Catawba Ridge Softball Sweeps St. James To Capture Div. II AAAAA Softball Title

Saluda – On Saturday night at Saluda High School , a standing room only crowd saw East Clarendon claim its third softball state championship with a 5-3 win over Saluda to sweep the best-of-3 AA championship series 2-0. “I am so proud of these girls," said EC head coach Jason Newsome . "It all started back in October. We had great offseason workouts in October, and January the girls really bought in to what we wanted to do. You can ask the girls and they will tell you how hard they worked this year. It is very gratifying to see all that hard work pay off.” Winning Lady Wolverines pitcher Lakelyn Gaskins said, “It feels wonderful to be state champs. The last time we won was 2017 so it feels good to win another championship.” It was a bittersweet ending for the Tigers of Saluda as they ended the season at 23-6-1. However, it was the best season in school history with a region championship, upper state championship and a runner-up finish. Along the way,p they had a 17-game winning streak after starting the year 0-3-1. SHS ead Coach Hannah Towery said, “I told the girls they have nothing to hang their heads on. We made history this year. No one thought we’d be here with such a young team. This is the first ever trophy that softball has put in the trophy case. I told our seniors to keep their heads u0, and for the younger girls this is something they will have to remember, this feeling, and learn from it and try and beat this goal.” Freshman Miller Martin got the start in the circle for Saluda and got the first batter to fly out to center field. Gaskins stepped into the batter's box and tripled to right. Right fielder Ashlyn Vereen made a great effort to catch the ball, but it was just out of her reach. EC’s Zoey Culick came up next and laid down a beautiful bunt that scored Gaskins with the first run of the game. Culick advanced to third on a wild pitch and an error. After an out and a walk, the Lady Wolverines had runners on second and third with two outs when Addison Fleming came to bat. Fleming bunted toward second base and beat the throw to first while also driving in Culick from third base for a 2-0 lead. “I could not have drawn up the first inning any better if I tried,” said Newsome. “Our game plan all year has been to get out of the gate really quickly and make our opponents chase us down.” Staked with a 2-0 lead, Gaskin’s set down the Tigers in order in the first two innings, striking out five of the first six batters she faced. Meanwhile, Martin settled down in the circle after the rough start and keep the Lady Wolverines off the scoreboard over the next three innings. In the third, the Tigers were able to scratch across a run. Amy Sorcia led off the inning with a walk and went to second on a passed ball. Gaskins seemed to get back on track after striking out the next two hitters, but then the Tigers' Nyla Jordan ripped a double in the left-center gap to drive in Sorcia with the Tigers' first run of the game. After Gaskins walked Martin, she got Karen Almarez to fly out to second for the final out of the inning. The Lady Wolverines led 2-1 after three innings. From the third inning on the game became a pitchers duel as both Martin and Gaskins were in control of the game. The Lady Wolverines were able to score another run in the fifth when Chloe Goff led off the inning with a walk. She moved to second on a sacrifice by Gaskins. Then Culick picked up her secondRBI of the game when she singled in Goff and the Lady Wolverines' lead was 3-1. The Tigers threatened in the sixth when Ava Martin walked and Sorcia singled, putting runners on first and second with two outs. However, Gaskins struck out the next hitter to end the threat. Leading 3-1 entering the seventh inning, EC's Bailey Hicks led off the inning with a single but was out at second on a fielder’s choice, leaving Gaskins on first. Culick had her third hit of the game, putting runners on first and second. Miller Martin then came up with a strikeout for the second out of the inning, but there were still two runners on base when Lake Jeffords stepped into the box. She ripped a single to left, driving in Gaskins. Then Fleming hit a bloop single over third base, driving in Culick for her secondRBI of the game and a 5-1 lead heading into the home half of the seventh. EC’s Gaskins got the first two batters out, one with her 11th strike out of the game, but then an error allowed Miller Martin to reach first bringing up Almarez. On a full count, she hit the payoff pitch over the right field fence and just like that the Tigers cut the lead to two at 5-3. “That home run is all on me,” said Newsome. “We were on a bad count. We had thrown the same pitch three times in a row. I thought we could sneak it by her. She made us pay.” Gaskins got Jayme Sheaffer to fly out to center to end the game and the celebration began. “This team never gives up and never gives in. They always fight and scrap until the very end,” said Towery. Gaskins finished the game with 11 strikeoutswhile walking four and allowing just four hits. Miller Martin struck out nine, five in the last two innings. She walked two and gave up 10 hits. Leading the way at the plate for the Lady Wolverines was Culick, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Payton Hanniford went 2-for-4 and Fleming was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Saluda was led by Almarez, who was 1-for-4 with two RBI off the round-tripper.

