Dillon Christian softball doing well in move to SCISA AAA
Holly Andrews leading the way for the Warriors
Dillon – The Dillon Christian School softball team moved up to SCISA AAA this season following reclassification after coming within a game of playing in the AA state championship series last year.
The transition of oot only moving to a higher class but to a new head coach in Ben Andrews has been a pretty good one for the Warriors. They won 123of their first 18 games and aret 3-2 in Region 3. Dillon Christian can finish second in the region if it is able to knock of 3-time defending state champion Pee Dee Academy on May 2.
DCS’ starting lineup has eighth-grader Fraley Britt leading off and starting at second base followed by junior pitcher Lilli Shooter in the 2 hole. Senior shortstop Molly Andrews bats third while sophomore rightfielder Braylin Carter is the cleanup hitter. Senior leftfielder Madison Coleman bats fifth followed by junior catcher Presley McKenzie, junior first baseman Story Lane, freshman third baseman Aubrey Sherman and senior centerfielder Chloe Powell.
Andrews, Shooter, Carter, Coleman, McKenzie and Lane are all returning starters from last year’s 14-7 squad.
Andrews, the daughter of the head coach, has signed with Coker College. An All-State performer the past two years, Andrews was leading the team in hitting with a .463 batting average to go along with 11 doubles, one triple, two home runs, 22 runs batted in and 22 runs scored.
“Molly has the most experience on the team,” Coach Andrews said. “She has applied her knowledge of the game to help everyone better themselves all around. She is that kid when you say, this is what I need to happen and then she figures out a way to make it happen.
“She is very competitive and gives 125 percent all the time. I am a numbers guy and the numbers speak for themselves. Stats are consistent and she puts in the work to maintain academic and athletic excellence.”
Shooter, who is committed to Barton College, was batting .429 with five doubles, two triples and 17 runs. She had worked 80 innings in the circle with a 2.54 earned run average and 126 strikeouts against just 32 walks.
“Lilli has performed very well in the circle,” Coach Andrews said. “She will use different pitches to keep the batters guessing and keep them off balance, always mixing it up and staying aggressive.”
Britt led the team in runs with 24 while batting .348. Carter was batting .300 with two homers and 17 RBI, McKenzie was batting .297, Powell .292, Coleman .289 and Sherman .200.
The roster is rounded out by freshman corner infielder Shelby Dial and junior outfielder Kinna Campbell.
