SCISA SOFTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES ROUNDUP

Columbia – Laurence Manning Academy centerfielder Lyza Pricklemeyer threw out Hammond’s Madge Miller at home plate for a game-ending double play in the bottom of the eighth inning to preserve a 5-4 victory for the Lady ‘Cats in the opening game of the SCISA AAAA softball state championship series on Monday at the Hammond softball field.

LMA can clinch the state title on Tuesday with a win at its Julie Skoler Field in the second game of the best-of-3 series beginning at 6:30 p.m. If the Skyhawks win, a deciding third game will be played on Wednesday at a neutral site.

Laurence Manning, which improved to 17-4 on the season, took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning. Hammond scored twice to send the game to extra innings. The Lady ‘Cats scored three runs in the top of the inning to go up 5-2. The Skyhawks, who fell to 18-5, scored twice and had Miller on third with one out. Eliza Spratlin hit a fly ball to Pricklemeyer in center. Miller tagged up, but Pricklemeyer made the throw to catcher Hailey Truett, who applied the tag for the game-ending twin killing.

“That play from center has happened a couple of times this year between them two,” LMA head coach Buddy Truett said. “I was just hoping it would happen again when she hit it, and as you can see it did.”

That made a winner out of pitcher Laini Kosinski. She went the distance, allowing four hits and three walks while striking out three.

Pricklemeyer had two of LMA’s seven hits and scored a run. Lilly Welborn had a hit and two runs batted in, while Kosinski had a double and a run and Karly Bjork had a double. Kayleigh Parmeter-Avins had an RBI off of a sacrifice fly, Ashley Rae Hodge had a hit and an RBI, Marlee Black scored a run, and Truett had a hit.

Ava Miller had a hit and two RBI to lead Hammond. Grace Beacham and Olivia Wiske both had a hit, a run and an RBI, Ava Sapp had a hit and Ali Dorrington scored two runs.

AAA

Pee Dee 3

Orangeburg Prep 0

Mullins – Maddie Coward pitched a 2-hit shutout to lead 2-time defending state champion Pee Dee Academy to a 3-0 victory over Orangeburg Prep in the opening game of the AAA title series on Monday at the PDA field.

Pee Dee can clinch the state title on Tuesday with a win at the OP field in the second game of the best-of-3 series beginning at 6 p.m. If the Indians win, a deciding third game will be played on Wednesday at a neutral site.

Coward, a left-handed sophomore, struck out 14 batters and walked just two batters. She also had a big game at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and a run batted in.

The Indians’ Payton Schurlknight had a strong game in the circle as well. She scattered six hits while striking out 14 and walking one.

Lizzie McCaskill hit a solo home run for the Golden Eagles, who improved to 21-2. Baxleigh Arnette was 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs scored. Azeleigh Arnette had a hit and an RBI.

Prestan Schurlknight and Hannah Lambrecht each had a hit for Orangeburg Prep, which dropped to 19-3.

“Both pitchers pitched a great game,” said OP head coach Marty Kinard. “Coward for Pee Dee kept us off balance all night, but like I told our team the sun will come up tomorrow and we’ll get another opportunity. We’ll regroup and be ready for Game 2.”

         CLASS AA

         Clarendon Hall 6

         Colleton Prep 1

          Summerton -- Calli Yount scattered five hits in a complete-game effort to lift Clarendon Hall to a 6-1 win over Colleton Prep in the opening game of the AA state championship series on Monday at the CH field.

          The second game will be played today in Walterboro beginning at 5 p.m. with the Saints having a chance at its third straight state title. If Colleton Prep wins, a third game will be played on Wednesday at a neutral site.

         Yount struck out 11 and walked just two. She was also 3-for-3 with a home run, an RBI and two runs. Brynli Brewer had a hit, two RBI and a run, Lacey Corbett had a hit, a run and an RBI, Skylar Dymond had a hit, Macie McIntosh and Colleen McIntosh both scored a run, and Mandy wells had an RBI.

          Ava Murray had a hit and scored Colleton Prep's run. Hannah Strickland had a hit and an RBI. Sidney Bailey, Addison Crosby and Brayli Stanfield each had a hit.

CLASS A

Jefferson Davis 4

Cross Schools 0

Blackville – Senior right-handed pitcher Regan Still tossed a 3-hit shutout as Jefferson Davis Academy beat Cross Schools 4-0 in the opening game of the Class A state championship series on Monday at the JDA field.

JDA can clinch the state title on Tuesday with a win at the Bluffton High School field in the second game of the series beginning at 6 p.m. If Cross Schools wins, a deciding third game will be played on Wednesday at a neutral site.

The Raiders, who improved to 12-7, scored two runs in the first inning and two more in the third. Still had seven strikeouts. Junior Carrie Lynn Loadholt led the offense, going 2-for-3. Junior Madeline Respass had a hit and two RBI.

Defensively we played a great game,” said JDA head coach Bart Owens. “We played a great game. We got the first one, now we’ve got to back to their place and get the second win. Everyone is playing well right now. We just have to keep it up to get the state championship.”

Cross Schools dropped to 12-9-1.