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McDaniel wants steady improvement from Stratford squad
David Shelton • Aug 27, 2023
Goose Creek – Stratford head football coach Dennie McDaniel expected better things last season than what he and his Knights produced, but last year’s 2-9 record is a distant memory.
McDaniel has put his focus on 2023 and again feels his team, despite some obvious youth in some areas, can be a team that improves as the season progresses. The Knights will have to do that improving against a competitive non-region slate of games that includes AAAA top 10 James Island, and AAAAA top 10 teams Lexington, Dutch Fork and Summerville.
Stratford opened the season on Aug. 18 against James Island, taking a 25-7 loss.
“It’s a challenging schedule for sure but we feel like it’s also an opportunity to improve,” said McDaniel, a former Stratford player now in his fifth season as head coach. “The goal is to improve, stay healthy as we can, and be ready to compete with the teams in our region. We certainly should be battle-tested going into region play.”
Stratford has as good a chance as any team in region 6-AAAAA to come away with a region title. The league has been won by Goose Creek for the last four years but the Gators are rebuilding a bit this fall. Cane Bay, Berkeley and Wando are teams Stratford competed very well against last season.
McDaniel feels his team showed great determination in the offseason work. His projected starting lineup will include a mix of underclassmen and seniors but far less experience on the offensive side of the ball.
Leading that young offense is sophomore quarterback Jachin Davis, who took the reins midway through last season and performed well. Davis already is attracting major college interest and offers.
“He’s just a sophomore with so much more ahead of him but he has great arm talent and is a special athlete,” McDaniel said. “He is certainly the key to our success offensively.”
The offensive line is the most experienced area of the team, led by senior third-year starter Landon Stradcutter. Junior tackles DJ Crawford and Wes Snowden are potential Division I prospects as well.
Junior Kerwin Squire arrives from the junior varsity team and will be a primary performer at running back. Heading up the receiving corps is sophomore JQ Crosby, with Warrick Yoder, a transfer from Hawaii, expected to make an impact. Junior tight end Jacob Deacon also figures into the mix as a threat.
Senior outside linebackers Trey Davis and Anhrei McMillan will be key leaders defensively. On the inside are Josh Faucett and Darrell Holmes, who was a two-year starter at defensive end.
Anchoring the front is nose tackle Otis Gardner, a returning starter. Silas Carr has moved over from the offensive line to occupy a role along the defensive line, Also moving from offense to defense is safety Will Aleff.
Larry Gamble Photo Editor, HSSR SCISA Softball Championship play kicked off on May 13th, 2024, with teams playing an intense two days of games hoping to make a sweep to victory in the best of three game series to crown State Champion this week. The HSSR photojournalist was at Laurence Manning for their home stand in the Softball Championship Game 2 against Hammond on May 14th. LMA won a very exciting Game 1 at Hammon 5-4. For Game 2, the Swampcats were home hoping for a sweep to close the deal for the State Title. LMA won 9-0 to earn another State Championship. More photos from this game are available by following this link or the one below. High resolution prints and digital downloads from this event are available at www.LarryGamble.com by clicking this link to the photos.
AAAAA, AAA. AA, Class A series set to begin on Monday, AAAA on Tuesday
Larry Gamble Photo Editor, HSSR SCISA Baseball Championship play kicked off on May 13th, 2024, with teams playing an intense two days of games hoping to make a sweep to victory in the best of three game series to crown State Champion this week. The HSSR Camera was at Pee Dee for their Baseball Game 1 against Hilton Head Christian. HHC went on the win 3-1 in Game 1 at Pee Dee. for Game 2, the Pee Dee traveled to Hilton Head Christian where HHC won 12-4 to sweep the series and win the State Title. More photos from this game are available by following this link or the one below. High resolution prints and digital downloads from this event are available at www.LarryGamble.com by clicking this link to the photos.
