Manning – The general consensus from the start of the season was that Wilson Hall and Laurence Manning Academy would be playing in the first SCISA AAAA softball state championship series, and that’s what happened. However, it was a different LMA squad going up against the 2-time defending champion Lady Barons than the one they faced in the regular season.
After losing to Wilson Hall 14-3 and 6-0 in two regular-season matchups, the Lady ‘Cats gave WH all it could handle in the championship series. The Lady Barons scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to win the first game 5-3 before Laurence Manning won the second game 7-4. Wilson Hall won its third straight title by winning Game 3 2-1 with LMA leaving the base loaded in the bottom of the seventh.
Lady ‘Cats head coach Buddy Truett said the difference was a matter of maturity for his young team.
“It was them being a little gun-shy to start with,” said Truett, whose team lost to Wilson Hall in the AAA title series last year. “Then all it took was an error or so, and they didn’t believe they could come back. All year we were telling them to believe in themselves and good things will happen. They started to believe in themselves and that kickstarted everything.”
Laurence Manning pushed the Lady Barons to the limit without pitcher and third baseman Baleigh Parmenter Avins. She was hit in the facemask while pitching in the final game of the state tournament against Trinity Collegiate and did not play in the championship series.
“It was big,” Truett said when asked about the impact of not having Parmenter Avins available. “(It affected) hitting and mentally with the team.”
That meant Laini Kosinski pitched all 22 innings against Wilson Hall and allowed just 11 runs to its high-powered offense.
“She did exceptionally well and really kept her composure,” Truett said. “That’s the best I've seen her pitch, especially in a 3-game stretch.”
Parmenter Avins, a left-hander, and the right-handed Kosinski split time on the mound for LMA, which finished with a 23-9 record. The two sophomores both had sub 2.00 earned run averages.
Laurence Manning loses only two seniors from the team in first baseman Zealie Kimzey and second baseman Anna Marie Beard. Kimzey had a .311 batting average, while Beard had a .233 average.
Freshmen Lyza Pricklemeyer, Ashley Rae Hodge and Lily Wellborn were in the 1, 3 and 5 spots in the batting order in the championship game. Pricklemeyer batted .341, Hodge .329 and Wellborn .296
Kosinski batted .299 while junior catcher Hailey Truett batted .293. Parmenter Avins had a .267 average, while junior Karly Bjork had a .221 average but hit three of LMA’s six home runs. Freshman Marlee Black batted .221.
Coach Truett believes very good things await his team in the future.
“They just came together,” said Truett. “That second game, that win really, even the first game ... they started believing in themselves. and that's what it took. We've been telling them all year they can play with anybody. You've got to believe in yourselves. Take it one ball at a time, one pitch at a time.
“They're young, but they excelled from Day 1, they were special. They've got talent, tremendous talent. It doesn't matter how old they are, there is talent throughout the bunch. They've got great leadership and they've got each other's backs. That's what made them play hard for the next teammate. I'm very, very happy about the way they performed.”
BASEBALL TEAM FINISHES WITH 14-8 RECORD
The Laurence Manning baseball team was unable to get to the first AAAA state championship series after winning the AAA state title last year. The Swampcats finished with a 14-8 record after going 0-2 in the state tournament, losing to Porter-Gaud and Ben Lippen.
Veteran Laurence Manning head coach Barry Hatfield was pleased with the way his team battled throughout the year.
“Whereas we struggled offensively, they never got their heads down and continued to fight until the end,” Hatfield said.
Laurence Manning had four players named to the All-Region team in Cameron Baker, Jackson Brown, Henry DuRant and Brandt Reynolds. Those four, along with Caleb Baker, all played in the SCISA North-South All-Star Game as well.
The right-handed DuRant was the standout on the mound. He struck out 61 batters in 46 innings pitched and posted a 1.97 earned run average. Cameron Baker had a 2.03 earned run average and struck out 41 in 38 innings.
Drew Ferriell worked 28 innings and had 37 strikeouts to go with a 1.50 earned run average.
Brown had a .306 batting average and led the team in on-base percentage with an average of over .440. Reynolds batted .292.
Caleb Baker was the team’s leading hitter with a .323 average. Bryson Smith finished at .305 while Chapell Brogdon batted .304. Wyatt Powell batted .270 and Wynn Brogdon .258.
GOLF TEAM FIFTH IN SCISA AAAA STATE TOURNAMENT
The Laurence Manning boys golf team finished fifth out of 10 teams in the SCISA AAAA state tournament held at Coastal Carolina University’s Hackler Course in Conway.
The Swampcats had a first-round score of 344 and took 13 shots off the score for a 331 and a 36-hole total of 675. Riley Overstreet led the way with a total of 163. He shot an 84 in the first round and followed it with a team best 79 in the second round.
Sam Scoggins had the best first-round score with an 82 and matched it on Day 2 for a 164. Walker Cribb had rounds of 84 and 83 for 167, while Robbie Robertson shot a 181 (94-87) and Bryson Watt a 183 (96-87).
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