Pee Dee Wins Fifth Straight Softball State Championship
Dennis Brunson • May 13, 2026
Dennis Brunson
hssr.com Associate Editor
Walterboro – It’s official. The Pee Dee Academy softball program can now say it has been able to bear the title of state champion for the past half decade.
The Golden Eagles won their fifth consecutive state crown on Tuesday, beating Colleton Prep Academy 8-1at the CPA field to sweep the best-of-3 SCISA AAA championship series.
PDA, which beat the War Hawks 10-0 in five innings on Monday in Mullins, finished the season with a 28-2 record.
This is the ninth straight season Pee Dee played in a state title series. It also claimed a championship in 2017.
In Monday’s win, senior Maddie Coward tossed a 1-hit shutout. Coward, who has started in the circle for each of those five title teams, struck out nine, walked one and hit a batter. She threw 52 pitcheas, 43 for strikes.
Pee Dee scored two runs in the first inning, one in the second, three in both the third and fourth and closed it out with a run with one out in the fifth.
Dinah Johnson had a 2-run single in the first inning, while Lilly Grace Rowell had a sacrifice fly that scored Carly Carroll in the second.
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The Eagles scored three runs in the third before Addison Hasty had a 2-run double in the fourth followed by an RBI double by Azeleigh Arnette to make it 9-0. The game-ending run came on a triple by Careoll
Hasty and Arnette both had two hits to lead PDA’s 8-hit attack. Coward added a double, and Rowell had a single to go with her sac fly. Carroll and Johnson had the other hits.
Carolina Academy beats The King's Academy 8-7 to force deciding game in AA
Carolina 8
The King’s Academy 7
Florence – Carolina Academy kept alive its hopes of defending the SCISA AA title with an 8-7 victory over The King’s Academy on Tuesday at the TKA field.
The deciding game in the best-of-3 series will be played at Florence Christian School on Thursday beginning at 7 p.m.
Raeley Frye and Ella Ham did the work in the circle for the Bobcats, who improved to 15-10. Ham smacked a home run, while Paisley Coker had two multiple-run hits.
Addison Bescher had 12 strikeouts in the circle for the Lions. Bescher also had 12 strikeouts and allowed just two hits in The King’s Academy’s 5-2 Game 1 win on Monday in Lake City.
TKA head coach Jennifer John said Emma Atkinson had a great game catching Bescher, and that Emma Taflinger, Scarlet Rose Rivers and Chloe Ritter backed her in the field with great catches.
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Swampcats complete a three-peat in SCISA AAAA softball.
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor Winnsboro – It wasn’t an easy path, but Holly Hill Academy is the 2-time defending SCISA Class A softball state champion. The Raiders tied the game in the top of the sixth inning and then scored four runs in the seventh to defeat Richard Winn Academy 12-8 on Tuesday at the RWA field to sweep the best-of-3 series. “I’m worn out,” said a happy HHA head coach Kally Knigh t. “We had two crazy games (winning the opener on Monday 11-8), and it was wild on Saturday (in the state tournament. I’m just proud of this team and the way it battled and fought back, really all season long.” Holly Hill tied the game at 8-8 in the sixth. Senior Shelby Hinson came on in relief of starting pitcher Taylor Wright in the bottom of the inning and held the Eagles scoreless the rest of the way. Senior Kinlee Steigler had the go-ahead double in the 4-run seventh. Wright was 2-for-3 with three rusn batted in. In the circle, she worked into the sixth before being relieved by Hinson, who got the victory. Senior Kayley Bell was 2-for-3 with a triple. On Monday, Hinson got the victory as well. She started and worked the first four innings, allowing two hits and one earned run. Wright worked the final three innings, giving up three hits and three runs while earning the save. Milly Kate Prescott led the offense, going 4-for-4 with three RBI. Senior Abbigail Burleson had a hit and three RBI. Freshman Kaila McLean and sophomore Megan Guzzi led Richard Winn, both going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Freshman Hayley Ann Prevatt was intentionally walked five times.
Pee Dee, Laurence Manning, Holly Hill softball, Calhoun baseball win titles on Tuesday.