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Florence — McBee won their 5 th Class A baseball state championship since their first one in 1981, with an 8-1 win over Lake View , at Francis Marion College on May, 31 st spoiling the final game of Wild Gator head coach Kip Herlong, who is retiring after 32 seasons at the same school. McBee head coach Josh Tiller told the HSSR, after the big win, “This is an amazing feeling right now, and it is great to see all the hard work that we put in throughout the season pay off with a state championship,” said Coach Tiller. “We are super proud of Aiden Hughes going all seven innings on the mound. He had a gutsy performance tonight. “Tonight, we were finally able to get some hits with runners in scoring position and that makes a big difference in any baseball game,” said Coach Tiller. “Other than Hughes on the mound, other seniors playing for the final time tonight (for McBee) were Landon Tedder behind the plate, headed to Coker College , Cohen Reid played third base, and Colton Wallace played at short. These guys have provided a lot of leadership for our program, not just tonight, but for several seasons. We are super proud to have had them be a part of our program.” Coach Tiller said his team being able to get on the board first, with three runs in the third inning was a turning point in the game. “Being able to get an early three run lead, it made it easier to turn around and play defense,” said Coach Tiller. “Once we got momentum the game seems to go our way the rest of the way.” Hughes, tossed a five hitter in the 8-1 win for McBee. And he is still deciding on a next level program, told the HSSR, after the game, “I am blessed to have great teammates who support each other, a coaching staff that works hard to teach us the game, and we also have a great community as you saw from the crowd tonight,” said Hughes. “It was important for me being a senior to have the ball in my hand tonight. It was a pressure situation to be in, but my team mates got us an early lead and they played good defense behind me. “I have been a member of the McBee varsity since the 9th grade and I will remember this game for the rest of the life.” Coach Herlong exits a Hall of Fame career at Lake View (633-170) that began with his first state championship in 1995. Few will ever forget Lake View’s five straight state titles between 1997 and 2001, a true dynasty era for the program. Two other state titles were won in 2016 and in 2021. The 2021 was Herlong’s 8 th title and it was very special because his son Kason, was on the team as an 8 th grader on his way to a great career at Lake View. On five occasions, including his final game in coaching, the Wild Gators have finished as runners-up. So, with a crowd of players, present and past, and family members, and fans gathered around him after the disappointing loss, Coach Herlong shared some thoughts: “It has been a great ride in such a great community and you look up in the stands tonight and you see such a great crowd,” said Coach Herlong. “It’s like this in every sport at Lake View. This community is very supportive of all the teams at Lake View. We all support each other.” “We have met with failure and we have met with success, and we treat them both the same and move forward,” said Coach Herlong. “Our motto this season was to “Keep Moving Forward” to keep one foot in front of the other and keep going. “We had some bad things happen tonight, early on, and that hurt us, but we kept working hard but it didn’t work out for us tonight,” said Coach Herlong. “It would have bene great for our players and fans had we won but things do not always turn out like you hope they might. “We had a couple more errors than we are used to having tonight, and I felt like the pressure