Laurence Manning softball looking to take it one step further this season

Manning – Laurence Manning Academy came oh so close to winning the SCISA AAAA softball state title last season. The Lady ‘Cats took 2-time defending champion Wilson Hall to the deciding Game 3 in the championship series, losing 2-1 after leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning.

That was the second straight year LMA lost to 3-time defending champion Wilson Hall in a title game. Having lost just two seniors from his 28-8 team, Laurence Manning head coach Buddy Truett said there is one goal.

“They understand and they're trying to pick it up a notch,” Truett said. “Two years in a row, a play here, a play there, it changes things.

“Hopefully we can continue to improve and make another run at it this year. I’m very excited about this year’s team.”

LMA is off to a 6-2 start with the losses coming to SCHSL AAAA school West Florence by a 4-3 count and 6-3 to defending SCISA AAA champion Pee Dee Academy.

The Lady ‘Cats have both of their pitchers returning from last year in juniors Kayleigh Parmenter-Avins, a right-hander and lefty Laini Kosinski. They combined for 174 strikeouts last year and both had earned run averages under 2.00.

“They’ve improved tremendously. They are two pitchers that complement each other well,” Truett said. “They're unselfish. They’ve alternated each time, and they're fine with that.

“They share the role and they believe in each other. They complement each other better than they have in the past. They are good friends.”

Kosinski batted .299 last year while Parmenter-Avins had a .267 batting average. Kosinski plays centerfield when Parmenter-Avins is pitching, while Parmenter-Avins is at first base when Kosinski is in the circle.

Lyza Pricklemyer alternates between center and first depending upon who is pitching. She is the leadoff hitter and led the team with a .341 average.

Sophomore Ashley Rae Hodge batted .329 and is playing second after starting in right last year. Sophomore Lily Wellborn is back at third after batting .296.

Senior Karly Bjork returns at shortstop. She batted just .221 but had three of Laurence Manning’s six home runs. Another senior, Hailey Truett, batted .293. She is back for her third season as catcher.

           Sophomore Marlee Black is back in left after batting .361. The newcomer to the lineup is sophomore Maggie Welch in right field.

“We’ve been hitting pretty well,” Coach Truett said. “We’ve got a couple hitting it right to people. I told them sooner or later, it's going to find holes. As long as you’re hitting the ball it’s OK. Hopefully we can get the other ones hitting the ball.

“On the offensive side, we are stronger than we have been in a couple of years top to bottom. We have three lefties and 11 righties.

           Returning players working for more playing time are junior Lila Kate Mathis, junior Jessica Griffith and senior Savannah Feagin. Newcomers to the roster are junior Anna Lewis Burke and senior Sara Madelyn Fleming.

           Since the chance at the ultimate goal doesn’t come until sometime in May, Coach Truett said the focus for LMA is on the hear and now.

           “We’re just going to take it one day at a time, one game at a time. Some of teams we’re playing our down numbers-wise, so that can be a trap game. We can't play down to that level. We've got to be ready because anything can happen.”