Carolina Academy athletic director David Rankin is making sure all sports are competitive, proud that the girls won state championships last school year in softball and girls tennis.

By David Shelton Senior Writer Lake City – Having led five teams to a state championship during his tenure as the softball coach at Carolina Academy , Scotty Phillips knows a good team when he sees one. Phillips felt early on in the 2025 season that his team had a chance to win big this spring. The Lady Bobcats did just that.  Carolina Academy swept Dorchester Academy in two games to earn their sixth state title under Phillips. The Lady Bobcats finished with a 23-8 record, winning their last five games. “We had some bumps along the way and nothing was easy before spring break,” Phillips said. “We lost a game to Cheraw and it was really bad. I kind of went off on them after that game. I was trying to shake them up, make them understand that we were not where we needed to be. If we wanted to win a state title, we had to turn it around.” The rant, that Phillips said brought tears to the players eyes, as well as some parents, worked like a charm. Carolina Academy won game one of the championship series with Dorchester in dramatic fashion. The Lady Bobcats scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the game, 8-6, on a walk-off double by freshman Paisley Coker . This came after eighth-grader Natalie Braveboy tied the game with a homerun. Coker, pitcher Raylee Frye and freshman Ella Ham all had two RBIs in the win. “We don’t win game two had we lost game one,” Phillips said. “I felt like the loss the way it happened sort of took the life out of Dorchester. Had we lost, I think that would have been us.” Carolina won game two, 5-2, and was in control from the start. Braveboy had two hits and Savannah McCutcheon had two RBIs. “This was a fun team to coach,” the coach said. “They’re a competitive group, love the game. I had a good time with these girls.” Junior catcher Carly Ann Smith finished as the team’s leading hitter with a .481 batting average. Smith had 37 hits and 23 RBIs but was most effective behind dish. “She’s the best catcher I’ve ever had,” Phillips said. “She’s a gamer.” Frye, a junior, was the team’s top pitcher, posting a 2.25 earned run average. She also batted .452 with 38 hits and 37 RBIs, belting eight homeruns. Ham batted .364 with 27 RBIs and Coker hit .303 with 13 RBIs. Phillips did not have any seniors on the roster this spring and Carolina will be a strong favorite to repeat next year. While Phillips admits to be nearing the end of his career, he fully plans to return next season. “Hard to leave this group,” he said. “I don’t look too far ahead. Maybe we can win another but I ain’t taking anything for granted. We will work just as hard next year.” The Carolina Academy golf team nearly won a state championship, finishing as the runner-up in the AA state tournament. Blanding Franks was low scorer for the Bobcats, shooting 149 over 36 holes. Thomas McDaniel shot 165 and Cam Porter shot 174. Rounding out the scoring was Drake Morris with a 182.

