Young White Knoll softballers aim to improve over 2025
Nikki Gallardo, Ashlyn Blackstone, Jaida Gay, and Jaden Ekovich received Region 4 AAAAA All-Region honors this season.
By WORTHY EVANS
Contributing Writer
Columbia - The White Knoll softball team finished the spring season on a high note, finishing fourth in a competitive Region 4-5A, making the 5A Division 2 playoffs as a No.8 seed, and going three games into the District 3 Tournament.
Head coach April Farr said she was impressed by the way the Timberwolves responded to adversity over the season, and with just four seniors headed off to college, White Knoll is poised to have a better season in 2026.
“We had a really good year. There were some games we lost that we probably should have won, but we faced a lot of adversity,” Farr said. “We had some eighth graders step in and they played big time for us. We felt like our backs were against the wall, but our girls responded really well.”
The Timberwolves took a hit March 27 when senior centerfielder and North Greenville signee Allie Royer was lost for the year with an ACL injury in an 11-2 loss to Lexington March 27.
Also, starting catcher Mackenzi Bradley battled a back injury throughout the year but toughed it out with the help of backup catchers, including sophomore Dakota Jenkins and freshman Charity West.
White Knoll finished the season 14-9-1, and in the postseason beat Lucy Beckham 3-0 May 5, lost 6-0 to Berkeley May 7, and finished the season with a 7-4 loss at North Myrtle Beach.
Besides Royer, the Timberwolves lost shortstop and Providence College signee Nikki Gallardo and first baseman and Columbia College Signee Ashlyn Blackstone.
Returning are a host of young but seasoned players, among them rising freshman Brianna Guerra. Guerra pitched 44 2/3 innings, had 30 strikeouts and won three games for the Timberwolves.
“Toward the end of the year we brought her up from junior varsity and she put us in a better situation,” Farr said. “She throws the ball pretty well and is a very hard worker. If she was pitching and something didn’t feel right, she’s in the bullpen fixing it so she can be better in the next inning.”
Farr said that she will get a lot more time and opportunity to practice and improve her game at the varsity level.
Besides Guerra in the circle, rising freshman E.G. Birchmore, rising sophomore Adelynn Lewis and rising sophomore Lexi Burkard have a year of pitching under their belts and will show it come spring 2026.
The Timberwolves lineup accounted for just three home runs last spring, but they batted .353 as a team with 48 doubles and 230 total hits. Jada Gay, the top underclassman batter, hit .417 in 72 at bats with eight doubles and a home run.
On the basepaths, rising freshman Reginae Porterfield will return. She stole a team-high 17 bases on top of a .274 batting average and a .318 on-base percentage.
“We’ve got people ready to step up and start right back from where we left off,” Farr said. “Our pitching will be a little bit younger but with the kids playing summer ball and starting off at varsity level instead of being called up, they’re going to get a lot of time to work on their conditioning. As far as the team goes, we’re solid everywhere else. We’ve got girls who will go right to first base and shortstop and contribute.”
Nikki Gallardo, Ashlyn Blackstone, Jaida Gay, and Jaden Ekovich received Region 4 AAAAA All-Region honors this season.
The White Knoll baseball team (7-22) finished winless in the region, but also have a young team that will likely improve on last spring. The Timberwolves beat St. James twice to earn a 12 seeding and a spot in the District 3 Tournament. They fell 4-1 to eventual 5A Division 2 state champion Berkeley May 10 and ended the season with a 4-2 loss to North Myrtle Beach May 14.
