Catawba Ridge Softball Sweeps St. James To Capture Div. II AAAAA Softball Title
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Rock Hill—The Catawba Ridge softball team (31-2) closed out at outstanding season with a sweep of St. James in the Div. II AAAAA state finals, winning the state title with a 9-1 win at home on May, 29 after winning game one, 9-6 on the road.
First year Catawba Ridge head coach Mike Mayak became the head coach of the Copperheads softball team in August, 2024 after serving as an assistant in the program. After the big win he told Larry Gamble of the HSSR, “It was exciting to be a part of a 3-peat and help carry on the tradition of assistant coaches Michael Kidd, Blue Baker, and Billy Hinson; and what past players started."
“Our standard doesn’t change no matter who the coach or players are,” said Coach Mayak. “The girls worked extremely hard to earn this opportunity and defend their title. Coach Josh Yates did an amazing job during summer ball to get the younger girls ready and Coach Kyle Harris was awesome as a hitting coach.
“The girls scored more runs this year than any prior year, and he was a big reason why,” said Coach Mayak. “This year we had a blend of experience and youth which made this state title special on its own. Older players set the standard, and the younger girls pushed themselves to meet that standard. It was a lot of fun to watch this team grow throughout the season.”
Coach Mayak talked about the challenges looking towards next season. “Every season has its challenges and next year will present many for us,” said Coach Mayak. “We’ll have a young team and we’ll need to find our identity to ensure we compete at the highest level. We have a very challenging region to play in so we’ll need to work hard in the off-season to get ready.”
Coach Mayak gave a shout out to senior leader and star player Sarah Rocheleau who has signed to play at Clemson next season. "Clemson hit the lottery when Sarah committed to them,” said Coach Mayak. “First, she is an amazing person who makes everyone around her better, on and off the field. She’s the hardest working player I’ve ever been around; she’s the first to come in, last to leave, and loves the process.
“She treats everyone with respect, is very coachable and is an amazing teammate,” said Coach Mayak. “Her production speaks for itself and she will not have any problem finding her space on the Clemson roster. I can’t wait to see what Sarah, and our other commits do at the next level.”
Coach Mayak told HSSR reporter Larry Gamble after his team’s game one win on the road. “It was important for us to stack some runs, play some small ball, … so that we could build a cushion, so if we have an inning like this, we don’t have worry about scoring; we can just trade outs for runs and that’s a great position to be in.”
St. James head coach Paula Blackwell, a former head softball coach and AD at York, retired to the beach before this season and she answered the call to come out of retirement to get back into coaching.
“It’s been 18 years since St. James has been in state championships,” said Coach Blackwell. “ I think tonight was good. The girls got to experience it, the hype and the energy.
“There are no seniors on our team, we’re 8th grade to 11th grade.”
In the championship game Rocheleau contributed two hits and five RBI’s as she made some senior memories on the last night she would wear a Copperheads uniform. She hit a grad slam home run to left field in the 6th inning when CR scored six runs to take a 9-1 lead that held up the rest of the game.
Catawba Ridge took a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Freshman Charli Burney began the inning with a walk and then she stole second. The next batter, senior Aloni Hogan. singled in Burney for first the run of the game. Hogan advanced to second on the throw. With two-outs Rocheleau singles to center scoring Hogan to make it 2-0. Senior Kendra Murray was next up and she reached on an error allowing Rocheleau to score and make it 3-0.
In the top of the 5th St. James scored their only run of the game. Junior Samantha Allen led-off and reached on a hit-by-pitch. Junior Lillie Daniels put down a sac bunt that advanced Allen to second. Allen advanced to third on a wild pitch and she scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 3-1.
The only other at bat, where either team scored, was the bottom of the 6th when CR plated six runs to ice the game. Junior Mia Kovacs led off with a walk and her courtesy runner Taylan Sistare was advanced to second on a sac bunt by senior Krysten Reynolds. Two batters later Burney reached on an error advancing Sistare to third. Hogan then singled to score both Sistare and Burney making the score 5-1.
Junior Jaidyn Harris then drew a walk and Hogan stole second while she was batting. Seventh grader BG Yates is then hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Then Rocheleau hit a grand slam home over the left field fence and things were really rocking now on the home field with the Copperheads ahead 9-1.
Freshman Keira O’Brien pitched all seven innings for the winners. She allowed just three hits with four K’s and one earned run.
St. James also only used one pitcher. Junior Raegan Tibbitts gave up four hits with 8 K’s and only two earned runs. The St. James defense committed five errors in the game.
Besides Rocheleau’s two hits and five RBI’s the only other CR players who got hits was Hogan who was 2-of-3 with three RBI’s.
St. James was led at the plate by McKenzie Kraus, Lillie Daniels, and Payton Cox who had one hit each.
(Note: Larry Gamble contributed to this story.)
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