Calhoun Academy wins first baseball title since 2016 Lee, Marlboro force deciding games; Hilton Head Christian, Cardinal Newman rained out Kingstree – Calhoun Academy won its first SCISA baseball state championship since 2016 by beating Williamsburg Academy 6-4 in eight innings on Tuesday at the WA field to sweep the best-of-3 AAA title series. The Cavaliers finished the season with a 26-1 record. The Stallions closed out with a 20-4 record. Lee Academy 5 Dorchester 3 Bishopville – Lee Academy kept alive its hopes of defending its AA state title with a 5-3 victory over Dorchester Academy on Tuesday at the LA field to even the best-of-3 series at one game apiece. The third and deciding game is scheduled to be played on Thursday at Laurence Manning Academy’s Tucker Belangia Diamond beginning at 7 p.m. Andrew Bowers picked up the victory for the Cavaliers, who improved to 18-5. Landon Olson led the offense, going 3-for-4 with two doubles. The Raiders won the opening game on Monday in St. George by a 6-2 count. DA is 11-15. Marlboro Academy 13 W.W. King 7 Bennettsville – Marlboro Academy evened the best-of-3 Class A title series with a 13-7 win over W.W. King on Tuesday at the MA field. The deciding game will be played on Thursday at Wilson Hall’s Tommy Jones Field in Sumter at a time to be determined. Landon Edge was the winning pitcher for the Dragons, who evened their record at 11-11. Nolan Caulder was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in to lead the offense. Elizabeth Sheppard had five stolen bases. Tucker McGinty and Casen Buzhardt both had a hit and two RBI for King, which finished with eight errors. Greyson Rikard was 2-for-4. The Knights won Monday’s opener in Batesburg by a 9-3 count. WKA scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to break the game open. Elijah Hutto picked up the win, striking out eight in six innings. Hutto was also 2-for-2 with a double, and Rikard also had a double. Edge and Matthew Taylor both had two hits for Marlboro. Colson Smith pitched five innings, allowing two earned runs. Hilton Head Christian vs Cardinal Newman rained out Bluffton – The second game of the AAAA state championship series between Hilton Head Christian Academy and Cardinal Newman scheduled for Tuesday at the HHCA field was postponed due to rain. The game has been rescheduled for Wednesday with a 7 p.m. start. The Eagles are after a third consecutive state title. They opened the best-of-3 title series with an 11-5 win in Columbia on Monday. Slaide Burd hit the first pitch of the game for a home run and Hilton Head Christian rolled from there. It finished with 11 hits led by by Chip Hetzel , who was 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Jackson Richardson had two hits with three RBI and two runs, Roman Colella had two hits, one a double, with two RBI and a run, and Will Mahl had two hits and two runs. Burd finished with the homer, two runs and an RBI, and Dylan Gehm had a home run and three RBI. Eli Morgan scored twice. Tucker Nelson got the win, scattering six hits over six innings. He allowed four runs while striking out eight and walking two. The 16-11 Cardinals finished with seven hits. Will Spotts and Dylan Williams both homered for their lone hits. Williams had three RBI. Chaplin Cox had a hit, a run and an RBI, while Sam Realman and Connor Catteneo both had a hit and a run. Connor Hooks had a hit.
A.C. Flora captures the Class AAAA boys state championship title at the Cayce Tennis Center.
Scores, schedules, start times from each of the eight series.
Summerville pitcher Daphne Frady has more than 300 strikeouts this season. (Photo by Roger Lee)
By Rob Gantt Special to The HSSR HANAHAN - Gratification delayed is certainly better than gratification denied. The Hanahan Hawks baseball team needed a second game May 11 to finally put away Aynor High School , 10-6, for the district championship in the Class 3A playoffs at HHS. Following Aynor's 6-3 victory in game one that forced a decisive clash, Hanahan came out hot in game two. The Hawks erupted for five runs in the bottom of the first, then added a single run in the second inning and added four more in the bottom of the third inning to seize control. "It's been a long day for sure," Hanahan coach Skylar Hunter said. "I've been out here since 8 a.m., doing field work the whole time. And we lose game one, and really lose it in a way where we gave them a bunch of free passes. They didn't find a lot of barrels. We gave them a bunch of runs from errors, passed balls and walks." In game two, the Hawks came out and swung the bats like they were supposed to, Hunter said. "I'm just proud of them for competing," he said. Hanahan (16-14) loaded the bases in its first at-bat and infielder Richard Atencio delivered a two-run single to right field to open the scoring. Outfielder Tripp Gallus , who reached on a bunt single earlier, scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0. Hanahan pitcher Chris Polm kept the uprising going and helped himself with a two-run home run through the wind to left field as the lead grew to 5-0. That was plenty of run support for Polm, who earned the win on the mound. The hard-throwing righty hurled three one-hit innings with seven strikeouts. He only threw 59 pitches so he is available to pitch Thursday at Dillon if the Hawks opt to use their ace. In the second inning, Atencio's bases-loaded walk gave the Hawks a 6-0 lead. In the third, RBI singles off the bats off Brendan Moll and Gallus, and a two-run double from Will Muirheid made it 10-0. "It's easy for young teams to fold and they didn't fold at all," Hunter said. "They kept working, kept fighting, kept grinding and got the job done." Aynor (21-7) continued to battle, though, and refused to go away. The Blue Jackets plated four runs in the top of the fifth inning to avoid being mercy ruled, then tallied single runs in the sixth and seventh innings. "I want to make sure I give props to Aynor," Hunter said. "They're a very good team and very well-coached. They're a tough matchup for us every time we play them." Gallus, Atencio, Muirheid and Moll collected two hits each for the Hawks. Outfielder Layton Suggs and infielder Brady Lavin led Aynor with two hits in game two and third baseman Heath Huggins knocked in two runs. In game one, designated hitter Nolyn Nickels ,Gallus and Atencio had two hits for the Hawks. Atencio drove in two runs. Outfielder Xavier Dukes powered Aynor, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and a RBI. Suggs and Lavin chipped in two hits.
