Green Wave Rolling In Playoffs
Summerville pitcher Daphne Frady has more than 300 strikeouts this season. (Photo by Roger Lee)
By Roger Lee
Summerville - Hurler Daphne Frady recorded her 300th strikeout of the season May 11 as Summerville eliminated West Ashley from the 5A Division 1 Softball playoffs.
Frady, a North Greenville University signee, helped Summerville to a 10-0 win in five innings at Green Wave Park. Entering the playoffs, the senior led the state in strikeouts this season. She will graduate holding the school record for most strikeouts in a season.
The Summerville defense hasn’t surrendered a single run during three playoff games. The Green Wave also defeated Ashley Ridge 4-0 and Carolina Forest 10-0.
“We are just approaching it one game at a time,” said Summerville coach Heather Tucker. “You can’t look ahead, you have to accomplish the goal for the day. We’ve been locked in on our next opponent and focusing on our strengths and we are winning ball games.”
Jayden Bennett hit a single to left field in the bottom of the first inning and scored a Frady home run that gave Summerville a 2-0 lead. The next inning, Summerville added three runs. Bennett and Frady opened the bottom of the frame with walks. Then Maeven Moreno drilled a ball over the fence for a 5-0 Summerville lead.
The Green Wave sent three more runs across the plate in the third. Haylee Sexton got things started with an infield single. Katie Guilliam reached on an error and Bennett singled to plate Sexton. Frady then had an RBI triple. Catcher Gracelyn Cantrell doubled to plate courtesy runner Payton Sharpe for an 8-0 score.
In the fourth, Summerville loaded the bases with walks by Cantrell and Guilliam and a single by eighth-grader Addy Chapman. Frady stepped to the plate with two outs and drove in Chapman and courtesy runner Gabrielle Savage for a 10-0 Green Wave lead.
Summerville improved to 25-1 on the season while West Ashley fell to 9-11. The Green Wave advances to host Fort Dorchester (16-7) May 13 in the District 3 Finals. The Patriots have to defeat Summerville twice to capture the district title and advance to the best-of-three Lower State series next week while the Green Wave only needs one win.