Bobcats claim program's first state championship since 2010

Spring sports hitting the final stretch of regular season play By David Shelton Senior Writer Lake City – Don’t look now but the 2025 spring sports season is nearly over and the athletes at Carolina Academy are prepping for the stretch drive. The spring has been a mixed bag of success to date but all of the teams are looking to finish strong. The baseball team has had a tough go, winning four of their first 15 games. Several losses were close games so the team has been competitive at times. On the mound, getting work are Walker McCutcheon, Bennett Mathews, Hampton Kirby Ryker Rhodes and Ryan Cox . McCutcheon, Rhodes and Matthews have seen time behind the plate as well. Kirby has seen time at short, along with Matthews, while Parker Miles , Carson Hanna and Holden Carsten are seeing time at the corner infield positions. Cox, Tanner Floyd and Kingston Cox are working in the outfield. The boys golf team has had some success this spring and will be playing in the SCISA state tournament on April 26 th in Conway. The Bobcats played in the region tournament on April 10.  The team has a bevy of seniors who are playing in the top group. Seniors include Thomas McDaniel, Cam Porter, Mason Huggins, Michael Wyatt, Blanding Franks, Jamison Andrews and Drake Morri s . Also playing are Landon Crosby , eighth-grader Grady Long , and seventh-graders Braeden Morris and Kohl Elmore . The Carolina Academy softball team has had better luck so far this season, winning nine of their first 12 games to put them in contention for a region title. Coach Scotty Philips felt his team had what it takes to challenge for a state championship if things continue to progress. “I see a lot of potential with this team but they have to focus and continue to work,” Phillips said. The strength of the 2025 team is inside the pitching circle. Junior Raylee Frye is a third-year performer who is as good as any hurler in SCISA when she brings her “A” game. Freshman Ella Ham will log innings at pitcher as well while also playing centerfield and first base. Lauren Sims also will pitch and share third base duties with Frye. “We have three good pitchers, dependable,” Phillips said. “I feel good giving the ball to any of them.” Handling the catching duties is returning starter Carlie Ann Smith , a junior who has been impressive behind the dish early on. Sophomore Jaylyn Davis will play most of the innings at first base while eighth-grader Natalie Braveboy will move from left to second base to replace McCutcheon. Three eighth-graders, Paisley Coker, Kayley Lyerly and Emma Amos are working in rightfield, with Ham also getting reps. Rounding out the varsity roster this season are Katherine Holiday, Lexi McCutcheon, Sarah Emma Garris, Savannah McCUtcheon, Jennifer Vargas and Hannah Grace Matthews.

By David Shelton Senior Writer  Lake City – Just two weeks into the 2025 high school softball season, the Carolina Academy softball team, led by coaching legend Scotty Phillips , has faced some adversity. Phillips reports the loss of returning shortstop Kelsey Smith to a lingering knee injury. Smith will sit out her junior season in hopes of healing and returning in 2026. “That hurts because she’s a good player and she’s experienced,” Phillips said. “But what can you do? We have to move on and someone else has to step up. We’ll be okay.” It’s not like Phillips has never had to replace personnel. He has inserted eighth-grader Paisley McCutcheon at shortstop and feels strongly that she can handle the work. McCutcheon was slated to play second base this season. The Bobcats opened the season with a 2-2 record and showed positive signs. However, Phillips says the team needs work. “I feel good about what we can be but we need a few weeks to iron some things out,” the coach said. “I see a lot of potential with this team but they have to focus and continue to work.” The strength of the 2025 team is inside the pitching circle. Junior Raylee Frye is a third-year performer who is as good as any hurler in SCISA when she brings her “A” game. Freshman Ella Ham will log innings at pitcher as well while also playing centerfield and first base. Lauren Sims also will pitch and share third base duties with Frye. “We have three good pitchers, dependable,” Phillips said. “I feel good giving the ball to any of them.” Handling the catching duties is returning starter Carlie Ann Smith , a junior who has been impressive behind the dish early on. Sophomore Jaylyn Davis will play most of the innings at first base while eighth-grader Natalie Braveboy will move from left to second base to replace McCutcheon. Three eighth-graders, Paisley Coker, Kayley Lyerly and Emma Amos are working in rightfield, with Ham also getting reps. “Young and new in the outfield so we have a lot of work to do.” Phillips said. Rounding out the varsity roster this season are Katherine Holiday, Lexi McCutcheon, Sarah Emma Garris, Savannah McCUtcheon, Jennifer Vargas and Hannah Grace Matthews.

