Thomas Sumter softball team has high expectations

Dalzell – Thomas Sumter Academy fielded a varsity softball team last season for the first time

since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. The Lady Generals posted an 11-8 record while going 2-2 in

the SCISA AAA state tournament.

With no seniors on that squad, TSA head coach David Porter is excited about the season.

However, he knows it won’t be easy as it tries to go through the gauntlet that is Region 3-AAA.

“We have, in my opinion, the toughest region in AAA, if not all of SCISA,” Porter said. “With

the 2-time (defending AAA) state runner up in Orangeburg Prep along with AA multiple state champion

Clarendon Hall and Calhoun (Academy) moving up, there will be no easy games.”

“I do feel like we have a lot of room for improvement, especially defensively, that we have been

working on. This is a team that I think will get better as the season progresses.”

Porter is pretty comfortable with his batting order. The top four spots will remain the same. Junior

left-handed slapper Ryann Stokes will lead off with freshman Kason Carter, senior Anna Luzzi and

sophomore Lila Kate Stines filling the next three spots. The trio combined for 16 home runs last season.

The next five spots will be interchangeable depending on who is hitting well. Battling for spots in

the order are freshman Natalie Saphore, junior Hannah Geddings, sophomore Paisley Hill, freshman

Peyton Dew, sophomore Amy Spivey and junior Payton Sosbee.

Saphore has been the No. 1 pitcher early in the season to build depth, but Carter and Hill were the

top pitchers last year. Carter, who struck out 174 in 80 innings, will see more time as the season

progresses. Dew also will get some time in the circle.

Saphore will be at either first base or in left field when not pitching. Shines is the catcher with

Geddings and Hill seeing time at first as well. Dew will mainly be at second with Luzzi at shortstop and

Spivey at third. Freshman Ashlynn Singleton will see some time there as well while freshman Riley

Carnes will spell Luzzi at short.

Hill or Geddings will be in left. Sosbee is in center with Stokes in right. Junior Chloe Isaac and

freshman Eden Stokes will see time in the outfield.

ENGLISH GIRLS BASKETBALL ALL-REGION PICK; WILLIAMS BOYS PICK

Sophomore Malayia English was selected to the All-Region 1-AAA girls basketball team, while

junior Christian Williams was selected to the All-Region boys team.

English led the Lady Generals in scoring with a 20.1 per-game average. She also led in

rebounding at 6.3 and steals at 4.1. She averaged 1.1 assists

Thomas Sumter finished 9-9 on the season, losing to Greenwood Christian School 50-46 I the

first round of the AAA state tournament.

The TSA boys went 2-15 and didn’t make the playoffs.