S ummerville - Ashley Ridge rallied from an early 4-0 deficit, scoring two runs with two outs in the top of the seventh to beat Summerville, 5-4, forcing a decisive game for the AAAAA Lower State title. Summerville led by 4-0 after two innings but Ashley Ridge scored a run in the third and two in the fifth to close to within a run. With nobody on and two outs, down to their last strike, Ashley Ridge got hits from Ryan Bruno and Cooper Godsave to keep the inning alive. Andrew McLaughlin then delivered a two-run single to give the Swamp Foxes a 5-4 lead. McLaughlin had two hits in the game. Summerville managed only three hits with Banks Knight delivering a two-run bloop single to give the Green Wave their 4-0 advantage. After game one, inclement weather moved in and it was decided to play the championship game on Thursday at Summerville at 6:30 p.m. The winner will play Lexington in the best-of-three state championship series beginning on May 18.
Lexington, Laurens, Hanahan, Southside Christian will play for state titles
By Billy G. Baker Publisher Walterboro — The Clarendon Hall Saints softball team captured their second straight SCISA AA softball title, and third in a row counting the Class A title won over Wardlaw three years ago, with a hard-fought come-from-behind 3-2 win over Colleton Prep on May, 15. One of the largest crowds ever to witness a softball game at Colleton Prep observed the two teams battle with everything they got in this game. This was one of those games where both teams left it all on the field. CH head coach Jeffrey Bays shared his feelings with the HSSR soon after the game. “We lost four games this season but we had never been in a situation like this game with so much on the line,” said Coach Bays. “ Mandy (Wells) lives for the important moments, and her two-run homer in the third inning was the difference in the ball game. She struggled some at the plate in game one but she came in this game, like she has in so many, and delivered for the team at a crucial moment. “These girls have been playing together for a long time since rec ball, summer ball and together on our high school team and they have worked hard and they are a real close-knit group,” said Coach Bays. “They jell really well and they know and understand each other on the field. They pull for each other with great team chemistry. “ Colleen (McIntosh) gave us four strong innings but they were starting to hit her some as the game went on so we brought Calli (Yount) in to close things out and I am proud of both of our pitchers who combined for 12 strike-outs,” said Coach Bays. “We are going to miss the five seniors on this team. For the past two seasons we have had only one senior on those two teams. We do have a core group of younger players moving up from the junior varsity.” Mandy Wells made the final out of the game for the Saints, fielding a well hit ground ball, before racing to second base for the forced-out that ended the game. She and her teammates had “explosive confetti” in their back pockets as the game ended and a sea of confetti popped into the air above them shortly after the final out. “I am just so proud and inspired by my team to go out like this with a state championship,” said Wells. “I just want to give God all the praise and credit because we play for Him. I am so glad that we could win another championship and have fun while doing it.” With one more season of high school softball to go, what are Well’s goals with the sport? She recently hit three home runs in one game, that helped her team advance to the state title series. “I do not know if I want to go anywhere, or not, but we’ll see,” said Wells. “Of course, it would be great to play for a team like Oklahoma , or even a smaller college like Anderson College . Wells said she focuses on hitting a softball “back side” and the majority of her career home runs have landed over the fence, just to the right of dead center field. “I guess I get lucky with my timing,’ said Wells, who plans on majoring in Physical Therapy in college. It would not be a shock to this reporter to see Wells end up on the Lady Gamecocks roster at South Carolina, after her senior season. Wells has been taking hitting lessons from the hitting coach at SC the past two years and they have to be impressed with her quick wrist, how fast the ball explodes off her bat in a line drive trajectory, and how fast she reacts to all matter’s softball during live game action. Colleton Prep head coach Tiger Martin was also proud of his team and how they battled the entire game. “We lost six games this season, and four losses came from Clarendon Hall,” said Coach Martin. “We lost to them in our first game early in the season 14-0, then lost to them a second time 8-0, and then in the championship series we lost 