Jabria Brunson wins high jump, places in two other events

Saluda – On Saturday night at Saluda High School , a standing room only crowd saw East Clarendon claim its third softball state championship with a 5-3 win over Saluda to sweep the best-of-3 AA championship series 2-0. “I am so proud of these girls," said EC head coach Jason Newsome . "It all started back in October. We had great offseason workouts in October, and January the girls really bought in to what we wanted to do. You can ask the girls and they will tell you how hard they worked this year. It is very gratifying to see all that hard work pay off.” Winning Lady Wolverines pitcher Lakelyn Gaskins said, “It feels wonderful to be state champs. The last time we won was 2017 so it feels good to win another championship.” It was a bittersweet ending for the Tigers of Saluda as they ended the season at 23-6-1. However, it was the best season in school history with a region championship, upper state championship and a runner-up finish. Along the way,p they had a 17-game winning streak after starting the year 0-3-1. SHS ead Coach Hannah Towery said, “I told the girls they have nothing to hang their heads on. We made history this year. No one thought we’d be here with such a young team. This is the first ever trophy that softball has put in the trophy case. I told our seniors to keep their heads u0, and for the younger girls this is something they will have to remember, this feeling, and learn from it and try and beat this goal.” Freshman Miller Martin got the start in the circle for Saluda and got the first batter to fly out to center field. Gaskins stepped into the batter's box and tripled to right. Right fielder Ashlyn Vereen made a great effort to catch the ball, but it was just out of her reach. EC’s Zoey Culick came up next and laid down a beautiful bunt that scored Gaskins with the first run of the game. Culick advanced to third on a wild pitch and an error. After an out and a walk, the Lady Wolverines had runners on second and third with two outs when Addison Fleming came to bat. Fleming bunted toward second base and beat the throw to first while also driving in Culick from third base for a 2-0 lead. “I could not have drawn up the first inning any better if I tried,” said Newsome. “Our game plan all year has been to get out of the gate really quickly and make our opponents chase us down.” Staked with a 2-0 lead, Gaskin’s set down the Tigers in order in the first two innings, striking out five of the first six batters she faced. Meanwhile, Martin settled down in the circle after the rough start and keep the Lady Wolverines off the scoreboard over the next three innings. In the third, the Tigers were able to scratch across a run. Amy Sorcia led off the inning with a walk and went to second on a passed ball. Gaskins seemed to get back on track after striking out the next two hitters, but then the Tigers' Nyla Jordan ripped a double in the left-center gap to drive in Sorcia with the Tigers' first run of the game. After Gaskins walked Martin, she got Karen Almarez to fly out to second for the final out of the inning. The Lady Wolverines led 2-1 after three innings. From the third inning on the game became a pitchers duel as both Martin and Gaskins were in control of the game. The Lady Wolverines were able to score another run in the fifth when Chloe Goff led off the inning with a walk. She moved to second on a sacrifice by Gaskins. Then Culick picked up her secondRBI of the game when she singled in Goff and the Lady Wolverines' lead was 3-1. The Tigers threatened in the sixth when Ava Martin walked and Sorcia singled, putting runners on first and second with two outs. However, Gaskins struck out the next hitter to end the threat. Leading 3-1 entering the seventh inning, EC's Bailey Hicks led off the inning with a single but was out at second on a fielder’s choice, leaving Gaskins on first. Culick had her third hit of the game, putting runners on first and second. Miller Martin then came up with a strikeout for the second out of the inning, but there were still two runners on base when Lake Jeffords stepped into the box. She ripped a single to left, driving in Gaskins. Then Fleming hit a bloop single over third base, driving in Culick for her secondRBI of the game and a 5-1 lead heading into the home half of the seventh. EC’s Gaskins got the first two batters out, one with her 11th strike out of the game, but then an error allowed Miller Martin to reach first bringing up Almarez. On a full count, she hit the payoff pitch over the right field fence and just like that the Tigers cut the lead to two at 5-3. “That home run is all on me,” said Newsome. “We were on a bad count. We had thrown the same pitch three times in a row. I thought we could sneak it by her. She made us pay.” Gaskins got Jayme Sheaffer to fly out to center to end the game and the celebration began. “This team never gives up and never gives in. They always fight and scrap until the very end,” said Towery. Gaskins finished the game with 11 strikeoutswhile walking four and allowing just four hits. Miller Martin struck out nine, five in the last two innings. She walked two and gave up 10 hits. Leading the way at the plate for the Lady Wolverines was Culick, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Payton Hanniford went 2-for-4 and Fleming was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Saluda was led by Almarez, who was 1-for-4 with two RBI off the round-tripper.

