Green Wave earns 3-0 win over Byrnes in state softball finals



By Roger Lee

Contributing Writer 

Summerville – Victory was claimed by the home team in Game 1 of the 5A, Division 1 Softball Championship Series.

Summerville (33-0) handed Byrnes (28-4) a 3-0 loss May 26 at Green Wave Park in the opening game of the best-of-three series. Game 2 is scheduled for May 28 at Byrnes. However, South Carolina is expected to get a lot of rain the next few days so rescheduling may be required.

“We had an early start today because of the weather and that changes things,” said Summerville coach Heather Tucker. “Then rain came down during the game, but I’m just proud of our kids and how hard they fought. Ansley (Bennett) did a great job on the mound and the defense played well behind her. Offensively our kids did a good job in the box, just being selective and picking out pitches.”

Summerville finished with seven hits while Byrnes had four. Bennett struck out five batters and walked five. The Rebels left nine runners on base while the Green Wave stranded seven.

“We had opportunities to score, but we left runners on base,” said Byrnes coach Brandi Aiken. “We just came up a little short in the wrong part of the lineup a couple of times. Ansley did a good job of stepping up when we put runners in scoring position. We weren’t intimidated coming down here and I still like our chances. I thought both our pitchers threw well.”

Senior Maddie Wiant started in the circle for the Rebels. While she gave up some hits, she only surrendered one base on balls in nearly five innings of work. Senior Kaylee Hannon relieved her in the bottom of the fifth and struck out a batter for the third out. She then retired the side in the bottom of the sixth.

Bennett was 2 for 3 at bat with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Summerville shortstop Katie Guilliam was 2 for 4 with a double and scored two runs. Sophomore Addy Waters went 2 for 2 to lead Byrnes.

“Katie was clutch,” Tucker said. “Her starting things off with a double in right center was huge. She was excellent in the box tonight.”

After Guilliam led off the bottom of the first inning with her double she scored on a base hit by Bennett. The 1-0 lead held for three innings.

Guilliam started the bottom of the fifth with a single and moved to third on a double from Bennett. First baseman Melanie Edwards then single to score Guilliam. A groundout brought catcher Abby Driscoll to the box and she singled to plate Bennett for the 3-0 Summerville lead.

Summerville is riding an 83-game winning streak. The last team to defeat the Green Wave on the softball diamond is Byrnes, which handed Summerville a loss early during the 2023 season.

“We know we have to win two and going up to Byrnes will be difficult,” Tucker said. “However we are up for the challenge.”

If a third game is necessary it will be scheduled for May 30 at a neutral field.