basketball. McCoy will remain as the girls coach but has added volleyball to her list of head coaching responsibilities. “Four teams in basketball was just too much. It would be for anyone,” Langdale. “She is a great coach and she did a great job of establishing a winning attitude in basketball. She will do the same in volleyball. George Smith will return to direct the cross country program and Mike McCoy will coach the boys golf team. Ladson Fishburne heads up the successful girls tennis program in the fall. Returning as softball coach is Tiger Martin while Josh Craven will return as the head baseball coach. Both programs are perennial playoff contenders.

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.