got to us tonight and it just didn’t work-out,” said Coach Herlong. “We had an error here and there, left some runners on base early that we could not bring in, and that is not what you want to happen in a state championship but that is what the Lord willed and we will just have to accept it and move on.” Coach Herlong said in retirement he will now be able to follow his son’s baseball career (Kason) at North Greenville University. “Because I was coaching, I missed a lot of Morgan’s (older daughter) softball games at North Greenville when she played. Now that I am retired my wife will make sure we are there to see Kason play as often as possible. “It was a real blessing to coach my son for six seasons, and he worked hard, and he is all about the community. and his teammates, so we looking forward to following his college career,” said Coach Herlong. “The other night when all the players I had been blessed to coached at Lake View, showed up for our final home game, and stayed for a group picture, that just shows you what kind of wonderful people they are. That moment meant a lot to me.” This writer covered all 8 state championship games won by Coach Herlong and the Wild Gators through the years. It will be an adjustment coming to baseball games next season at Lake View and not seeing Coach Herlong in communication with his brother Chad, a long- time assistant, when things like a pitching change might be needed. After two scoreless innings, McBee plated three runs in the bottom of the third. Manning Tolson reached on an error, and then Cohen Reid reached on a fielder’s choice as Manning forced out at second. With two out JJ Melton drew a walk. Landon Tedder then singles on an infield hit to load the base with two out. Hughes then singles on a line drive hit to left field to score Tedder and Melton to make it 2-0. Reid makes it 3-0 when he scores on a wild pitch. Lake View got one-out back-to-back singles from Bryce King and Ian Capps in the top of the 4th but both runners were stranded at first and third as the next two Wild Gator batters hit short balls to the shallow outfield to retire the side. In the bottom of the 4 th McBee made it 4-0. Manning Tolson reached on a two-out double to right field. Cohen Reid then singled him to give the Panthers a four-run lead. Lake View scored their only run of the game in the top of the 5 th inning. Holden Lee reached on a hit-by-pitch. Two batters later Herlong singled to advance Lee to second. Braden Borders then draws a walk to load the bases. Lee scored on a deep sacrifice fly ball by Chris McGill to center field that might have been a grand slam in a high school park to make the score 4-1 after five innings. In the bottom of the 5 th McBee made it 5-1. Tedder draws a one-out walk and then Hughes reaches on a hit-by-pitch. Hayden Griggs loads up the bases when he reaches on an error. Colten Wallace then hits a sacrifice fly RBI that brings in Tedder from third base. In the bottom of the 6 th inning McBee adds three insurance runs. Tolson, Reid, and Evan Norris all collect singles as the first three batters of the inning. Tolson’s pinch runner (T Wright) scores on an error to make it 6-1 while Reid and Norris advance to second and third on the error. Reid then scores on a pass ball to make it 7-1. Norris scores on a sac RBI sac fly by Tedder to make the final score 8-1. For the game, McBee had seven hits and the Panthers took advantage of three Lake View errors to produce several of their 8 runs. The Panthers were led at the plate by Tolson and Reid who each had two hits with Reid also collecting one RBI. Lake View had five hits in the deciding game three against McBee. Capps led the way with two hits. Herlong, Bryce King and Holden Lee each contributed one hit. Lee scored the team’s lone run.

