By Thomas Grant Jr.
First place in Region 4-4A was settled by a pitcher’s dual in Gilbert.
Lady Indian starter Ainsley Minchew and Gray Collegiate Academy’s Makenzie Sease battled for 6 ½ innings Monday. At stake was sole possession of first place in Region 4-4A in the first of two meetings.
Minchew was up for the challenge against a Lady War Eagles’ team which had not lost a region game since April 22, 2021 against Saluda. She fanned 12 batters, walked two and allowed just two hits in seven innings.
With the Lady War Eagles riding a 33-game region win streak, Sease was equally dominant. At one point, she recorded six of her 14 strikeouts in succession and held Gilbert to just three hits in six innings.
Two of those hits in the Bottom 6th helped produced the lone run of the game. Following Wendy Rogers’ one-out single, Carley Melton belted a hit which brought her around the bases to put the Lady Indians on top.
With two ground outs to open the Top 7th, Minchew looked to close out the victory in quick fashion. Facing a full count, Na’Veah Matthews kept Gray Collegiate Academy’s hopes alive with a single to leftfield.
Peyton Hendrix then walked on four pitches to put the go-ahead run on first. Minchew regrouped, striking out Braelyn Triplett on four pitches to end the game.
Gilbert (20-2, 13-0) can clinch the region title with a win Thursday in West Columbia. A win by Gray Collegiate (21-3, 12-1) forces a tiebreaker.
Fredrick, Pope to assist GCA hoops
Returning Gray Collegiate Academy head coach Dion Bethea is bringing along a pair of state champions to help his program. 
The school announced the return of former Calhoun County state champion and University of South Carolina guard Zam “Buck” Fredrick. A 4-time state champion with the Saints who’s also the Palmetto State’s career leader in scoring, Fredrick previously worked with the program under Bethea.
It was also revealed on the Lost Letterman podcast that former Lexington boys basketball coach Elliott Pope would also play a role with the program. Pope spent five seasons with the Wildcats, leading them to the Class 5A title in 2024.
Gray Collegiate Academy principal Brian Newsome and Zam “Buck” Fredrick (Photo by Gray Collegiate Academy)
