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SCHSL 2024 state lacrosse champs crowned

David Shelton • Apr 28, 2024

Irmo – The 2024 state championships for SCHSL lacrosse were decided on Apr. 27 at Irmo High School with former state champions returning to glory.

 

Former state champion Chapin beat Fort Mill, 13-4, in the Class AAAAA girls championship contest. Wando, which won a state title two years ago, won it’s seventh overall as they knocked off defending state champion Nation Ford, 17-7, for the AAAAA boys title.

 

Bishop England won its seventh title in eight years with a 22-2 victory over Riverside in the AAAA girls final, while Lucy Beckham’s boys won their third straight title with an 8-3 win over Greenville.

 

Chapin beats Fort Mill, 13-4, for AAAAA girls lacrosse title; first since 2019

 

Chapin (18-2) won its first title since 2019 and did so in dominating fashion all season. The Eagles knocked off two-time defending state champion Wando in the Lower Sate finals. Chapin also defeated Fort Mill during the regular season.

 

The best AAAAA player in the state, Ava Grace Collins, tallied three goals to give her 95 goals on the season.

 

“This feels so amazing, to be able to accomplish this with my best friends,” Collins said. “We have been working so hard for this. It feels surreal. Just so proud of every player because they work so hard too.”

 

Brooke Holmes also scored three times, all in the first half, while Jules Brown scored four times in the second half.

 

“After we beat Wando we knew that we could win today,” Brown said. “We came into this game really confident because we had beaten them in season. Confidence came a very long way for us this year. We knew that if we played the way we played on Tuesday (vs. Wando) we were unstoppable. We finally did it.”

 

Fort Mills’s Cece Shia, a freshman, scored three goals for the Yellow Jackets (13-6).

 

Fort Mill opened the scoring with an early goal but Chapin had the answer, many answers in fact. The Eagles scored 10 unanswered goals, taking a 7-1 halftime lead.

 

Fort Mill scored a goal in the third and another in the fourth but could not contain Chapin’s offensive attack as Brown scored three times in the final period to put the contest on ice.

 

“These girls have worked so hard for this, for four years, and to see it come to fruition is amazing,” Chapin coach Raven Thomas said. “We knew we were state champions as soon as the open season started. We purposely played the toughest schedule we’ve ever seen so that every game would be just as hard as the state finals.

 

“We’ve been cut short so many times before there was nothing that was going to get in this team’s way today, We went out to win every quarter.”

 

Bishops dominate Riverside in AAAA girls finale, 22-2

 

Bishop England was denied an opportunity to win a seventh consecutive state championship by the SCHSL in 2023 and left no doubt in 2024.

 

The program was found to have used an ineligible player early last season, leading to five forfeits of wins. Bishop England did not lose a game on the field but the forfeits ultimately left the Bishops out of the state playoffs last spring.

 

The forfeits also ended a 98-game winning streak, a streak that extended to 117 straight contests with the perfect 19-0 season.

 

“We would have won it last year, I truly believe that,” Bishops coach Jeff Weiner said. “We were really good and we returned nine seniors this year. We certainly felt we were the best team in the state and we played all the good teams. This team simply refused to lose. Their work ethic and focus has been amazing.”

 

Seniors Bo Rosato and Izzy Woods led the offensive onslaught with six and five goals, respectively. Woods, Rosato and fellow senior Nini Clarke scored early goals to put the pressure on Riverside.

 

The Warriors tallied their lone goal of the first-half late in the first quarter but Bishop England ran off 10 straight goals for a commanding 13-1 advantage at the half.

 

Bishop England allowed just two goals per game this season and goalie Lizzie Tompkins and her defensive mates in the back were again dominant.

 

“Defense was our calling card all season,” Weiner said. “Best defensive team I’ve coached.”

 

Weiner left his seniors on the field for the duration of the contest, giving them a chance to soak up the victory that they missed last season.

 

“They earned the right to be on the field when the buzzer sounded,” the coach said. “It was a fitting end for them. They are a remarkable group.”

 

Rosato, who will attend John Hopkins University in the fall, says Saturday is a day she will never forget.

“This is really special, more special than the previous ones,” she said. “We came in very confident. We never get too cocky. We stay focused and we stay together. We were ready to go today.”

 

Riverside coach Thomas Riley says his team ran into a better team. Riverside finished 17-3 this season.

 

“It’s our third appearance in four years,” Riley said. “It’s a honor and a privilege to coach these girls in this game. What coach Weiner has done with that program is incredible.

 

“We were loose. Just a matter of being able to hold on to the ball, which we didn’t do. It all starts with winning the draw and we had a lot of trouble with that today.”

 

Wando captures eighth state title with win over defending champions

 

Wando won its eighth state title in boys lacrosse, avenging a loss to Nation Ford in the finals last season. Offensive balance was again the key to success with several players scoring multiple goals in a 17-7 win.

 

Connor Carretta led the way with four goals. Luke Moore and Connor Bennett each tallied three goals while Sean Carroll, Harris Beck and Bragg McConnell each scored two goals.