Larry Gamble HSSR, Photo Editor Fort Mill - The Berkeley Stags came into Game 2 of the Class AAAAA Division 2 State Title game with a mission. The only thing to stop them was an equally determined Catawba Ridge Copperheads team. The first inning reflected that completely. Berkeley, sporting a 10-0 winning streak that got them through the region play and to this game, went to their tried and true small ball game. Head coach for Berkeley, Landy Cox told the HSSR the team took a while to come together but “we had to play small ball, like we always do, that’s what we do. We pitch, we play defense, and we play small ball.” In the second inning, they got the bats working with a Devon Hogue single to reach first followed by Easton Little sacrifice bunt putting Hogue on second. Bryson Heath singles to move Hogue to third as he gets to first. Brady Proctor bunts and reaches first on an error that scores Hogue and moves Heath to second base. Trading an out for a run, Braylend Booker grounds out but gets Heath across the plate giving the Stags a 2-0 lead. They would get Ryan Richardson around the bases for one more run in the third which Catawba would match with J ack Shelnut scoring on a wild pitch before a double play ending the inning. The Stags bat got to work in the fourth producing 5 runs the Copperheads could not match. Easton Little singled with an RBI plus scored another run on an error. Bryce Olheiser placed a single over the head of the first baseman resulting in two RBI’s. In the fifth, Catawba managed 2 runs but Berkeley also got a run to go up 9-3. The only scoring in the sixth and seventh innings came from Catawba’s Tyler Causey putting a home run ball over the left field fence for the final score 9-4. After the game, this HSSR reporter interview Catawba head coach Stas Swerdzewski has this to say, “I could not be more prouder of this group… anytime you have to replaced seven (seniors) of their caliber, there are going to be growing pains and some people wrote us off. I’m proud of the guys for staying with it and working hard. We were within two games of accomplishing the mission that every high school program sets out to do.” When asked about getting to championship series this season when team was just staying above .500 going into the playoffs, coach Cox said, “the key to is getting hot at the right time, and we got hot at the right time.” Winning game two for the Title marked an 11-0 playoff run for the fabulous Stags this season. Game 1 R H E Berkeley 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 9 3 Catawba 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 4 4 Game 2 R H E Berkeley 0 2 1 5 1 0 0 9 12 0 Catawba 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 4 7 3

Jay Hendrix Contributing Writer Columbia - The Batesburg-Leesville Panthers jumped out to a 6-2 lead after two innings and never looked back as they rolled to an 8-5 win in the Class AA State Championship’s third and deciding game at Founders Park in Columbia. The B-L faithful made the 30 mile trek to Columbia and created a home field advantage for the Panthers as they would celebrate their first baseball championship since 1949 and fourth overall. With an announced paid attendance of 1,271 the B-L fans made the Gamecocks home their own for the evening. The Panthers were led by junior Braydon Hallman who started and picked up the win as he pitched four innings and struck out nine while allowing three runs. Hallman also led the Panthers at the plate going 1-3 with three RBI include a huge two run double in the second inning. The Iron Horses led off the first with Alex Romanski getting hit by a pitch, stealing second and scoring on an RBI single to go up 1-0. In the bottom of the first Reese Boehnke scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Hallman to tie the game. The Iron Horses’ starting pitcher Nolan Clifford would struggle with his control early with three walks in the first inning, including a bases loaded walk to make it 2-1. B-L would add another run on a sacrifice fly from Gavin Parrish which scored Jack Bouknight to make it 3-1 at the end of the first. Philip Simmons would plate a run in the second as Peirce Mullen hit a seeing eye single up the middle and scored on a long double off the wall by Romanski to make it 3-2. In the bottom of the second the Panthers resumed their assault and would run Clifford from the game with just one out. Landon Soper led off the inning with an infield single to deep shortstop to bring up the top of the order. Soper would steal second and Boehnke then laid down a perfect bunt towards third base for a single to put runners on the corners with no outs. Hallman would then double to leftfield to score two to make it 5-2. Jack Bouknight’s RBI single up the middle would make it 6-2 and close the book on Clifford’s outing as he turned the ball over to Charlie Helms who would go the distance. In the third the Iron Horses would again manufacture a run after a leadoff walk to Kyle Bachmann was followed by a double down the leftfield line by Daniel Scarth to put two on. A looping single by Daniel Ebeling drove in a run to make it 6-3 and leave runners on the corners. Hallman would then battle his way out of the inning without any further damage thanks to fly outs as the Iron Horses left the bases loaded. The game would remain 6-3 until the fifth inning. B-L would turn to Soper in the top of the frame and the change of pace keep the Iron Horses off balance with a 1-2-3 inning. In the bottom of the frame the Panthers got back on the board with two more runs. Carter Bouknight led off with a single to centerfield and Preston Smith drew a walk. An error, on what looked like a double play ball, allowed a run to score and extended the inning. A fielder’s choice on another ground ball allowed the Panthers to extend the lead to 8-3 at the end of five. In the top of the sixth the Iron Horses would plate two runs of their own to make it 8-5 as Tajaun Gibbs drew a leadoff walk and the run scored on a two out single by Helms. Scarth would later drive in Helms but again the Panthers would work out of the jam as the Iron Horses left two runners on base to end the inning as Hallman made an acrobatic catch from his shortstop position on a ball down the leftfield line. In the top of the seventh the Iron Horses were unable to rally as the Panthers allowed just one baserunner before Hallman hauled in a soft liner for the final out as the Panthers won 8-5. On the night Scarth led all hitters as he went 3-4 with two RBI and Romanski went 2-3 with an RBI. For B-L seven different players collected a hit each with Hallman leading the way with three RBI. Hallman and Gavin Parrish each had doubles while Scarth and Romanski had doubles for the Iron Horses.

