Colleton Prep Travels To Pee Dee Academy In Game One of SCISA AAA Softball Finals
Colleton Prep senior, Sydney Stivender pitched all but one inning in the games the Lady Warhawks played in the May 8-9 tournament.
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Sumter—The Colleton Prep (18-8-2) softball team last played for a state title in 2023 when they lost to Clarendon Hall in the SCISA AA finals, and after win over Williamsburg Academy (8-3) in the SCISA AAA softball semi-finals at Patriots Park in Sumter, on May 9.
The Warhawks will now travel to Pee Dee Academy on May 11 to begin a best-of-three series with the Golden Eagles (25-2).
CP head coach Tiger Martin, an avid Gamecock fan, talked to the HSSR from the field after his win over WA on Saturday. “We last played for a state title in 2023 against Clarendon Hall,” said Coach Martin. “It feels great to be back in the finals. In the six years I have been a head coach, this is our third time in the finals.
“We have a great group of seniors,” said Coach Martin. “Ava Murray, Sydney Stivender, and Brayli Stanfield are our key senior starters. Ava is one of the best hitters in this tournament, Sydney is one of the best pitchers, and Brayli is playing the best defense at second base in her career.”
Stivender pitched all but one inning in the games the Lady Warhawks played in the tournament on May 8-9.
Coach Martin remembers his state title win over Pee Dee Academy in 2021, when his team beat the then 30-3 Golden Eagles, 10-0 in a third game neutral site at Laurence Manning Academy to earn his only state title to date.
“Against Pee Dee we have to eliminate striking out so much and getting our bunts down to advance runners,” said Coach Martin. “We know we have to be ready for Maddie Coward’s pitching arm, and she is as good as you will find anywhere in SCISA.
“We faced one of the fastest pitchers in SCISA today in Abby Ward of Williamsburg and that should prepare us to face Coward on Monday,” said Coch Martin. “I am not even sure if our pitching machine sets up higher than what Ward was throwing against us today.”
In their 8-3 win over WA on Saturday to advance to the state finals, the Warhawks were led at the plate by Murray with three hits, including a solo home run. Stivender was the winning pitcher, allowing only five hits while striking out five batters.
Other key starters for CP include third baseman Brooklyn Whitley along with outfielder Bre Cain. Stanfield holds down second base, while Hadley Harrison is a strong def ender behind the plate. Addison Godley does some work inside the plate, and she plays shortstop when Stivender pitches. Addy Busch is starting in center field.
Pee Dee Academy (25-2) is head coached by Will Eskridge. The Golden Eagles have won five softball state titles since 2018, and they will be going for their 5th straight title against Colleton Prep.
Coward, a lefty, is a senior leader on the Pee Dee Academy team and she has signed up to play at Wofford College. Coward has less than a 1.00 ERA on the season. She is also batting over .600 at the plate.
Prior to the playoffs starting freshman Pee Dee shortstop Addison Hasty was batting .538 while junior third baseman Azleigh Arnette was around .410 with 16 RBI’s at the time. First baseman Dinah Johnson was at .444 with 20 RBI’s late in the season.