By Billy G. Baker Publisher Lake City- During the 2026 softball season “The Carolina Academy ” Bobcats defeated region rival “The Kings Academy” Lions twice (7-3 and 1-0), so when the two teams won their respective SCISA AA brackets in the post-season tournament at Lexington (May 8-9), fans of both teams knew the best-of-three finals that began in Lake City on May, 11 was going to be like a prize fight, likely to extend to all three rounds. The Lions took advantage of numerous Bobcat errors, including 8 walks, to take game one 5-2. The two teams will meet again on Tuesday (May 12) in Florence for game two. TKA is hoping to sweep and earn a state title. “The Carolina Academy” are the defending SCISA AA state champions so this is not their first rodeo, and in all honesty, they did not play one of their better games of the season on Monday. The difference in this game was TKA sophomore pitcher Addison Bescher who recorded 12 strikeouts, while allowing just five hits. Her best stat might have been “no walks.” After all you need base runners to score runs and free passes glare at you in the stats totals. Ater the game, TKA head coach Jennifer John shared her thoughts. “Addison is pitching with a lot of confidence, and she knows exactly where she is locating her pitches,” said Coach John. “I also think like our girls were really disciplined at the plate. They waited for their pitch, and when they put it in play, they were smart about it. I think that made a huge difference in getting the runs we needed to win. “Addison and Emma (catcher Emma Atkinson ) have been a great pitcher/catcher combination all year and they are two of our best leaders,” said Coach John. “We know that Carolina Academy will come ready to play on Tuesday. We just need to stay focused and not beat ourselves.” Veteran Carolina Academy head coach Scotty Phillips spent a long time in his huddle talk with his team after the game. “I reminded our players that they are better hitters than they were tonight, and they were not attacking the ball very well in this game,” said Coach Phillips. “They have to come out and swing the bats better in game two. They are not getting on base through walks with their pitcher.” Coach Phillips talked about his own veteran senior pitcher Raylee Frye who has been very impressive over her five- year career . “Raylee, for some reason, has started pulling up her arm a little bit when she pitches over the past couple weeks and we have to get that fixed before game two tomorrow,” said Coach Phillips. “Their pitcher pitched a good game. We will likely go with Raylee in game two and we are confident she will have better control and focus in this game.” Coach Phillips was very complimentary (once again) about veteran catcher Carlie Ann Smith. “ You do not get many like her in a coaching career,” said Coach Phillips. “She’s a very special player.” The Bobcats were limited to five hits in the game from five different players. Frye and Smith had hits along with freshman second baseman Natalie Braveboy , outfielder Paisley Coker and Ella Ham had a double in the 6th inning. As far as what he hopes to expect from his team in game two, Coach Phillips said, “It looked like we were not very confident tonight and I feel like we will be more alert and focused tomorrow,” said Coach Phillips. “We will be ready to play I promise you.” Both pitchers started off the game lights out with each of them retiring the first six batters they faced. Fyre had three of her five K’s in the first two innings. Bescher also had three strikeouts in the first two innings. Left fielder Hannah Allison led off the top of third for TKA with a single. She advanced on a ground-out by and scored on a throwing error to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. The Bobcats pushed across their only two runs of the game in the bottom of the 4 th to take a 2-1 lead at that point. Smith led off with a single. Paisley McCutcheon advanced Smith to second on a sac bunt. Frye drove in Smith with a well-hit ball to center field to tie the game 1-1. Fyre advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by Paisley Coker to make it 2-1. In the 6 th inning the Lions added two runs to take a 3-2 lead. Emma Atkinson reached on a one-out double and then the team benefited from a hit batter, and two straight walks with Atkinson tying the game on a bases load walk. Lauren Mills also scored on a bases loaded walk to put her team for good 3-1. Ham got out of the jam with two straight K’s to end the inning. The Lions added two insurance runs in the 7 th inning. First baseman Kate Buckley reached on a one-out single and then three straight walks to Atkinson, Mills, and Haley Griggs led to the Lions plating two more runs to win the game 5-2. The five hits by TKA came from Bescher, Buckley, E. Atkinson, Mills and H. Allison..