Race for AA softball title is wide open
Buford, Saluda, Barnwell lead the High School Sports Report poll
Sumter – One thing is certain this season in AA softball in South Carolina this season: Gray Collegiate Academy will not be the state champion.
That’s because the War Eagles, who beat Marion last year for their third crown in four years, are competing in the AAAA classification following realignment. That leaves the door wide open, and there are plenty of teams having strong seasons.
At the top of the High School Sport Report AA poll is Buford with Saluda, Barnwell, Mid-Carolina and North Central rounding out the top five.
1. BUFORD
Buford started the season with 11 wins in its first 12 games and opened 6-0 in the always tough Region 4. The Lady Jackets own victories over AAAAA Indian Land and Clover with the only loss coming to 14-2 Marvin Ridge, a AAAA school across the state line in Waxhaw, North Carolina.
They returned several players from last year’s 14-7 team that lost to Marion in the finals of their district tournament. Emma Timmons is one of those returning players.
2. SALUDA
Saluda is 14-3-1 overall and 7-0 in the difficult Region 2 despite having to replace All-State pitcher Samantha Minick
Miller Martin and Kylee McGlohorn have been strong in the circle. Martin had worked 67 innings with a 1.36 earn3ed run average while McGlohorn had a 2.56 earned run average in 38 1/3 innings.
Jayme Schaffer was leading the Tigers offensively with a .463 batting average. Nyla Jordan was batting .383 and Martin was batting .354.
3. BARNWELL
Barnwell was off to a 13-3 overall start and was 10-0 in Region 5. The Warhorses are led by All-State pitcher Jaidyn Devore. She was off to a 6-3 start with a 0.74 earned run average in 47 innings pitched. She was batting .265 with a team high two home runs and 13 runs batted in.
Kinsley Terrapin was ripping the ball with a .577 batting average. Laney Grubbs was batting .436 and Kendall O’Berry was batting .375.
4. MID-CAROLINA
Mid-Carolina lost its first five games of the season, but has since rebounded. The Rebels were 7-8 overall and 6-0 in Region 3.
Malloree Grimsley got off to a fast start with a .524 batting average to go along with two home runs. Savannah Moore was hitting .417 and Nora Cutler was hitting .318.
5. NORTH CENTRAL
North Central was 11-4 and 4-2 in Region 4. The Knights are led by All-State performer Addie Bittner. She was batting .404 with three home runs, three doubles and two triples while scoring 26 runs.
MacKenzie Melton is having a strong season in the circle as well as in the batter’s box. She’d pitched 81 innings and had a 1.64 earned run average with an 8-3 win-loss record. She had 135 strikeouts while just walking 15 and allowing 58 hits. Melton was batting .404 with three doubles and three homers.
6. ANDREWS
Andrews won 10 of its first 13 games and was 5-1 in Region 6. Andrews was ripping the ball early in the season with Emmalee Lambert and Victoria Smith both batting over .500 at .571 and .524, respectively. Chloe Skipper, Briana Walker and Addyson Davis were all hitting well above .400.
7. NINETY SIX
Ninety Six is also in Region 2 and it started 6-1 and still had both of its games against Saluda left to play. The Wildcats were 12-3 overall.
Junior Katie Fortner is back after earning All-State honors last year. She was batting .468 with two home runs, 20 runs batted in and 20 runs scored.
Sophomore Jocelyn Coleman was leading in hitting with a .571 average. She had five doubles, a triple, a homer, 26 runs batted in and 30 runs. Janiyah Squire was hitting .543 with two homer and 25 RBI, and junior Evie Montgomery was batting .474.
8. PELION
Pelion won 11 of its first 17 games with five of the losses coming in nine Region 2 contests. The Panthers are led by freshman All-State player Savannah Padgett. She was batting .471 with four home runs, five doubles and a triple to go with 20 runs batted in.
Another freshman, Rylinn Earle, was batting .429 as was senior Emma Jackson. Sophomore Alexia Hansen was hitting .481.
Sophomore Elisabeth Sox and senior Rhaygen Platts are splitting time in the circle. Sox was 6-1 with a 3.88 earned run average in 48 2/3 innings while Platts was 5-4 with a 2.75 earned run average in 40 2/3 innings.
9. STROM THURMOND
Another Region 2 team, Strom Thurmond won nine of its first 15 games and was 3-3 in region play.
Lawsyn Lowe was having a tremendous season at the plate. She was hitting .682 with four doubles, two triples, a home run, 23 runs batted in and 24 runs scored. Dyson Harrison was hitting .447 while Madison Rodrigues was hitting .632 and Gabby Courtney was hitting .550 in part-time duty.
10. ANDREW JACKSON
Andrew Jackson won 10 of its first 15 contests and was 5-1 in Region 4 with the lone loss coming to No. 1 Buford.
The other four losses were pretty respectable as well, two of them coming to AAAAA T.L. Hanna, one to AAAAA Lugoff-Elgin and one to Parkwood of Monroe, North Carolina.
HSSR Softball AA Softball Rankings
(As of 4-12-2025)
1. Buford
2. Saluda
3. Barnwell
4. Mid-Carolina
5. North Central
6. Andrews
7. Ninety Six
8. Pelion
9. Strom Thurmond
10. Andrew Jackson