 

“The good start was the key to game, that was our game plan, to jump on them,” Wando coach Lance Renes said. “Our objective was to get a jump on them and never stop.

 

“We don’t focus on payback. We just focus on the task at hand. We have a lot of respect for their program but this was all about us.”

 

Wando wasted no time taking control of the game, scoring three goals in the first four minutes for an early lead. After Nation Ford cracked the scoreboard, the Warriors went on a 5-0 run and led 8-1 after the first quarter.

 

“We knew we had to jump on them really quickly,” Moore said. “Momentum is everything in state championship. It was good to get up early and we kept the momentum throughout the game. We were not going to lose this game.”

 

Nation Ford rallied to tighten the game at 11-6 but the Warriors had an answer and put the game away with a solid fourth quarter.

 

“We were a hard team to defend. The offense is well-rounded,” Renes said. “When you have that much have strength, it’s very tough. That speaks to our culture and how we like to play team lacrosse.”

 

Nation Ford coach Cory Turner lost eight seniors from last year’s championship team but the Falcons got hot late in the season to earn another trip to the finals.


“Wando is too good. If you get burned they are going to expose you. They did that today,” Turner said. “They have a great program. I would expect next year we will be right back in the thick of things. I really like what we will have coming back. This was our rebuilding year. We knew that. We put it together late and were able to get here. Eventually, next year, it will pay off.”

 

Lucy Beckham sends coach to new job with third straight title

 

Lucy Beckham coach Parker Ferrigan has coached his last game at the program he started in 2021. Ferrigan went out in style with a third consecutive state title and the Bengals did not lose to an in-state school over the last three seasons.

 

“Our team was so dedicated and so focused on winning this for coach,” senior Ryan McCarthy said. “He did so much for all of us and he started the program from scratch. We all owe him a lot and we’re glad we could do this for him.”

 

Ferrigan is headed to a new coaching position in Tennessee but watched his 2024 team close out a season that almost wasn’t. Due to an offseason rules violation, Lucy Beckham was initially banned from postseason play by the SCHSL. The school won an appeal before the state’s appellate panel in February and had their postseason opportunity reinstated, though they did suffer other sanctions.

 

“I think we are grateful that we had an opportunity to finish with everything that was going on,” Ferrigan said, “I think it made us appreciate everything a lot. Everything we went through brought us together and made us stronger. Really proud of these guys.”

 

The championship contest was competitive throughout but Lucy Beckham never trailed. Sophomore Nolan Elwood scored two first half goals and Colton Bennett added a score to put the Bengals up 3-0 midway through the second period.

 

After Greenville scored to cut the lead to 3-1, the Bengals scored twice in the final two minutes on goals by McCarthy and Web Perry. Perry’s crucial goal came with less than a second remaining in the first half.

 

Each team scored once in the third period with Griff Berry giving the Bengals a 6-2 lead moving into the fourth quarter. The Raiders got a goal from Capers Gross to make it 6-3 but Beckham’s Austin Constable answered to make it 7-3 with 8:03 remaining in the contest.

 

Two minutes later Wyatt Coombs made it 8-3.

 

“I don’t think many people in the state expected us to come out and fight like hell,” Greenville coach Andrew Tillman said. “Our kids played hard. We believed in ourselves and believed in the type of team we were. Offensively, we missed some shots that we normally don’t but you have to credit Lucy Beckham’s defense. They’re a quality team.”

