Phillip Simmons opens region play with 39-14 win over Woodland

By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor Camden – At face value, the fact that the Camden High School baseball reached the upper state finals of the AAAA state playoffs isn’t that surprising. After all, it was the third straight year the Bulldogs won their district tournament to be one of the final eight teams playing in their classification. This season, however, was just a little different than the two previous ones. Camden finished fourth in Region 3 this season and was 10-15 at the end of the regular season. “Making it to the quarterfinals this year is very, very special,” said veteran Bulldogs head coach Denny Beckley . “It is the third year in a row for our program to win a district and make it to the final eight (along with the four teams in the lower state finals). This year's team has persevered through a very stressful season. Our record is not very impressive at 13-15, but we are playing our best at the right time.” Beckley made that statement prior to Camden facing region foe A.C. Flora in a best-of-3 series to determine who played for the upper state title. The Falcons swept the series, winning 6-0 and 10-2, to win all four meetings with the Bulldogs and end their season. Along with losing several key players to graduation from last year’s team that finished second in the region, Camden had to deal with a tragic loss just prior to the start of the 2025-26 school year. “We have dedicated this season to Caiden McGuff , who passed away in a car accident on July 29,” Beckley said. “Our players never wavered in their effort or belief that they could turn the season around and it has been an absolute honor to be associated with such a great group of players and coaches.” Camden was the No. 11 seed in the upper state and opened the District B tournament on the road against No. 6 York. The Bulldogs rolled to a 14-2 victory to advance to another road game, this one against No. 3 seed Seneca . Camden picked up a double-digit win in this one as well, winning 12-2. The Bulldogs moved into the championship round of the district and they got to play at home this time against York. Camden came away with a 7-4 triumph to move along. There is no doubt who was leading the way for Camden in the district tournament. “ Thomas Bishop has been unbelievable to for us,” Beckley said. In the three district games, Bishop, a senior, was 7-for-9 with three home runs, one triple, one double, 11 runs batted in and nine runs scored. He also stole four bases, drew two walks and was hit by a pitch. Ini the opening game against York, Bishop was 2-for-2 with a homer, four runs, two RBI, one walk, one HBP and two stolen bases. Against Seneca, all Bishop did was hit two homers – one a grand slam, the other a 3-run shot – for seven RBI. He was 2-for-4, scored three times and also had a steal. In the rematch against York, Bishop was 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, two runs, two RBI a walk and a stolen base.

Abbeville Tielle Killinsworth hands baton to Tayden Sutton 4x400 relay.