Game 2 is set for Thursday at 7 p.m. in Saluda

SCHSL Championship Series got started on Saturday with 12 teams in each category striving to earn a state title. It's looking to be a wet week for most of the state, we'll see how the forecast holds up for these games to be completed. Softball 5/26 - Class 5A Div 1. - Byrnes @ Summerville 5/26 - Class 5A Div. 2 - Catawba Ridge @ St. James 6p 5/27 - Class AAAA - York @ Gray Collegiate 6:30p 5/27 - Class AAA - BHP @ Aynor 6p5/27 - 5/27 - Class AA - Saluda @ East Clarendon 7p 5/27 - Class A - Latta @ Lewisville 6p 5/28 - Class 5A Div 1. - Summerville @ Byrnes 5/28 - Class 5A Div. 2 - St. James @ Catawba Ridge 6p 5/28 - Class AAAA - Gray Collegiate @ York 5/29 - Class AAA - Aynor @ BHP 6p 5/29 - Class AA - Lewisville @ Latta 5/29 - Class A - East Clarendon @ Saluda 7p Game 3s (if needed) on 5/30 Baseball - Games Started Saturday, May 24 th with games 5/27, 5/29, and 5/31 5/24 - Class AAA - Southside Christian 14 , Oceanside 1 5/24 - Class AA - Philip Simons 5 , Batesburg-Leesville 3 5/24 - Class A - McBee 5 , LakeView 3 5/27 - Class 5A Div. 1 - Lexington @ James Island 6:30p 5/27 - Class 5A Div. 2 -Catawba Ridge @ Berkeley 5/27 - Class AAAA - Airport @ Seneca 5/27 - Class AAA - Oceanside @ Southside Christian 5/27 - Class AA - Philip Simons @ Batesburg-Leesville 5/27 - Class A - McBee @ Lake View 5/29 - Class 5A Div. 1 -Lexington@ James Island 6:30p 5/29 - Class 5A Div. 2 -Berkeley @ Catawba Ridge 5/29 - Class AAAA - Seneca @ Airport Game 3s (if needed) on 5/31

Tigers return 4 All-Region players in Williams, Arant, Shaw, Uhlar

Saluda boys part of 4-way tie for first in region

Tigers have already matched win total from last season

By David Shelton Senior Writer Moncks Corner – At long last, the regular season came to an end and the Class AA state playoffs are upon us. The brackets are set and the fans of the favorites are hoping to make plans in mid-December for Orangeburg and the state finals scene. Who are the favorites in AA? Is there a sleeper or two that may surprise everyone and get to the title game. Most of the time, the teams that survive the grind and reach the fifth week of the playoffs, the title game, are teams that everyone who follows the sport predicts will be there. Let’s have a little fun and handicap the AA field. My process is to list my top four teams in the Upper State bracket and top four in the Lower State, as I see it. Any team not in my top four would be considered a sleeper to make it through the bracket. But, it can be done. In the Upper State, my No. 1 team is Batesburg-Leesville . I know, shocker. The 10-0 Panthers have answered every challenge and have proven to be quite formidable. They allow seven points per game with a defense that has speed and physicality. Nearly half of the total points they have allowed in 10 games came in one game, to Abbeville, in a two-point win. Abbeville is the top-ranked team in Class A and their coach , Jamie Nickles , is a believer. “They are certainly capable of winning the state championship,” he said. Running back Amadre Wooden and quarterback Tanner Watkins are a solid one-two punch offensively. Wooden has rushed for more than 1,500 yards and Watkins has passed for more than 1200 yards. My No. 2 pick to win the Upper State is Clinton. The 7-2 Red Devils have lost only to Woodruff and Daniel. Each of those teams has just one loss this season. The tough non-region schedule makes me feel the Red Devils are battle-tested for close, big games. Quarterback Tashawan Richardson makes it all go for the offense with James Cook adding a major threat in the run game. My No. 3 pick in the Upper State is Fairfield Central . The Griffins lost their season opener to Ridge View and have won nine straight games since. The scouting report needs just one word – speed. The Griffins can run and are explosive. Running back Tydarion Grier has gained more than 1.400 yards and averages 9.3 yards per carry. And, my No. 4 is Saluda . The Tigers’ only loss came to Batesburg-Leesville and they would love another shot at their region rivals. Saluda is another of the top defensive teams in AA and defense wins championships. Tahe your pick as the favorite in the Lower State cause several teams have a shot. My No. 1 going in is Barnwell . While not flashy or dominant, the Warhorses are solid and athletic. Senior Cameron Austin is a great leader at quarterback and if they have success on the ground, game over. No. 2 is Barnwell rival Hampton County . Again, the Hurricanes run the football and have good solid play at quarterback. They made a good run a year ago and I think their confidence level is high. The last two favorite picks are difficult and I ended up with three teams for two spots. At No. 3 I am going with Cheraw . The 8-2 Braves are not great at anything but very solid at most. Running back Cam McClendon is a threat to score from anywhere and the defense gets after it pretty good. For No. 4, I am sharing the spot between Manning and Philip Simmons . Manning has just one loss, the season opener to Crestwood, but their schedule and region was not overly difficult.  Philip Simmons went undefeated in a tougher region and seems to be peaking at the right time. The Iron Horses have a veteran quarterback and they really play hard on defense. Class AA state playoff first-round pairings Upper State Pelion at Clinton Strom Thurmond at Chester Columbia at Batesburg-Leesville Andrew Jackson at Liberty Chesterfield at Fairfield-Central Ninety Six at Chesnee Landrum at Central Mid-Carolina at Saluda Lower State Academic Magnet at Barnwell Lake City at Timberland Edisto at Cheraw Andrews at East Clarendon North Central at Manning Woodland at Hampton Co. Mullins at Philip Simmons Kingstree at Whale Branch

Barnwell's Cameron Austin