By WORTHY EVANS Contributing Writer Columbia - The Gray Collegiate Academy softball bats overcame the solid pitching of York Comprehensive in a 5-2 victory in the third and deciding game of the 4A softball state championship series Saturday, and the War Eagles now have a 4A state championship to go along with 2A crowns the team won in 2022 and 2024. Leadoff batter and home run champ Aspen Boulware got the team started in the first inning with a solo home run, her 22 nd of the year, while seniors Maddox Long and Kayley Anderson delivered 2-run shots in the fourth and fifth innings. Long started the game in the circle for the War Eagles (32-3) and gave up the Cougars’ only two runs, one apiece in the second and third innings. Makenzie Sease came on in relief to pitch four innings of 1-hit ball to claim the win. Both pitchers struck out three apiece. “They work so hard. People wouldn’t believe how hard these kids work,” Gray Collegiate head coach Doug Frye said. “There ain’t that many teams that can outwork us. They may beat us, but they don’t outwork us. We lose, we come back and get better. We’re done today, and I’ll bet half these kids will be practicing tomorrow, trying to get better. They’re hungry for it.” The War Eagles got on the scoreboard early with Boulware’s longball in the first inning. York (25-5) senior and Erskine signee Layla Clayton singled in A.C. Lingerfelt with one out in the second. Long struck out Emma Farrell and got Sullivan Littleton to pop out to end the inning. The Cougars took a 2-1 lead off of Marisa Reyes’ one-out solo home run in the third, but that was all the runs York could get across. Long got Natalie Dover and Lingerfelt to pop out to retire the side. “I thought we’d be fine,” Frye said. “We’re just waiting for the right pitch. (York starter Peyton Brooks ) threw a good breaking ball off the plate, and we worked hard on trying to go with the pitch, being patient and don’t chase things. 2-1 you’re always in the game.” Gray showed that were very much in the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, when they got to Brooks. Sease led off that inning with a single to leftfield and promptly came home on Lane’s 2-run homer that soared over the fence in left and gave the War Eagles a 3-2 lead. “I knew it was my time to step up for the team,” said Long, who will attend Charleston Southern as a student in the fall. “I just went up to the plate and did what I was supposed to do. It always feels better when the bats are moving. It helps us when we have a little bit of runs, makes us feel a little bit better.” With no one out, Anderson singled after Long’s homer, which brought Brooks’ time in the circle to an end in favor of York’s ace, Clayton. Clayton, who threw 209 pitches in games one and two for the Cougars, gave up Maliah Wright’s bunt single, but managed to get out of the jam with outs attributed to Elizabeth Robinson’s sacrifice bunt, Braelyn Triplett’s pop fly, and Kaylan Boudreau’s inning-ending fielder’s choice. Clayton and the Cougars weren’t so fortunate in the fifth inning. With one out, Sease singled and put her courtesy runner, Madison Bumgarner , at first. Gracie Porter bunt sacrificed Bumgarner to second, and Anderson took her the rest of the way on a high 2-out home run that skimmed the fence in centerfield before it went over. “It was a great feeling to know that my team had already put up the runs and we were ahead,” said Anderson, who will play for Converse College in the fall. “But just to add to that was really cool, and to know that they were behind me was a really cool feeling.” After that homer the Gray lineup livened up significantly, as three-run leads with two innings left to play tend to do. “It was really great, we all worked together,” said