6-1 and 3-2 so while I do not like moral victories that does show how much this team improved and continued to battle against a really fine softball team. “Back before the season started this team struggled for the first two weeks of practice and to see them make steady improvement and make it to the state championship series is why I love coaching and working with them,” said Coach Martin. “It was more exhilarating on this Wednesday night than any other Wednesday night we played back in March. We didn’t win today but our adrenalin was flowing and the max effort was there. Our other two losses were to Oceanside Collegiate and Calhoun Academy so we played some tough competition.” CP will graduate three seniors. “They are the last group from our 2021 state championship team,” said Coach Martin. “ Sidney Bailey has been a great hitter and a great athlete for the past four seasons and she had a decisive hit in our state finals game back in 2021. “I know coaches say they do not have favorite players but that is a lie when they say that,” said Coach Martin. “Senior MaKenzie Pellum is among my most favorite athletes I have coached. I have a picture on my desk of her playing pitcher and catcher. Early on in the program she told me, “Coach if you believe in me, I will always give it my very best, and I will there for you and the team. “Our third senior is left-fielder Hannah Strickland who had a key hit the other night,” said Coach Martin. “She has grown every year and I am happy to say that she has earned a spot in the upcoming North-South all-star game.” Colleton Prep went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first when MaKenzie Pellum drew a walk and later stole second. She came home two batters later on a sacrifice bunt by pitcher Sydney Stivender . In the top of the third CH took a 2-1 lead when junior catcher Skyler Dymond singled and stole second. Junioe shortstop Mandy Wells then hit her 28 th career home run to dead center field to put the Saints up 2-1. In the bottom of the third inning CP tied the score at 2-2. With two-out Ava Murray hit a home run to left field It looked like CP might add another run when Sidney Bailey followed the home run with a ripped double in the power alley. However, a pop up to the CH third baseman ended the inning. In the top of the 6 th inning Wells led off with a sharp single just to the left of second base. Two batters later Wells moved to second on a wild pitch while junior Calli Yount was at the plate. Yount delivered a double, easily scoring the speedy Wells from second to give the Saints a lead of 3-2 that held up for the final score. Both teams collected six hits in the game. Wells led the Saints at the plate with two hits and two RBI’s. Senior Lacey Corbett contributed a hit as did Dymond, leading hitter junior Maggie Harrington , and Yount who had one hit and one huge RBI. Colleton Prep got two hits from Bailey, and one hit each from Murray, Stivender, Hannah Strickland , and Pellum. Murray and Stivender each added one RBI. CH used two pitchers in the game. Senior lefty Colleen McIntosh started the game and worked four full innings with six strike-outs. Calli Yount came in for the final three innings and also recorded six strike-outs. Teams take the pressure off their defenses when 12 of the 21 outs in the game were strike-outs. Sydney Stivender worked all seven innings for CP in the circle allowing two runs and registering 6 strike-outs. Colleton Prep last won a SCISA AA softball title against Pee Dee Academy in 2021 in a third game tie-breaker won over The Golden Eagles (10-0) at Laurence Manning Academy . Clarendon Hall has now played in four straight state finals. They defeated Calhoun Academy in a third game tie-breaker (6-2) at Patriot’s Park in Sumter last year. CH will graduate five seniors ( Sidney Berry , Colleen McIntosh , Ashley Timmons , Lacey Corbett , and Macie McIntosh ) from this year’s team. CP is saying good bye to three seniors ( MaKenzie Pellum , Sidney Bailey , and Hannah Strickland ) who were three of the best hitters on the 2024 squad.
Cardinal Newman, Augusta Christian to play if game for AAAA baseball title, Game 2 of Class A baseball series rescheduled again
Summerville's PJ Morlando chosen as AAAAA Player of the Year
Larry Gamble Photo Editor, HSSR SCISA Softball Championship play kicked off on May 13th, 2024, with teams playing an intense two days of games hoping to make a sweep to victory in the best of three game series to crown State Champion this week. The HSSR Camera was at Pee Dee for the Girls Softball ball Game 1. More photos from this Game 1 are available by following this link or the one below. High resolution prints and digital downloads from this event are available at www.LarryGamble.com by clicking this link to the photos.
