SCHSL crowns four champions in girls soccer

David Shelton • May 12, 2024

Columbia – The South Carolina High School League held its 2024 state championships for girls soccer on May 10-11 at Memorial Stadium in Columbia.

 

Three of the four champions were repeat winners from 2023 with Clover being the new kid on the block in Class AAAA. In Class AA, Oceanside Collegiate won their fourth consecutive state title, claiming two in Class AAA in 2021 and 2022 before going back-to-back in AA.

 

Class AAAAA – Clover 2, Chapin 1

 

Clover built an early 2-0 lead and held off Chapin’s late push to win, 2-1. The championship was the first in school history Clover and avenged an earlier season loss to the Lower State champion.

 

Clover finishes its season with a 20-4 record while Chapin finishes 24-3-2.

 

Clover’s top player, senior Marilia Nieves, used her speed to break free early in the contest, drawing a foul in the box to set up a penalty kick. Nieves drilled the kick for a 1-0 lead just two minutes into the game.

 

“We kept up the pressure. The start gave us a lot of confidence,” Nieves said. “We were tired at the end. All of us doing hard work, running, running, running. I think our speed up top definitely helped us a lot. It was a great year. We accomplished everything we wanted to accomplish.”

 

Clover made it 2-0 in the 14th minute on a goal from Olivia Maurer. Chapin gained some life on a goal from Darcy Ahern in the 26th minute, sending the teams into halftime at 2-1.

 

Chapin increased the offensive pressure in the second half but Clover was up to the challenge defensively.

 

“I was holding my breath for the last two minutes,” Clover coach Kelsey Black said. “It’s amazing, absolutely amazing. We wanted to come out with some energy. We knew Chapin would come out and play hard in the second half. We had some other opportunities, probably could have sealed the deal. It was a battle to the end.”

 

Chapin coach Chad Bridges could not fault his team. Chapin was in the finals for the first time since 2016.

 

“This group is resilient, very tough,” the coach said. “We had an excellent season. To be 24-3 is nothing to be ashamed of. We will be upset with how it ended but it’s okay to feel a little hurt. We will be fine.”

 

Class AAAA - Eastside 2, Lucy Beckham 1 (Sudden death golden goal)

Eastside repeated as state champion with a golden goal early in the first five minute sudden death overtime period to win 2-1.

 

The winning score sort of happened out of nowhere as Eastside’s Peyton Nutzman lofted a high arcing shot from about 30 yards out. The ball carried over the head of the keeper and into the goal.

 

“I really didn’t see the ball go in,” Nutzman said. “It was like a blur. I didn’t expect it to. This means the world to us. We wanted another one. We worked so hard to win it again.”

 

After a scoreless first half, Eastside took the 1-0 lead with a goal two minutes into the second half on a goal from Kennedy Craig. Lucy Beckham’s Lilliana Iacofano knotted the score with a goal in the 57th minute.

 

A physical game that had numerous yellow card violations, each team had scoring chances in the two 10-minute overtime sessions before sudden death.

 

“Both teams played hard, really wanted to win,” Eastside coach David Craig said. “We came out in second half and I said we needed a goal. Wasn’t expecting it that quickly but that was good. Lit a little fire under them. Settled down and played.”

 

Lucy Beckham was playing in their first state championship in only their fourth year as a program.

 

“It was an even match, could have gone either way,” coach Frank Torcasio said. “It’s tough to lose. We won’t dwell on the ‘what-ifs’. I want them to think about all of their accomplishments and be proud. This team will be talked about for many years to come.”

 

Class AAA – Waccamaw 2, Powdersville 0

 

Waccamaw’s Lindsey Latimer scored two second-half goals to send the Warriors to their second straight title in Class AAA.

 

After a scoreless first half, Latimer put Waccamaw on the board with a goal in the 45th minute of play. That 1-0 lead was enough as Waccamaw played shut down defense the entire contest.

 

Latimer, however, put icing on the cake with a second goal coming in the 66th minute.

