Dorchester Academy softball team returns most of young squad

 St. George – The Dorchester Academy softball team is off to a 2-3 start to its season, and Raiders head coach Brian Shelton is not upset with that at all.

"I am very pleased with the start of our season,” said Shelton, Dorchester’s longtime head coach. “If we continue to work hard and work together we will have a good season."

 Dorchester has the overwhelming majority of its players returning from last season. The Raiders are led by seniors Paige Shelton and Krystal Judy.

 Shelton has been an All-region selection each of the past three seasons as well as being selected to play in the SCISA North-South All-Star Game. The first baseman, who will be batting either third or fourth in the order, has hit one home run this season.

 Shelton has signed to play collegiately with University of South Carolina Union.

Judy returns to handle the duties at shortstop as well as serving an important role in the batting order.

 “She will bat leadoff and is a very good defensive player,” said Coach Shelton.

 Freshman Kinsey Bates is a returning starter and will play third base while batting in either the 3 or 4 hole in the lineup. She has also homered this season.

“She has started the season off with a hot bat,” Coach Shelton said.

 Lucy Varnadoe is the lone junior and she is playing right field. The returning sophomores are second baseman Lyla Owens and Rylee Matthews, who is in her second year as the No. 1 pitcher.

 Newcomers to the varsity are freshman Alyssa Grooms, who will catch, and eighth-graders Ryann Martin and Emory McClure. Martin is starting in center, and McClure is playing left as well as seeing some time in the circle.

 Other members of the team are freshman Rylee Weathers and freshman Palmer Kizer.

 Dorchester is part of SCISA Region 1-AA along with defending state champion Clarendon Hall, defending state runner-up Calhoun Academy, St. John’s Christian and Andrew Jackson Academy.

Coach Shelton believes the best is yet to come for his squad.

“We have a very young team with a lot of good talent, and I can't wait to see it grow this year and the years to come.”