By Greg Baechtle
Special Contributor
The Pinewood softball team wrapped up their season with an appearance
in the SCISA state tournament in Lexington last week. The Panthers opened
the double elimination tournament with a thrilling 3-2 win in 9 innings
over Robert E. Lee.
With the game scoreless going into the top of the 9th, Robert E Lee
scored two runs. The Lady Panthers responded with three in the bottom of
the inning to take the win. After Farren Beasley led off the inning with a
single, she was driven home when Jennifer Eckley doubled off the center
field wall. Zoe Holman reached on an error allowing, Katie Hickok who was
running for Eckley to move to third. After Amber Venters sacrifice bunt
moved Holman to second Hillary Kushubar delivered a single to score Hickok
with Holman moving to third. Morgan Jones drove in the winning run with a
ground out to second. Paige Deschaine picked up the win as the Lady
Panthers out hit Lee 7 to 1.
However, things didn't go as well for the Lady Panthers on Saturday.
In their first game they came up against a tough and senior laden Laurence
Manning squad who defeated the Lady Panthers 5-0. The Lady Panthers were
then forced to drop into the loser's bracket where they had to take on the
Lady Indians of Orangeburg Prep. The Lady Panthers fell behind 4-0 in the
third inning, but rallied in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at
four all. However, the Lady Indians responded in the top of the fourth
when two infield errors, by the Lady Panthers, allowed the Indians to score
5 runs, four of the unearned. The Lady Panthers got three of them back,
but it wasn't enough as they fell 9-7.
The Lady Panthers did wrap up the best season in the school's history
going 24-5 overall. The win over Robert E Lee marked the first time the
team has won a game in the state tournament. The Lady Panthers will
graduate only one senior from the team this year. Katie Iannace, Jennifer
Eckley and Amber Venters were selected to participate in the SCISA all star
game this Saturday. Coach Robert Venters, who was SCISA's softball coach
of the year, will coach the south team.