 

“We just kept connecting passes, working to get something,” Latimer said. “It was really everyone working together. We just talked at halftime about fixing our bad passes. It got a little shaky in the last 10 minutes but our back did a great job.”

 

The championship game started three hours later than scheduled due a weather delay earlier in the day. Waccamaw coach Mark Sanchez felt his team handled the delay well and were ready to play.

 

“I just told them to be happy kids, just relax,” the coach said. “I told them to have fun and enjoy being here. They came out focused and ready to play. The girls are phenomenal.”

 

Waccamaw finished this season with six losses but Sanchez scheduled tough during the regular season, playing high caliber teams like Wando, Oceanside Collegiate and Pinewood Prep. The schedule helped his team grow.

 

“Last year was our dream season, 23-1,” he said. “People wrote us off this year. They look at our record but we play a very tough schedule. We lose some but we learn from our mistakes.

“We lost three girls to season ending injuries in March. We had three subs on the bench. Resiliency is the word. Really happy for these kids.”

 

Powdersville coach Colin Melton said his team gave a great effort and did not blame the long delay for the loss.

 

“Our girls were ready for this game. It is what it is. We were ready and prepared. We just fell a little short today,” he said. “We felt we were in it, even down two goals. We made an effort. We kept pushing. I am proud of the girls tonight.”

 

Oceanside Collegiate 3, Christ Church 0

 

Oceanside Collegiate finished 18-1-2 this season while winning a fourth straight title. The Landshark scored three times in the second half. Coach Mark Meyer credits his large senior class and spoke of the accomplishment.

 

“I can’t imagine going through four years of high school with four state championships,” Meyer said. “These (10) seniors, they are more than great soccer players. They are going to be great leaders for our society.”

 

The Landsharks allowed seven goals all season and recorded their 14th shutout of the season. The championship game whitewash was their fifth of the postseason.

 

Anchoring the defense were senior Julia Cosgrove, junior Emma Gesser, and sophomore Izzy Pessilio, along with all-state keeper Ainsley Chunn.

 

“We made a change at halftime and it worked out for us,” Meyer said. “Our defense, they are lockdown players. You get a two goal lead, you feel pretty good with those girls.”

 

The changes offensively produced three second-half goals. Sophomore Ella Petry scored first, in the 55th minute. Sophomore Kate Schmidler followed with a score about 10 minutes later, and senior Ella Stief closed out the scoring in the 74th minute.

 

Chunn, the starting keeper for Oceanside’s last three title teams, heads off to College of Charleston to extend her career in the Fall.

      “We’re so close as a team and that shows on the field,” Chunn said. “Our chemistry is really strong. We’re not afraid to tell each other when we do something wrong. We put in so much hard work.”


