By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Barnwell - The Barnwell (14-4) softball team had high hopes of a deep play-off run after winning the region title in head coach Mike Beasley’s return to coaching, after he had retired a few years ago after a long tenure at Blackville-Hilda.
Due to Spring break, and some bad luck with non-region rain-out games, the Lady Warhorses literally did not play in a live game for three weeks prior to the playoffs starting in early May. “In the future we will load our schedule on the back end, not the front-end,” said Coach Beasley. “Not facing live pitching for so long was a major issue. We will not make this mistake with our schedule again.”
In the first game of the AA playoffs, Barnwell lost to Cheraw 6-1. Then against Andrews a few days later they lost to Andrews 8-2 to conclude what had been a promising season. Guess what happened during both games? IT RAINED DURING BOTH GAMES!
The team did receive some great news when CAWS announced their Softball Coaches Association all-state teams by classifications in early May. “We are really excited that our sophomore pitcher Jaidyn Devore, senior first baseman Cailyn Morris, and our senior center fielder McKayla Creech were named to the CAWS all-state team,” said Coach Beasley. “We are happy for all three of them and they have meant a lot to our program.”
Devore is just a sophomore. She was named the Region Player of the Year this season. She compiled a 9-4 record in the circle with 135 strike-outs in 65 innings pitched. She batted .429 with 17 RBI’s at the plate.
Creech was a gold glove center fielder during his career at Barnwell. She batted .423 with 11 stolen bases. Morris batted .443 with 15 RBI’s and seven doubles. Creech has signed to play softball at USC Salkehatchie.
The leading hitter on the team was 8th grader Laney Grubbs who hit .583 with seven RBI’s. She also had an incredible .722 on base percentage. Junior catcher Bre’anna Buckmon was named all-region. Buckmon batted .435 with 15 RBI’s, including seven doubles. Sophomore third baseman Brooklyn Gordon was also named all-region while finishing with a .429 average. Including 11 RBI’s and a .512 on-base-percentage.
Senior Karris Bolen, one of the team co-captains, received the “Carol Masengale Award” for her leadership and sportsmanship she displayed over a four- year varsity career. Bolen, also named all-region, had 14 RBI’s and was known as the team’s “bunt specialist.” Another player in the program with a bright future is 8th grade starting shortstop Kendall O’Berry who played excellent on defense and she had a .500 on-base-percentage.
The HSSR has selected Devore, Creech, Morris and Bolen to their 2023 HSSR-SCHSL AA all-state softball team. Grubbs and Gordon have been selected to the 2023 HSSR statewide all-rookie softball team.
“I am encouraging my players to stay active in softball this summer by getting involved in local summer leagues, or travel ball,” said Coach Beasley. “We have a very good team coming back next season. We will miss the three seniors graduating for sure. They were all a huge part of our success this season.
Coach Beasley concluded the 2023 season with a 220-120 career record.
Pitching:
Jaidyn Devore - Barnwell - 9-4 Record - 65 IP - 135 K's - ERA: 1.50
Barnwell Hitting:
Laney Grubbs - .583
Bre'anna Buckmon - .435 - 11 RBI - 23 runs scored
Jaidyn Devore - .429 - 17 RBI's - 22 runs scored
Brooklyn Gordan - .429 - 11 RBI
MaKaylas Creech - .423 - 21 runs scored
Cailyn Morris - .423 - 15 RBI's
Karrie Bolen - 14 RBI's - 21 runs scored
Stolen Bases
McKayla Creech - 11
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