Boulware, who had just one hit on the afternoon but was intentionally walked and reached base three times on walks and being hit. “I feel like we hit a lot better in this game compared to the other two games, I was glad we were able to string our hits together.” Boulware added about Anderson, “The energy she brings to the team is great, and on top of that she hit a home run. I was so glad she got to finish off her career with a home run, so that’s really great.” Sease closed out York’s sixth and seventh innings in quick fashion. She needed just six pitches to get three outs in the sixth, and fourteen pitches in the seventh. Eleven of those pitches were to Brooks, who with two out fouled off five pitches on a full count before going down on a called strike three to end the game. “I can’t believe it. I’m shocked but I knew we could do it,” Sease said. “I don’t know how to feel right now. Those last pitches I was just focusing and trying not to get too excited, to stay calm and focused.” The Cougars gave Gray Collegiate everything they had and came close to reaching the state crown, but second place is not something to be sad about, York head coach Danny Mazell said. “Cherish the moment, because it’s hard to get there,” Mazzell said. “I don’t care if it’s softball, baseball, basketball, football, it’s hard to get to the state finals. We were in the state finals and we were the No.2 best team in the state.” Mazell added, “No excuses, they beat us. And you’ve got to make the fundamental plays. I think we had four errors in this game and one of those errors they capitalized on it. But I’m excited for these girls and what’s coming up next year. I’ll miss Layla Clayton, her ERA’s probably the best in the state in all classifications (0.62 in 20 appearances). She’s going to the next level and it’s up to our girls to pick it up.” Frye said that Gray Collegiate’s seniors made game 3 a treat, and will give the returning teammates something to remember as they get back to work for the 2026 season. “The best thing was the seniors and they were going out with their last at-bats as a home runs, that’s pretty impressive,” Frye said. “Boulware, she’s just special anyway, she got probably 35 intentional walks this year because she’s hit like 22 home runs this year. She’s just special kid, a special player.” On Anderson’s tension-breaking homer in the fifth inning, Frye added “She hit it good. It’s being disciplined and waiting on the pitch going with the pitch, don’t try to do too much with it, I think we did a good job of that today. We hit the ball pretty hard.” Tuesday-Wednesday Game One York Comprehensive 002 000 0 – 2 6 1 Gray Collegiate 010 000 0 – 1 5 3 WP: Layla Clayton, 7 IP, 5H, 1R, 0ER, 3BB, 6K. G – Kaylan Boudreau 2B. Y – Kayla Johnson 3-4, HR. Wednesday Game Two Gray Collegiate 100 102 0 – 4 9 2 York Comprehensive 000 000 0 – 0 3 1 WP: Peyton Hendrix, 7 IP, 3H, 1BB, 8K. G – Makenzie Sease 2-3. Peyton Hendrix 2-3, 2B. Aspen Boulware HR. Kaylan Boudreau 3B. Y – Peyton Broom 2B. Friday Game Three York Comprehensive 011 000 0 – 2 4 4 Gray Collegiate 100 220 x – 5 7 0 WP: Makensie Sease, 4 IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 3K. Y – Marisa Reyes 2-3, HR. G – Kaley Anderson 2-3, HR, 2 RBI. Maliah Wright 2-3. Maddox Long HR, 2 RBI. Aspen Boulware HR.

Kaylee Hannon had the pitching win for Byrnes on May 31.

Jake Amman singles home Collin Anderson with winning run as Trojans win 2nd staright title

Berkeley Sweeps Catawba Ridge for the Class AAAAA Div. 2 State Title.

The Summerville vs Byrnes game is rescheduled for Saturday ! The neutral site, Game 3, is being played at White Knoll High School . First Pitch, May 31st at Noon White Knoll High School 5643 Platt Springs Rd Lexington, SC 29073