By Billy Baker April 23, 2025
By Billy G. Baker Publisher Bamberg —The Class AA HSSR third ranked Barnwell Warhorses and the Class A Bamberg - Ehrhardt Raider baseball teams have both already won region titles, and they will both host four-team district play-offs in early May, so they met in a play-off tune-up game on Tuesday night with Barnwell winning 12-1. The two teams also met on April, 9 with Barnwell prevailing 3-0 in that game. Barnwell senior ace pitcher Cameron Austin, a five time all-region and four-time all-state honoree , improved his record to 5-2 on the season working five innings against the Raiders. Austin had six K’s and allowed only four hits. On the season, Austin has worked 39.1 innings with 58 K’s with a 1.23 ERA. The top hitters for Barnwell in the win were outfielder Tommy Reid with two hits, while Austin collected three RBI’s and scored two runs. Three players, Hayden Pierce, senior catcher Kaleb McCormack, and third baseman Trey Boleman , each had one hit and one RBI respectively . Carl Hines added a hit also. Bamberg was hampered by giving up 10 walks and four errors during the game. The Raiders were led at the plate by left-fielder Weston Stokes who went 2-of- three. He also saw late action on the mound. The team’s other two hits came from second baseman Dakota Black and center fielder Brent Amaker . The starting pitcher for B-E was Cooper Sandifer who worked 4.2 innings, giving up three hits with six K’s. After the game, Barnwell head coach Cody McCollum shared some thoughts with the HSSR. “We always have a good chance of winning with Cameron on the mound, especially when he is throwing strikes, and the guys are playing good defense behind him; and we are swinging the bats well,” said Coach McCollum, who played baseball at Barnwell where he graduated in 2012. “They walked a lot of guys tonight and that helped us too. “Winning the region was something I talked about with the boys at the beginning of the season because I felt like this team was good enough to go undefeated in the region,” said Coach McCollum. “We fell a little short last year, losing a region game to Edisto, and that stuck in the back of our heads, and this year our expectation was to go 10-0 in the region. “Our other internal goal is to win at least 20 games before the playoffs start and we are 18-4 right now, with four games left,” said Coach McCollum. “We need to win at least two more. We play Batesburg - Leesville tomorrow, (April, 23), South Aiken twice next week, and Woodland one more time. We are going to try hard to get two more wins.” Coach McCollum said that Austin, batting .468 with 26 RBI’s and six home runs, has played more third base, when not pitching this season. “Before I came back to Barnwell last year, I was at Hampton, and I had to coach against him, and I glad he is now on my team. He’s a very good player.” Coach McCollum said Barnwell has relied on Austin, and three other seniors for most of the load this season. “We have a sophomore and a freshman starting in the middle, and we have two sophomore starters in the outfield, and a junior started in center field tonight,” said Coach McCollum. “We are kind of young and old at the same time. “The other seniors are Kaleb McCormack , our catcher, who has improved his hitting this season along with and Trey Boleman who started at third tonight and Hayden Pierce was at first tonight, and he hit a double off the wall. Kaleb is a very good on defense behind the plate and we feel good about him, behind the plate, regardless of who is pitching.” Case Davis is a freshman starting shortstop with a .411 batting average. Pierce is at .390 and McCormick is at .289 with 16 RBI’s and a .999 fielding percentage. Joe Huggins is the DH and he is hitting .367. Sophomore Dakota Black starts at second. Tommy Reid is a junior center fielder currently batting .333.  