By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor Florence – The West Florence High School softball team was set to begin a best-of-3 series against St. James for the lower state title in the AAAAA Division II state playoffs that will result in the winner playing for a state championship. The Knights were taking a 25-1 record into the first game scheduled for May 18 at St. James. The second game will be played in Florence with a third game, if needed, being played on May 22 at St. James. West Florence head coach Randy Locklair couldn’t have been much happier with where his team was entering the series. “The girls are playing pretty well right now,” Locklair said. “Pressure doesn’t seem to bother them. Our pitching will always keep us in games. We just need to continue to hit the ball like we have throughout the season. “With starting so many young girls I do have a little bit of a concern, but they have produced all year and I do not see why they wouldn’t now. I am pleased and optimistic that we will do well. We definitely have a challenge with a very good (28-1) St. James team.” Locklair’s remark about pitching keeping the Knights in the game might be the understatement of the year. Senior Annie Eliason has not allowed an earned run all season and only two runs total in 130 2/3 innings pitched. Eliason has faced 443 batters and struck out 334 of them. She has given up just 26 hits and 16 walks. Eliason is also swinging a big stick when she steps to the plate. She had a .403 batting average to go with seven doubles, five home runs, 28 runs batted in and 10 runs scored. Four other Knights were hitting .400 or better. Eighth-grader Bayleigh Honeycutt and junior Paityn Daniels shared the highest batting average at .468. Honeycutt had seven doubles, one triple, 10 RBI and 28 runs. Daniels had two doubles, two triples, a homer, 26 runs, 14 stolen bases and 17 RBI. Freshman Hannah Marsik was batting .464 with seven doubles, three triples, five homers, 24 RBI and 15 runs, and eighth-grader Ashley Moody was at an even .400 to go with 28 runs, 14 stolen bases and 13 RBI. SOUTH FLORENCE SOFTBALL IN LOWER STATE TOURNAMENT The South Florence softball team is vying for a spot in the AAAA state championship series, but it has a little bit more work to do to get there. The Bruins lost to defending state champion Gray Collegiate Academy 3-1 on May 16 in a winners bracket game in the 4-team, double-elimination lower state tournament. The 25-6 Bruins were scheduled to play host to North Augusta in an elimination game on May 18. The winner of that game will take on GCA, needing to beat it twice to advance to the title series. WEST GIRLS 2ND IN AAAAA DII STATE MEET The West Florence girls track and field team finished a close second to Fort Mill in the AAAAA Division II state meet on May 16 at the Richland Northeast track in Columbia . The Knights finished with 65, just eight behind Fort Mill. West Florence didn’t win any of the events but placed 13 times to score points. Leading the way was Kamya Young , who finished second in both the 100-meter dash and the 200 dash. Zofia Wierzbicki finished second in the shot put and third in the javelin. Nadia Brooks finished third in the shot put, while the 4x800-meter relay team finished third as well. Fourth-place finishers were Susana Martinez in the 800 run, and Kaylanna Burroughs in both the 400 hurdles and the triple jump. The 4x400 relay team was fifth, Cassidie Williams was seventh in the discus, the 4x100 relay team was eighth, and Shayonna Johnson finished eighth in the 800. Placing for the West Florence boys were Clayton Folse in third and Jude Packard in eighth in the javelin, Jamie Williamson in sixth in the discus and Jonathan Carter in seventh in the 800. In the AAAA meet on May 14 at RNE, South Florence’s Karmen Hanks won the 100 hurdles in the girls competition, while Allyson Watson was sixth. Adrian Singletary won the high jump in the boys meet. Tashawn Lewis finished eighth in the 400 hurdles. Wilson’s 4x100 relay team won state in the boys meet. Tristan Howard was fourth in the javelin, while Evan Addison was eighth in the discus and Kayden Bethea was eighth in the triple jump. The Wilson girls 4x1 relay team finished third while the 4x4 team was fourth. Leah Spears was sixth in the 100, Kamren McFadden was sixth in the 100 hurdles, Lafara Graham was sixth in the long jump, and Stary Samuel was seventh in the high jump.

By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor Florence – In completing his second season in his second go-around as the baseball head coach at Florence Christian School , Scotty Keefe knows he had a much improved squad. “We finished 13-6, were able to host a first-round game of the (SCISA AAA) state playoffs and won,” Keefe said. “We had a good season, much improvement from last season’s 10-10 record. The team was able to keep games close and win a few of them. “Headed into the state playoffs we were 12-4. We lost to two better teams at the end, but I’m proud of the team and the season. We look forward to next season and building off this year’s success.” The Eagles were the No. 4 seed in one of the 5-team, double-elimination brackets in the playoffs. They knocked off No. 5 Colleton Prep 6-5 in the first game. They lost to eventual state champion and once-beaten Calhoun Academy in their next game before being eliminated by Pee Dee Academy . Florence Christian had two players selected to the All-Region 3-AAA team in Riley Minton and Brodie Hickson . Minton, a sophomore who also played in the SCISA North-South All-Star Game , was the top pitcher and had a 5-1 win-loss record to go with a 4.00 earned run average. At the plate, he led Florence Christian in hitting with a .404 battnig average. He was also the team leader in hits with 21 and runs scored with 19. Hickson, a junior, was the starting shortstop and had a .298 batting average.

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