By Thomas Grant Jr.
Gray Collegiate Academy softball continues to streak its way towards repeating as Class 4A champion.
The undefeated Lady War Eagles were a victory away Wednesday from a third state title appearance in four years.
They will face South Florence in Wednesday’s Lower State final. The Lady Bruins rallied to defeat North Augusta 4-3 in eight innings on Monday.
Gray Collegiate already posted wins over both teams. Last Thursday, they posted three runs in the Bottom 5th to rally for a 5-3 victory over the Lady Yellow Jackets.
The Lady War Eagles trailed 3-0 after one inning. Braelyn Triplett put them on the board with an RBI single in the second inning and University of South Carolina-bound junior Aspen Boulware hit a solo home run to make it 3-2 in the fourth inning.
A one-out single by Payton Reed started the rally for Gray Collegiate Academy. After a walk by Elizabeth Robinson, Reed moved to third on a passed ball and scored on Claire Kelly’s sacrifice bunt.
Robinson later scored on a pop out by Triplett and after Boulware walked, winning pitcher Mackenzie Sease forced in a run with a walk of her own.
Peyton Hendrix struck out three and retired the last six straight batters for the save.
Gray Collegiate Academy then defeated South Florence two days later at home. It took a 2-0 lead in the first inning off two RBI fielder’s choices and added a run in the third inning off an error.
Hendrix struck out eight and allowed seven hits and a run in 6 1/3 innings. She was relieved with one out in the Top 7th by Sease who got North Augusta to hit into a game-ending double play.
This was the Lady War Eagles’ 33rd consecutive win and improved them to 31-0 on the season.
In other Gray Collegiate Academy news, the school named its new head baseball coach.
Former Oceanside Collegiate and current Mountain View Prep head coach Richie McCullough will take over his third public charter school program. He replaces James Adams, who was the interim coach this year after Matthew Hornsby stepped down and is now the inaugural coach at American Leadership Academy in Blythewood.
McCullough won back-to-back state titles in 2022-23 with the Landsharks. Ironically, the second title was won over the War Eagles.
He takes over a program moving up to Class 5A and in Region V with Blythewood, Spring Valley, Ridge View and Sumter.
Gray Collegiate also hired Alan Alvaraz from Brookland-Cayce to serve as the new track and field coach and named Duncan Hundley as its new strength and conditioning coach.
AIRPORT
The defending champion Eagles had their 13-game post-season win streak halted Tuesday by Hartsville 2-1 in Game One of the Class 4A Lower State final.
Airport led 1-0 until the Bottom 6th since Bryce Segars belted a 2-run homer. The Red Foxes retired the Eagles in order and can clinch a berth in the state finals with a Game Two win Thursday in West Columbia.
Game Three, if necessary, will take place in Hartsville Saturday. The Lower State champion will face either Wren or A.C. Flora in the state final.
In other baseball news, Airport had three players named to the S.C. Baseball Coaches Association’s Class 4A All-State team. Bullis, Butts and repeat selection Landon Jeffcoat were joined on the All-State roster by Zak Perry of Gray Collegiate Academy.
While the baseball season continues for Airport, it ended last week in softball for the Lady Eagles. After defeating May River in two straight road games to claim the Lower State District C title, they lost 15-0 to South Florence and were eliminated by North Augusta by a 5-1 score.
Photos by Gray Collegiate Academy
