Dorchester softball team having a great season

Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • April 18, 2025

Mail

Raiders off to an 11-4 start as SCISA AA state playoffs draw near

St. George – After winning just two games during the 2023 season, the Dorchester Academy softball team took a step forward last year. The Raiders went 10-14 and made the state tournament after missing out the year before.

Well, Dorchester is taking another big step forward this year under first-year head coach Justin McClure. The Raiders have won 11 of their first 13 games, and it has not come as a surprise to McClure.

“We are still very young again this year, but we have a ton of potential and I am expecting a big year from this team,” McClure said just as the season was beginning.

Dorchester has eighth-grader Lily Canady starting at shortstop and batting leadoff. Freshman first baseman Brinley Pope is in the 2 hole with eighth-grade pitcher Emery McClure batting third. The cleanup spot is occupied by junior leftfielder Rylee Matthews, while sophomore second baseman Palmer Kizer is fifth in the order followed by sophomore catcher Alyssa Grooms.

Rounding out the order are senior rightfielder Ava Higbe, junior third baseman Lyla Owens and freshman centerfielder Ryann Martin.

McClure is the Raiders’ leading hitter, owing a .535 batting average. She had three doubles, three triples ad three home runs to go with 20 runs batted in and 25 runs scored.

Canady was batting ..452 followed by Grooms at .439. Grooms also was leading in RBI with 21. Owens was batting .432, and Pope was batting .343. Martin was batting .261, Higbe .222 and Kizer .194.

Other members of the eam are senior Lucy Varnadoe, senior Morgan Martin and sophomore Cassidy Burgage. Varnadoe was hitting .276 with 10 RBI in 29 at-bats.

Kinsey Bates, a sophomore who was the offensive Most Valuable Player last season, is out with a knee injury. Dorchester hopes to get her back soon.

McClure is back as the pitcher and having a nice season in the circle as well. She had worked 50 1/3 innings and had a 2.36 earned run average. Higbe had worked 21 1/3 innings with a 3.61 ERA.

There are no other schools that play softball in Dorchester’s region, so that means the Raiders have something of an independent schedule.

Their losses were to AAA schools Williamsburg Academy and Colleton Prep Academy. They own a victory over 2-time defending AAA state runner-up Orangeburg Prep along with a pair of wins over Class A runner-up Cross Schools and two wins over AAA St. John’s Christian Academy.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Gators’ Hall has built consistent winner on Redbank Road

By Rob Gantt • July 30, 2025

Blake Hall has coached the Gators since the 2012-13 season and consistently produced winning teams over the years.

Hanahan volleyball program under new leadership

By Rob Gantt • July 30, 2025

Hanahan High School promotes Jamie Kock to head coach of the girls varsity volleyball. Koch, who has moved up from the junior varsity, takes over for former coach Sheena Lanham.

First Baptist Hires New AD and Football Coach

By David Shelton • July 30, 2025

By David Shelton Senior Writer Charleston – First Baptist School has new leadership within its football program and athletic department for the coming 2025-26 school year. Kevin Mapp was hired as the new head football coach in the early spring and Jay Godbolt was hired as the new athletic director at the start of the summer. Mapp has extensive coaching experience on both the college and high school levels while also working in law enforcement. First Baptist is his first head coaching position. Mapp last coached defensive linemen at James Island Charter High and has had coaching stints at James Madison, Hampden-Sydney, Georgetown, Marshall, Missouri State and Coastal Carolina. Mapp graduated from James Madison and was a defensive lineman on the 2004 Division I-AAA (now FCS) national championship team. “Coaching has always been my passion,” Mapp said. “Ever since I was playing, I wanted to be a coach. I have always found a way to coach while working in law enforcement. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunities to do both.” Mapp has been with the Charleston County police department for the last 10 years. He took some time away from coaching to start a family. “I felt like First Baptist was the perfect fit for me and my family,” Mapp says. “It’s a great opportunity at a great place. The kids here work hard and there is a lot of support from the administration. I’m excited to be the head football coach at First Baptist.” Mapp has hired coordinators on both sides of the ball. Will McCombs , once the head coach of the program, will call the offensive plays. Chris Hart comes over from James Island as the defensive coordinator. “Our numbers are improving and the kids are working hard,” Mapp said. “I feel like we can be a competitive team. It’s year one of the building process.” Godbolt has been a coach and athletic director in the Charleston area for nearly two decades. As the boys basketball coach at Charleston Collegiate, Godbolt coached three state championship teams. He also has been a coach and athletic director at Lowcountry Leadership Academy. Godbolt has more than 450 career victories as a head basketball coach. Current First Baptist basketball coach Antoine Saunders was Godbolt’s assistant at Charleston Collegiate.