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Branchville spring teams enjoy playoff participation

By David Shelton

Branchville – Every high school athlete that participates in sports does so for the competition and the thrill of victory.

One of the highlights if any sports season is the opportunity to make the state playoffs, which means a chance to compete for a state championship.

Teams must survive the regular season and win enough to earn the right to play in the state playoffs.

At Branchville High School, three spring sports teams earned the right to participate in the class A state playoffs this spring. One, the boy’s soccer team, made a little history as well.

Coach Craig Porter’s soccer team had the best season in the school’s 11-year history, posting a 13-7 record overall and earning a first-round bye in the Class A lower state playoffs.

Winning more games than any team in school history was a nice accomplishment, but the real prize came in the post-season. After a first-round bye, Branchville met up with area rival Blackville-Hilda in the second-round of the lower state bracket.

In that match, the Yellow Jackets won their first-ever playoff game, beating the Hawks, 1-0, in an exciting home match.

The win propelled Branchville into the lower state semi-final round against the number one seed, Academic Magnet. Unfortunately, the defending class A lower state champions were too much for Branchville to handle and the season ended with an 8-0 loss.

Senior sweeper John Hitopoulis had a strong season and was rewarded for his great effort by earning class A all-state honors. Hitopoulis is the fourth all-state selection in the history of the program.

Branchville’s baseball team finished second in the region and earned a spot in the lower state playoffs. The Yellow Jackets opened the playoffs with a win over St. John’s High, but could go no farther as they lost to Johnsonville and Bishopville to end their season.

The softball team also made the state playoffs and opened with a 20-2 win over Cross. They lost in the second-round to Johnsonville, 6-1, but bounced back with an 11-1 win over Cross.

In the district championship game, Branchville lost to Johnsonville, 14-0, to end their season.

 

 

er in the week on Wednesday they will match up against Woodland, and then on Thursday they will start region play against Bethune ? Bowman and Demark ? Olar. The Yellow Jackets are the defending region champions.
    This past week Branchville defeated both Lake Marion and Wade Hampton 3-0.  Coach Cook said, "We played really well both games, we had a lot of kills, and a lot of really good serving that kept us on top most of the time."  Coach Cook also mentioned that her team did a good job of talking with each other, and that they communicated well.
    Coach Cook mentioned Caitlin Felder played exceptional.  Against Wade Hampton she tallied 7 kills and several blocks that boosted moral.  She said, "She has been a great server so this year, very consistent."  Sophomore Miranda Nichols is the number 1 setter on the team according to Cook, "She is really good at placing the ball.  She mixes is up, and goes to a lot of different hitters."  Nichols accumulated 15 assists against Wade Hampton.  Also playing well against Wade Hampton was junior Shenise Stokes.  Stokes who plays on the front row and is a setter came away with 7 kills and was 12 for 12 on serves with 4 aces.
    This week's games will be a good measuring stick of how the rest of the season will play out.

 

 

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