Crestwood baseball, softball teams off to slow starts
Miller, Billups lead baseball team; trio of Ransom, Robinson, Montgomery paces softball
Sumter – The baseball program for Crestwood High School has had its struggles through the years. Unfortunately for the Knights, this season is no different.
They have lost 12 of their first 13 games and started out 0-7 in Region 5-AAAA.
The top five spots in the batting order have been locked in for most of the season. Darian Miller has been in the leadoff role followed by Jordan Mickens, Jaydis Williams, Darrion Somerville and Maliek Billups.
“there have been a lot of changing parts,” said CHS head coach Collin Kremer, who is in his third season as head coach. “There has been a lot of movement outside of that.”
Miller, a junior, and Billups, a senior, were far and away the leading hitters. Miller had a 375 batting average to go with seven runs scored, three runs batted in, a double and a home run. Billups was battig .368 with si runs and three RBI.
Somerville, a freshman, was batting 286, while Williams, a senior, was batting .158 with a double and a triple. Mickens didn’t have a hit through 24 plate appearanc3s, but had an on-base percentage of .348 with seve walks and one hit by pitch.
Others seeing a lot of action are sophomore Gabriel Bird (.200), sophomore Patrick Fortier, senior Kanye Teneyek and freshman Lathan Greene.
Williams and Mickens both had six stolen bases, while Bird and Billups had five apiece.
Mickens, Williams, Miller and Somerville have gotten most of the work o the mound. Williams was leadig the way with 10 2/3 innings pitched with Miller and Somerville both having logges 8 1/3 innings. Mickens had tossed 6 2/3 innings.
Somerville had the best earned run average aty 5:04 while Williams led the staff in strikeouts at 16. Miller had the team’s lone victory in an 18-7 win over Columbia.
Most of the losses have been lopsided even though Crestwood only lost to Eau Claire 6-4 and 13-9 to Lower Richland in a region contest.
Other members of the team are freshman Donnavan Pinckney, senior Randall Bird Jr., freshman Jonathan Benbow, freshman Whitt Deas and senior Antoine Edwards.
Assisting Kremer are Raymone Rogers, Martin Burns, Rafael Williams and Darren Mazyck.
CRESTWOOD SOFTBALL TEAM HAS ITS STRUGGLES AS WELL
The Crestwood softball team also lost its first seven region contests while winning just two of its first 11 games.
Junior catcher Zaire Ransom is the leadoff hhitter with sophomore shortstop My’Aniyah Robinson in the 2 hole and sophomore third baseman/pitcher Ja’Miesauna Montgomery batting third.
Senior pitcher Rylee Creech bats cleanup followed by senior first baseman Daleah Dixon and junior second baseman Ty’Asia June. Junoir leftfielder Kayla Epps is seventh while sophomore Brianna Wilson is eighth. Rounding out the order and sharing time in right field are freshman Kenya Green and sophomore Gizelle Grayson.
Ransom, Robinson and Montgomery are the leading hitters. Ransom was leading the team in hitting at .364 to go with two doubles, a triple, two home runs, seven RBI and eight runs.
“Zaire Ransom is hard working, dedicated and determined in the sport of softball,” said head coach Jamilia Ricks, who is in her second year. “She gets the job done and has been receiving MVP (Most Valuable Player) and All-Region her years of playing the sport on the high school level.”
Robinson was batting .346 with five doubles, two triples, eight runs an six Rbi. Montgomery had a .333 average to go with four doubles and eight RBI.
Crestwood’s victories were a 9-0 triumph against Lake Marion and a 13-7 win over Northside Christian Academy.
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