Vincent Gibson is a sophomore in the outfield for Barnwell. Jax Mead is a sophomore starting at second base. Caiden Roland is the sophomore starting right fielder. Some additional Barnwell pitching depth has come from, Pierce (5-0, 35 K’s, ERA 2.54), along with Bradley Richardson (2-0, 9 K’s), Boleman (26-K’s) and Davis (24 K’s with a 1.07 ERA). After the game, Bamberg Ehrhardt (8-6) head coach Gene Schwarting told the HSSR, “We have three 8 graders who start for us, two 9 th graders, one sophomore, a junior and two seniors so for the most part we are a young team,” said Coach Schwarting. “Our two seniors, Weston Stokes and Brent Amaker are co-captains” Stokes is the team’s number one pitcher. Stokes started in left against Barnwell and batted lead-off. Amaker started in center and batted third. Nasi Singleton, an 8 th grader , will typically start in the outfield and Garrett Wade usually starts at third base. Chip Brewer, or Stokes, will start at short and Dakota Black is at second while 8 th grader Chase Collins holds down first. Asiel Graham is usually the starting B-E catcher, backed up by Davis Ehrhardt . Singleton is the top hitter for the Raider at .477 and 8 RBI’s. Stokes is at .410 and 12 RBI’s. Black is third on the hit index at .333 and 15 RBI’s. Other top hitters include: Amaker (.317 with 17 RBI’s & a HR), Wade (.306 & 10 RBI’s) along with Cooper Sandifer (.300 & five RBI’s). Stokes has 26 innings pitched with 48 K’s. Sandifer has worked 22.1 innings on the mound with 38 K’s, and Brewer has 14 innings pitched to date with 25 K’s. “In terms of our pitching this season, it has been pretty good, but at times it has also been like a roller- coaster,” said Coach Schwarting. “We will pitch well one game, and not so well the next game. We also need to improve on our timely hitting before we start the play-offs also. “The other night we lost to Orangeburg Prep 6-3, and we left the bases loaded in the second, third, fourth and 5 th innings,” said Coach Schwarting. “”We have to get stronger in our hitting, up and down the line-up, one through nine. “Our pitching has been outstanding, our defense has been solid, and we just need to do a much better job getting hits with runners on base,” said Coach Schwarting, a Bamberg-Ehrhardt graduate now in his 7 th season as the Raiders head coach.
By Staff Reports April 23, 2025
These players are some of the best talent South Carolina has on the softball diamond. Since the switch to fast pitch ball, student athletes playing softball are stepping up to the next level play. We salute these ladies and wish them all the best in the future. (Coaches please Nominate your Players at hsreport@aol.com ) HSSR 2025 SC Senor Softball Prospects 1. Ainsley Bennett-Summerville-P- SC (2 Time Gatorade POY) 2. Maddie Johnson-Aynor-RHP-67 MPH-CLEMSON 3. Sarah Rocheleau-Catawba Ridge-OF-(All-State) CLEMSON 4. Mandy Wells-Clarendon Hall-SS (35 Career HR/.531 career) 5. Melanie Edwards-Summerville-1B- (All-State) UNC-C 6. Ellanie Yarrell-Byrnes-P-C-(’24 R-POY) SC State 7. Abby Driscoll-Summerville-C-(All-State) C of C 8. Jaidyn Devore-Barnwell-P-(538 Career K’s)-HOWARD 9. Maddie Wiant-Byrnes-P-(Mid 60’s)-Winthrop 10. Addison Miller-Oceanside Collegiate-3B—(.468, 30-RBI) TOWSON 11. Maddie Berry-Latta-P-(All-State-65 MPH) Wofford 12. Cierra