By Billy G. Baker Publisher Bluffton — With an 11-1 win over the Cross School at Bluffton High on May, 14 the Jefferson Davis Academy Raiders softball team (14-7) won the school’s first girl’s state title in any sport, since the basketball team won gold 19 years ago, sweeping the series in two games to claim the SCISA Class A championship. The dog pile on top of senior pitcher Reagan Still , at the end of the game, exemplified all the raw emotion that had gone into this historic season, and fulfilled a pledge that head coach Bart Owens had made to the team, in the team huddle, after the Raiders were swept in two games against Holly Hill Academy last season. “The night that we lost to Holly Hill at JDA last season I told the team that if everybody comes to work and does their job that we have the pitcher and the catcher and everything in place for us to win a state championship this season,” said Coach Owens. “I told them we just have to go get it done. “After three innings we decided as a coaching staff we were going to small ball and see how we could do and we were able to follow that up with some hits and from that point on the pressure was on them,” said Coach Owens. “We made great plays on defense, put the ball in play, ran the bases well, and we just did everything the way you are supposed to in this game. “There was no better way to send out Reagin Still than with a state championship,” said Coach Owens. “She is the best pitcher I’ve ever coached at JDA and she has been the main pitcher in our softball program since the 8 th grade. I couldn’t be happier for her and those final two strike-outs in the final inning were just fantastic.” The only other senior on the JDA team is third baseman Gylian Googe who came on strong, playing her best softball of the season during the playoffs. Still, who is headed to Florence-Darlington Tech to play softball, told the HSSR from the field, “I have never been prouder of this team,” she said. “This was a goal of ours all season. It’s just a proud moment for the whole team. My goal is to keep improving on my pitching and to get faster and faster.” Still has been named the HSSR-SCISA Class A Player of the Year by the HSSR . Joining Still on the HSSR-SCISA Class A all-state softball team will be catcher Kinlee Ray , center fielder Carrie Lynn Loadholt , infielder Sydney Owens and Googe. After three scoreless innings Still appeared locked into a pitcher’s dual with Savannah Hollings of the Cross School. However, JDA put up six runs in the top of the fourth inning to break the game wide-open. Kaylee Jackson led off the JDA, in the 4 th , with a single followed by an infield hit from Jamilynn Mock . Both runners advanced on a sac bunt from junior Madeline Respass . Two batters later, Elie Fogle’s infield hit scored Jackon to put JDA up 1-0 while also loading the bases. Catcher Kinlee Ray was up next and her single scored Mock to make it 2-0. A third run came in on a passed ball from courtesy runner Esme Montejano . Junior Rynn Fickling then singled in Fogle to make it 4-0 and Still singled in Ray to make it 5-0. Then, on a head’s up play, Fickling stole home for the sixth and final run of the JDA 4 th inning. In the bottom of the 5 th the Stingrays scored their only run of the game. Alaysia Hollings led off with an infield single and later scored on an RBI single by third baseman Bethany Carson . JDA added five insurance runs in the 6 th inning to go up 11-1. They produced these runs on four singles by Riley York , Fickling, Googe and Jackson along with two bases loaded walks while Owens and York were batting. Still had 8 strike-outs and allowed 9 hits during the game with no walks issued. JDA pounded out 12 hits as a team. After the game Cross School head coach Robert Hollings told the HSSR , “We have only been a varsity program for two years, so I am very proud of my team making it into the finals,” said Coach Hollings. “We only have two seniors on the team and most of my players are 9 th graders. We hope to be back in the finals again next year.” Coach Hollings has three daughters on the team who also play softball year-round. They are center fielder Alaysia Hollings , pitcher Savannah Hollings , and catcher Sydney Hollings .
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