Abundant Life's baseball team began the week on a 13-game winning streak. The Cougars (13-1, 6-0 SCACS Coastal Conference) had two convincing wins last week; they beat William Thomas 20-0 on March 29 and Step of Faith 19-0 on April 1. Against William Thomas, Cam Thomas struck out seven batters in three innings to earn his fourth win. Jon Herrington, Jarrett Owens, Caleb Smith and Thomas each hit home runs. Hudson Farmer had two hits and an RBI and Ron Spikes went 2 for 4 with two RBI.
Ridgeland football coach Richard Kirkland said he did not apply for the vacant coaching position at Bluffton High. Kirkland was intrigued because he is a Bluffton resident, but he is committed to the Jaguars. "I didn't even put my name in the pot," Kirkland said. "I've got too much going in Ridgeland." Last season Kirkland led the Jaguars to their first playoff appearance since 2004. Ridgeland finished second in Region 5-AA and had an overall winning record (6-5).
It was easy to point to the players Abundant Life's softball team lost from last year's team when forecasting the exploits of this year's team. Since standouts Madison (11-2, 0.89 ERA) and Mandi Boyd (.490) moved to Oklahoma, it may have been assumed the Cougars would struggle to win a fourth consecutive SCACS Class A state title. But Brittany Boyd stuck around and a few players who made smaller impacts last year have greatly contributed and Abundant Life is primed to win another championship.
Wesley Scott of Ridgeland High won the South Carolina High School League state championship in the 235-pound weight class at last weekend's championship meet. Daquain Rivers was fourth in the junior varsity 260-pound weight class. Primos Life of Hardeeville High took fourth overall in the 170-pound junior varsity weight class. He was first with a 290-pound bench press. Jarrell Knighton of Hardeeville was sixth in the varsity 205-weight class; he was second in the bench press (340 pounds).
Too often this season Thomas Heyward baseball coach Nic Shuford has seen his batters take first-pitch strikes. Soon after the strikes, the Rebels' at-bats are defensive and not productive. Shuford wants his team to be aggressive. "I disagree with whoever says take the first pitch," Shuford said. "Most of the time the first pitch is the best pitch you see all the entire at-bat." Thomas Heyward (7-4, 1-2 SCISA Region 3-AAA) has pitched and fielded well, but if it is going to contend in the region, Shuford think the offense needs to get going.
Ridgeland High soccer coach Anthony Cuevas made a few changes with his team before entering the season, the biggest of which was removing all the attitudes from the team. In previous years, Cuevas said a number of the players on the team argued with one another, disrespected the coach and their teammates and simply just kept losing their temper. That's not the case these days.
Last year, in Step of Faith's inaugural baseball game, leadoff hitter Zack Simmons was hit by the first pitch thrown by Abundant Life's Caleb Smith. Last week, leadoff hitter Matt Mills reached base against the Cougars, but he walked. The walk led to a similar result, however, as the Chargers lost 16-2. Last year Step of Faith lost 20-0. But Chargers (3-3) coach Frank Mills was not discouraged. The Chargers committed three errors as opposed to 10 last year and they scored a run in the bottom of the first after Abundant Life took a 2-0 lead.
Thomas Heyward's softball team expected to be good this season, but last weekend the Rebels showed just how good they can be. "There was a ‘Wow' factor there this weekend," coach Bob Layman said "We really dominated." Thomas Heyward won the Warhawk Invitational in Colleton County by rolling through Andrew Jackson, Carolina Academy and Laurence Manning.
Thomas Heyward's softball team won the Warhawk Invitational this weekend. The Rebels beat Andrew Jackson 16-0 in the first round and then beat Carolina Academy 13-1. Twice they defeated Laurence Manning - the two-time defending state champions - 10-0. The second victory won the title.
Recent comments
4 days 8 hours ago
5 days 1 hour ago
3 weeks 6 days ago
4 weeks 5 days ago
5 weeks 17 hours ago
5 weeks 1 day ago
9 weeks 2 days ago
16 weeks 6 days ago
16 weeks 6 days ago
16 weeks 6 days ago