Grice-Dillon -3B/C-(3X All-State)-PC 13. Kaylee Hannon-Byrnes-P-1B-(5 Yr. Starter) Winthrop 14. Sydney Rollins-Lewisville-CF 15. Larosia Sanders-Colleton County-P/SS-SC State 16. Maddox Long-Gray Collegiate-P/3rd- 17. Peyton Perry-South Florence-P-COKER 18. Laila Landrum-Woodmont-CF/P-USC Upstate 19. Cassidy Neves-Woodmont-OF-(L-L)-USC Aiken 20. Lauren Childress-Woodmont-1B-SMC 21. Kara Davis-Byrnes-CF (L-L) (2X All-Region) Anderson 22. Brooklyn Amble-Byrnes-LF-(All-Region) North Greenville 23. Madison Thieke-Riverside-OF-(.442)-Wofford 24, Ella Sheorn-Lugoff-Elgin-1B-OF- 25. Calli Yount-Clarendon Hall-P 26. Ariana Evans-Sumter-CF- 27. Grace Terry-Oceanside Collegiate-UTIL-(.382/35RBI)COKER 28 Allie Simpson-Dixie-1B-(22 RBI) 29. Grace Terry-Oceanside Collegiate-C-(.382/35 RBI) COKER 30. Carter Shumate-Hartsville-1B-(Academics-SC) .584/24 RBI 31. Laila Landrum-Woodmont-RHP-OF- 32. Jenna Cecere-Mauldin-OF 33. Jaysha McCullough-Hartsville-OF-(current/.622) 34. Jaylin McGee-Easley-RHP 35. Hannah Andrews-Fox Creek-CF (.459,25 RBI) Columbia 36. Blair Elliott-GSF-C- 37. Maggie Harrington-Clarendon Hall-CF 38. Jasmine Grant-Fox Creek-1B-(.351) Lander 39. Hannah Andrews-Fox Creek-CF- (.459/25RBI) 40. 34. Addyson Snellings-Fox Creek-RHP 41. Sydney Rhodes-Sumter-RF- .451 42. Jordyn Miller-Lewisville-C-(.425/4 HR) 43, Alainia Brown-Aynor-SS-LANDERR 44. Ruby Powell-Ridge-Spring-Monetta-C-(.431/18 RBI) 45. Dacey Phillips-Gaffney-1B/3B-North Greenville 46. Claire Eskridge-Pee Dee Academy—OF- 47. Hollie Scott-Lake View-1B-(.403-All-Region) 48. Jaden Jones-Hannah-Pamplico-SS- 49. Riley Rabon-Aynor-C-ERSKINE 50. Hannah Lewis-Aynor-C-ERSKINE Best Of The Rest In 2025 SC Softball Class (No Particular Order) Caroline Gaskins-Aynor-OF-BELMONT ABBEY Savannah Gerald-Aynor-1B-Columbia Inter. Allie Bailey-Hartsville-P-(12-4/2.51/ERA) Brooklyn Moon-Berkeley-C-Chatt St. Reese Watson-Berkeley P— Madison House-Spartanburg-Utiity Lillian Fowler-Dorman-SS Holly Carnes-Branchville-P Janiyah Squire-Ninety-Six-P Emma Timmons-Buford-SS/2B Caroline Plyer-Buford-/B/P (8th grade) Maya Van Zyl-Blythewood-C Emma Timmons-Buford-SS/2B Maya Van Zyl-Blythewood-C HSSR SC Class of 2026 Softball Prospects (Jr.) 1. Caroline Davis-Union County-3B (467 9 HR) 2. Katie Guilliam-Summerville-SS- (.463, 5 HR) MISSOURI 3. Olivia Miller-Indian Land-P-SC (12-4,88-K’s) 4. Myah Harvey-Hartsville-SS-(.583/5/HR) WOFFORD 5. Prestan Schurlknight-Orangeburg-Prep-SS (.756/9HR) Lander 6. Alivia Hess-Aynor-P-(10-1/.48 ERA) Tenn Martin 7. Daphne Frady-Summerville-2B/3B-(.442/14 RBI) 8 Memory Melton-Byrnes-RF-(L-R) Strong Arm 9 Sarah Owens-Lewisville-P-(195 K’s, 1.64 ERA) 10. Korbyn Lydia-Gaffney-SS- (All-State)-USC Upstate 11. Kadence Poston-Hannah-Pamplico-P-WESTERN Car. 12.. Maddie Coward-Pee Dee Academy-P- Wofford 13. Maddie Hutto-Bamberg-Ehrhardt-P-(62-plus) 14. Logan Thomas-Indian Land-C-USC Aiken (.378/4HR) 15. Maliyah Campbell-Woodmont-P/DP-SC State 16. Frances Laughlin-Heathwood Hall-IF/OF-WOFFORD 17. Hailey Carguile-Woodmont-C-USC Union 18. Brooklyn Holmes-Colleton County-IF/CF (.651) 19. Natalie Regan-Riverside-OF-Western Carolina 20. Allie Royer-White Knoll-CF-North Greenville 21. Levi Warran-Lexington-OF- (.500-plus) 22. Emily Geddes-North Augusta-2B-SS-(.357/4HR) 23. Emerson Riddle-Dixie-C-(.630/27RBI) 24. Ariana Evans-Sumter-CF-2024-All-State 25. Addison Price-Dixie-SS-(.448/24 RBI) 26. Hannah Lambrecht-Orangeburg Prep – C 27. Garner Lanford-AC Flora-P/OF-(.463) 28. Hanah Lambrecht-Orangeburg Prep-INF-(.619/14RBI) 29. MaKenzie McElrath-Dixie-P –(All-State) 30. Maliyah Campbell-Woodmont-RHP (10-4) 31. Kylie Wilson-TL Hanna-Catcher 32. Dallas LaChance-Woodland-SS- 33. Saddie Parris-C-Boiling Springs HSSR 2026 Junior Class Best Of The Rest (No Certain Order) Maria Sialmas-Hillcrest-Catcher Kylee Hooker-Wagner-Salley-Pitcher Jadin Dandy-Travelers Rest-CF-All-State Elle Lockhard-Dreher-C (.469) Elena Mathys-Colleton Prep-P-(All-State) Hope Fowler-Greenville-Utility Kinley West-C-Byrnes Mackenzie Bradley-White Knoll-C- Kenzie McCoy-Loris-OF Mia Roseburg-Oceanside- P/SS Annie Storm-AC Flora-CF-(.372) Eryn Wright-Spring Valley-OF/SS-(2027) HSSR Class of 2027 Softball Prospects (Sophomores) 1. Aspen Boulware-Gray Collegiate-INF-(.651 / 40 RBI) 2. Kensley Vicars-Powdersville-INF- (.444 / 27 RBI) 3. Ayla Holmes-North Augusta-C-3B-1B-(.486 / 19 RBI) 4. Addy Waters-Byrnes-2B/SS-2 Yr. Starter 5. Emma Williams-TL Hanna- P-OF 6. Lillie Ivey-Sumter-P-(8-3,1,79ERA) 7. Maddie Loftis-TL Hanna-OF 8. Bailey Ardis-Sumter-C/OF- 9. Key-Lee Jennings-Union County-CF-(.382 / 15 RBI) 10. Summer Knight-Summerville-OF- 11. Taylor Wright-Holly Hill Academy- P (.531 / 20 RBI) 12. Madalyn Tigert-North Augusta 13. Laney Grubbs-Barnwell-P- 14. Mackenzie Melton-North Central-P 15. Kenleigh Epps-Whitmire-P 16. Riley Murphy-Indian Land-OF 17. Brynley Gaa-Legion Collegiate-P-1B 18. Brylie Harpe-Chesterfield-2B- 19. Addison Skipper-Marlboro County-SS-3B top 3 20. Azeleigh Arnette-Pee Dee Academy-2B- HSSR Class of 2028 Softball Prospects (Freshmen) includes Classes of 2029 -2030 (Note: If grade not noted they are 9 th ) 1. Addison Sharp-TL Hanna-RHP-246 K’s, 1.92 ERA 2. Maeven Morino-Summerville-2B-(.447/16RBI) 3. Kinsley Terrapin-Barnwell-SS/P-(.577) 7 th Grade 4. Maeven Moreno-Summerville-Utility- 5. Anna Grace Lee-Union County-RHP-17-3, 220 K’s 6. Tori Smith-Andrew-SS/P (.524) 7. Hanna Davis-TL Hanna-1B- 8. Addison Woodward-Fox Creek-Catcher 9. Garrison Aiken-Byrnes-SS/C/2B - 7th Grade 10. Wren Gaines-Byrnes-C- 8th Grade 11. Shalayah Badger-Barnwell-SS/P/C-(.500) 7th Grade 12. Mindy Veler-White Knoll-OF - 8 th Grade 13. Hanna Coburn-Lake View-2B-(.338/9 RBI) 14. Peyton Summers-Dixie-2B-(.486) 15. Stella Eichhorn-Ware Shoals-P-SS-(.619/16RBI) 16. McKenzi Pearson-Sumter-C-(arm) 17. Pressli Reynolds-AC Flora-P/SS-(.404,6-1) 18. Reece Yelton-Williston-Elko-OF 19. Addison Hasty-Pee Dee Academy-SS- 8th Grade 20. Cayden Crawford-May River-P-(51-K,5-1) 21. Bre Gerad-Colleton County-P/3B- 8th Grade 22. Gracyn Waiksnis-Indian Land-2B-(.395/9SB) 23. Kylie Powell-Powdersville-P-(R-R) 24. Calee Hartzog - Orangeburg Prep - 8th Grade (IF) 25. Josie Mitchum-Woodland-Util.-(.500)
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor April 23, 2025
Joshua Smith, Fra'Jon Bennett, Jernee Ford have had strong performances
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor April 23, 2025
Lady Saints going after fourth straight state title
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor April 23, 2025
Lady Generals have had to do battle with Calhoun, Clarendon Hall and Orangeburg Prep
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor April 23, 2025
This is a subtitle for your new post
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor April 23, 2025
Lady Barons have just one senior and one junior on the roster
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor April 23, 2025
Bears 11-9 on the season and 5-4 in Region 1-AAA
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor April 22, 2025
Raiders being led by senior Colson Loadholt
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor April 22, 2025
Indians has won 22 of first 25 games
More Posts