Bobcats overcome slow start to win region title By David Shelton Senior Writer Lake City - There’s an old coaching adage that says “It’s not so much how you start but more about how you finish.” The Carolina Academy boys basketball team is living proof this season. After opening the season with a 2-7 record against a tough early schedule, the Bobcats put it all together, winning their last nine games, including an 8-0 march through the conference schedule, Carolina won the region championship and look forward to the SCISA Class AA state payoffs.  “I felt like we were better than our early record,” coach Robert Phillips said. “Our early schedule was very difficult and we came into this season with some holes to fill. I thought we competed well but we had to change a few things that I thought would help us. The kids bought in and we have played pretty solid basketball since January. It’s a credit to the guys.” The changes made came in the defensive mindset overall and stressing good decision-making offensively. The Bobcats do not typically light up the scoreboard but the defensive intensity and execution have been a strength. “We’re going to pick up man-to-man at halfcourt and try to disrupt the other team’s offense,” the coach said. “It’s a tough mindset and these are tough kids that will do whatever it takes to win.” The team leader on the floor this season is senior point guard Landon Turner , who leads the team in scoring at 13 points per game but does so much more, according to Phillips. “He’s our guy, our go-to,” the coach said. “He does everything well and is a real steady player. He will guard the other team’s best offensive player and still has the energy to do what he does offensively.” Junior Walker McCutcheo n is another key player as a defender and rebounder. He averages about nine points per game. Senior center Michael Wyatt contributes as a post defender and rebounder. Junior Cole Tanner has provided a spark off the bench, particularly as a defender and long range shooter. Other seniors on the roster include Mason Huggins, Blanding Franks, Daniel McKenzie , and Thomas McDaniel . Rounding out the team are juniors Ryan Cox, Chandler Prosser, Charlie Teal, Lane Edwards and Hendley Campbell. In terms of the state tournament, Phillips cannot predict what will happen due to a lack of knowledge of possible opponents. The playoffs are a crap shoot. “I think it all depends on matchups, how we match up with our personnel,” he said. “We’re all in the same boat. It comes down to playing your best at the end. We can play with any team when we are playing well. Hopefully we can bring that when it counts. I like this team.”

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Lake City — Perry Stokes begins his second season as the head varsity and junior varsity girls’ basketball coach at The Carolina Academy, and with a group of 8 th and 9 th graders his team came out of the holiday break at 2-6. “Last year we had only five players, and they were all seniors, so this year things sort of went in reverse and we have players up from the junior varsity last year and we have 10 8 th and 9 th graders playing this season,” said Coach Stokes who has over 750 career wins and two state titles on his resume from other schools. “I tried to talk some juniors and seniors into playing this season but they decided not to.” Carolina Academy’s two wins came over Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach 33-25 and 34-21. In the first win freshman small forward Ella Ham and freshman shooting guard Emma Amos leading the way with 13 and 12 points respectively. In the second win Amos was the top scorer with 10 points and 8 th grade point guard Natalie Braveboy contributed 8 points. “We have played a really tough schedule and I think we will be very competitive with our region play starting this week,” said Coach Stokes. “We participated in the Pee Dee Invitational at Pee Dee Academy and we only lost by one point to Lake View and we could have won that game. Lake View is the defending Class A champions in South Carolina. “We have played teams like Pee Dee Academy , Florence Christian, Aynor and Wilson Hall so we have played a tough early season schedule,” said Coach Stokes. “The strength of our team is how well we play defense. We might be in a lot of low scoring games once region play starts but I feel like we will be competitive.” The silver lining for the lady Bobcats program is that participation is up. “We have a total of 23 players in grades six through 9 in our program and not one sophomore, junior, or senior is playing basketball,” said Coach Stokes. “These players are all working hard and the program should be really good in a year or two if these players stick with it.” The other two starters are freshman small forward Lauren Sims , a defensive specialist averaging two points a game. Paisley McCutcheon is an 8 th grader starting at a shooting guard and she is averaging 4.4 points a game. Amos leads the team in scoring at seven points a game while Braveboy and Ham are each averaging g six points. Ham is averaging five rebounds a game also. The first two players off the bench are usually freshman guard Abby Walker and 8 th grade forward Kaylie Lyerly . Ronding out the roster are 8 th grade guard Ki Ki Hanna , 9 th grade guard Kate Turner , and 9 th grade guard Katherine Holliday . On Jan. 7 th Carolina Academy will start region play at Kings Academy and then two days later they travel to Williamsburg Academy . On the next day (Friday) they host Lee Academy in a region game.  Coach Stokes is assisted by son Heath Stokes who has been with him for over 20 years. He is also thankful to have the help from Ruby Amos who is a student at USC Sumter.