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By Billy G. Baker Publisher Walterboro — The Clarendon Hall Saints softball team captured their second straight SCISA AA softball title, and third in a row counting the Class A title won over Wardlaw three years ago, with a hard-fought come-from-behind 3-2 win over Colleton Prep on May, 15. One of the largest crowds ever to witness a softball game at Colleton Prep observed the two teams battle with everything they got in this game. This was one of those games where both teams left it all on the field. CH head coach Jeffrey Bays shared his feelings with the HSSR soon after the game. “We lost four games this season but we had never been in a situation like this game with so much on the line,” said Coach Bays. “ Mandy (Wells) lives for the important moments, and her two-run homer in the third inning was the difference in the ball game. She struggled some at the plate in game one but she came in this game, like she has in so many, and delivered for the team at a crucial moment. “These girls have been playing together for a long time since rec ball, summer ball and together on our high school team and they have worked hard and they are a real close-knit group,” said Coach Bays. “They jell really well and they know and understand each other on the field. They pull for each other with great team chemistry. “ Colleen (McIntosh) gave us four strong innings but they were starting to hit her some as the game went on so we brought Calli (Yount) in to close things out and I am proud of both of our pitchers who combined for 12 strike-outs,” said Coach Bays. “We are going to miss the five seniors on this team. For the past two seasons we have had only one senior on those two teams. We do have a core group of younger players moving up from the junior varsity.” Mandy Wells made the final out of the game for the Saints, fielding a well hit ground ball, before racing to second base for the forced-out that ended the game. She and her teammates had “explosive confetti” in their back pockets as the game ended and a sea of confetti popped into the air above them shortly after the final out. “I am just so proud and inspired by my team to go out like this with a state championship,” said Wells. “I just want to give God all the praise and credit because we play for Him. I am so glad that we could win another championship and have fun while doing it.” With one more season of high school softball to go, what are Well’s goals with the sport? She recently hit three home runs in one game, that helped her team advance to the state title series. “I do not know if I want to go anywhere, or not, but we’ll see,” said Wells. “Of course, it would be great to play for a team like Oklahoma , or even a smaller college like Anderson College . Wells said she focuses on hitting a softball “back side” and the majority of her career home runs have landed over the fence, just to the right of dead center field. “I guess I get lucky with my timing,’ said Wells, who plans on majoring in Physical Therapy in college. It would not be a shock to this reporter to see Wells end up on the Lady Gamecocks roster at South Carolina, after her senior season. Wells has been taking hitting lessons from the hitting coach at SC the past two years and they have to be impressed with her quick wrist, how fast the ball explodes off her bat in a line drive trajectory, and how fast she reacts to all matter’s softball during live game action. Colleton Prep head coach Tiger Martin was also proud of his team and how they battled the entire game. “We lost six games this season, and four losses came from Clarendon Hall,” said Coach Martin. “We lost to them in our first game early in the season 14-0, then lost to them a second time 8-0, and then in the championship series we lost 6-1 and 3-2 so while I do not like moral victories that does show how much this team improved and continued to battle against a really fine softball team. “Back before the season started this team struggled for the first two weeks of practice and to see them make steady improvement and make it to the state championship series is why I love coaching and working with them,” said Coach Martin. “It was more exhilarating on this Wednesday night than any other Wednesday night we played back in March. We didn’t win today but our adrenalin was flowing and the max effort was there. Our other two losses were to Oceanside Collegiate and Calhoun Academy so we played some tough competition.” CP will graduate three seniors. “They are the last group from our 2021 state championship team,” said Coach Martin. “ Sidney Bailey has been a great hitter and a great athlete for the past four seasons and she had a decisive hit in our state finals game back in 2021. “I know coaches say they do not have favorite players but that is a lie when they say that,” said Coach Martin. “Senior MaKenzie Pellum is among my most favorite athletes I have coached. I have a picture on my desk of her playing pitcher and catcher. Early on in the program she told me, “Coach if you believe in me, I will always give it my very best, and I will there for you and the team. “Our third senior is left-fielder Hannah Strickland who had a key hit the other night,” said Coach Martin. “She has grown every year and I am happy to say that she has earned a spot in the upcoming North-South all-star game.” Colleton Prep went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first when MaKenzie Pellum drew a walk and later stole second. She came home two batters later on a sacrifice bunt by pitcher Sydney Stivender . In the top of the third CH took a 2-1 lead when junior catcher Skyler Dymond singled and stole second. Junioe shortstop Mandy Wells then hit her 28 th career home run to dead center field to put the Saints up 2-1. In the bottom of the third inning CP tied the score at 2-2. With two-out Ava Murray hit a home run to left field It looked like CP might add another run when Sidney Bailey followed the home run with a ripped double in the power alley. However, a pop up to the CH third baseman ended the inning. In the top of the 6 th inning Wells led off with a sharp single just to the left of second base. Two batters later Wells moved to second on a wild pitch while junior Calli Yount was at the plate. Yount delivered a double, easily scoring the speedy Wells from second to give the Saints a lead of 3-2 that held up for the final score. Both teams collected six hits in the game. Wells led the Saints at the plate with two hits and two RBI’s. Senior Lacey Corbett contributed a hit as did Dymond, leading hitter junior Maggie Harrington , and Yount who had one hit and one huge RBI. Colleton Prep got two hits from Bailey, and one hit each from Murray, Stivender, Hannah Strickland , and Pellum. Murray and Stivender each added one RBI. CH used two pitchers in the game. Senior lefty Colleen McIntosh started the game and worked four full innings with six strike-outs. Calli Yount came in for the final three innings and also recorded six strike-outs. Teams take the pressure off their defenses when 12 of the 21 outs in the game were strike-outs. Sydney Stivender worked all seven innings for CP in the circle allowing two runs and registering 6 strike-outs. Colleton Prep last won a SCISA AA softball title against Pee Dee Academy in 2021 in a third game tie-breaker won over The Golden Eagles (10-0) at Laurence Manning Academy . Clarendon Hall has now played in four straight state finals. They defeated Calhoun Academy in a third game tie-breaker (6-2) at Patriot’s Park in Sumter last year. CH will graduate five seniors ( Sidney Berry , Colleen McIntosh , Ashley Timmons , Lacey Corbett , and Macie McIntosh ) from this year’s team. CP is saying good bye to three seniors ( MaKenzie Pellum , Sidney Bailey , and Hannah Strickland ) who were three of the best hitters on the 2024 squad.
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