Playoff roundup: Several Hanaha and BE teams are still in the hunt
The Bishop England girls’ soccer team ended Academic Magnet’s three-year reign as Class AA state champions with a 2-0 road victory over the Raptors.
The Bishops ended a three-year slump of losing to the Raptors in the Lower State championship. They now seek their first state title since 2009 and their 10th overall. The will play Christ Church at 5 p.m. Friday in the title game. The match will be contested at Irmo High School. Seniors Alexandra Wain and Natalie Drouillard scored goals for the Bishops, who improved to 17-8 on the season after the victory at Ravenell Stadium. Drouillard scored in the 20th minute of the match and Wain provided the insurance in the 58th minute.
HANAHAN SOFTBALL
The Hanahan softball team took a big step toward its first state title since 2008 with a 2-0 victory over Midland Valley in a Class AA Lower State Championship Series game. Mackenzie Dyson ran her record to 18-0 with an impressive two-hitter. She struck out 13. Freshman catcher Jordan Fabian’s two-run single in the fifth inning was the difference. Hanahan travels to defending Lower State champion Hartsville on Wednesday, prior to the paper going to print. Earlier, Hanahan won its third consecutive district championship with a 2-0 win over North Myrtle Beach. Dyson allowed only four hits and struck out seven.
BISHOP ENGLAND BASEBALL
The Bishop England baseball team is seeking its first state title since 2011. But if the Bishops are to win the Class AA crown, they are going to have to do it the hard way. Aynor’s Jason Duke pitched a four-hitter in his complete game effort. He was able to pitch out of many jams as the Bishops left nine runners on base. The Bishops loaded the bases in the top of the seventh inning, but he got out of the jam with a game-ending strikeout. The Bishops, who dropped to 18-10, were scheduled to play Johnsonville on Wednesday at Father Kelly Field in an elimination game. The winner of that game will travel to Aynor on Friday and must win two games to advance to the State Championship Series.
HANAHAN BASEBALL
The Hanahan baseball team’s season came to an end after a 16-9 loss to St. James in a district championship of Class AAA. The Hawks lose nine players of off this year’s team including two pitchers who will play at the collegiate level: Martin Van Buren (North Carolina State) and Parker Futrell (Charleston Southern). Jon Glee is another top-notch pitcher who graduates. One of the top position players who graduates is Hunter Sutton. The catcher led the team in hitting with a .355 mark. He hit three homers and drove in 23 runs. Other seniors for the Hawks include outfielder Devin Hatchell, outfielder Eric Gartman, outfielder Trey Martin, infielder Ridge Hunter and outfielder Soter Thomas.
TENNIS
Hanahan and Bishop England both remained alive in quests for state championships. The Hawks defeated Wilson 4-2 in a Class AAA Lower State semifinal. The Hawks were scheduled to play Hilton Head on Wednesday with a berth in the state championship on the line. The Hawks have already defeated the Seahawks two times this spring in regular-season play. Meanwhile, the Bishops picked up a victory over Aynor in a Class AA Lower State semifinal. The Bishops are seeking their second consecutive state title and were scheduled to play Academic Magnet Wednesday for a spot in the Class AA championship.