Summerville looking for its second – straight and ever -- softball state title

Summerville – Summerville High School won its first ever state title in softball last year, sweeping James F. Byrnes in the best-of-3 series to capture the AAAAA crown. By the look of things this season, the Green Wave may be on the way to doubling up on the rings.

With most of the roster returning from last season, Summerville was off to a 13-0 start. The Green Wave had outscored its opponents 101-12 in those contests. Because of that, Summerville is ranked No. 1 in the High School Sports Report AAAAA poll.

Summerville head coach Heather Tucker was perhaps a bit overwhelmed in finding out what the title meant to the community.

“In the last 24 hours I have had so many people let me know how much this means to the community, alumni, school and fans,” Tucker said following the deciding game. “It certainly means a lot to myself having coached at Summerville for the last 20 years. Having been so close a few times before (three other championship appearances) it is certainly sweet to have been able to bring it home this year, but all the credit goes to the team.” 

The person who pitched a complete-game shutout in a 2-0 victory that gave Summerville the title, is back in the person of junior Ansley Bennett. She scattered seven hits in that game as the Green Wave played error-free defense behind her.

She was off to another dominating start in the circle. Bennett had allowed just two runs – only one earned – in 22 innings pitched for a 0.32 earned run average. She had 46 strikeouts against just five hits allowed and four walks.

Sophomore Hope Chase had worked 18 innings and had 31 strikeouts to go with a 1.56 ERA.

Bennett finished last season with 226 strikeouts while Chase had 127.

Bennett is the leader of the offense as well. She had a team high .571 batting average to go with a team high four home runs. She was tied for the team lead in runs batted in with 10.

Sophomore Katie Gulliam and junior Melanie Edwards were both hitting .375 and junior catcher Abby Driscoll .364. All three of them had hit a homer while Edwards was tied for the RBI lead with 10 and Gulliam led the team in runs scored with 13.

Chase was hitting only .238 but had smacked two dingers. Sophomore Jayden Bennett was hitting .300 and senior Caroline Waring was hitting .211, but had an on-base percentage of .333. Senior Makalia Harrell also had an OBP of .333. Junior Alex Siwik, who batted over .400 last season, was off to a slow start with a .133 average.

Guilliam and Ansley Bennett also hit over .400 last year. Bennett had 43 hits, including 12 home runs, two triples and 13 doubles. Guilliam had 44 hits, including four home runs, six triples and 10 doubles, while Edwards had 34 hits, including six home runs, a triple and 14 doubles.

Other major contributors at the plate included Waring with 33 hits, Chase with 24 and Jayden Bennett with 22.

           Byrnes, which handed Summerville its only loss last year in an early-season tournament in a 29-5 season, appears as though it might be primed for a return trip to the title series. The Rebels, who are ranked second by HSSR,  only had one senior on last year’s team, although it was standout pitcher Sierra Maness.

           Junior Kaylee Hannon was Maness’ backup last year. She’s a right-hander, while Byrnes’ other pitcher is a junior, lefty Maddie Wiant.

           The Rebels were off to a 12-2 start, including a 4-0 record in Region 2.

           Hannon, an All-State selection, was the leader of the offense last year, batting .417 with nine home runs, 11 doubles and 51 runs batted in.

           Junior Kara Davis had the top batting average at .424 and led in runs with 40 to go with nine doubles, three triples and one home run. Junior Ellanie Yarrell batted .375 with five doubles, seven triples and two homers, senior Eliza Scott hit .341 with 13 doubles, and junior Brooklyn Amble hit .333.

           Sophomore Memorie Melton hit .307, while seniors Mia Johnson and Courtney Dean both hit .295.