Facing their strongest competition in over a month, the Catawba Ridge softball team had their hands full with the Midland Valley Mustangs Thursday evening.
Catawba Ridge earned a 3-1 win over the Mustangs to advance to the third round of the District playoffs Friday, May 5 where they will host Greenwood. Their game against Greenwood is being moved up from Saturday to Friday to prevent any possible rain from derailing the schedule for the playoffs.
Catawba Ridge head coach Michael Kidd knew that his team was going to have a tough battle against the Mustangs.
“This was one of the best teams we have seen in a month,” Kidd said. “I knew they were a well-coached team. They are probably coming back here again.”
The Copperheads only got three hits in the game struggling to catch up to Midland Valley pitching.
“We left a lot of runners stranded,” Kidd said. “We have got to focus more at the plate.”
Catawba Ridge got on the board in the third inning as Sarah Rocheleau hit a triple to left center with two runners on to score Jaidyn Harris and pinch runner Ally Testerman.
In the fourth inning, Georgia Burford drove in Braylon Lawrence, who reached on a walk, with an RBI single after Lawrence stole second.
Catawba Ridge scored all the runs they needed with three as pitcher Chloe Burger threw a one hitter and struck out 13 in the game, but also walked six batters. The one big hit that Midland Valley got came in the top of the seventh off a solo home run preventing the shutout.
The Copperheads improved to 20-3 with the win.
May 4 Roundup
Catawba Ridge
The Catawba Ridge girls’ soccer team shutout South Aiken on the road with a 4-0 win to improve to 15-5 on the season. The Lady Copperheads will now face Eastside in the third round, which is scheduled for Saturday, May 6.
Nation Ford
The Nation Ford baseball team lost to Boiling Springs 4-3 with a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh to end their season. Nation Ford scored three runs in the top of the sixth, only for Boiling Springs to tie the game in the bottom of the inning. Nation Ford was led by Bradyn Deaton at the plate going 1-3 with two RBIs. Nation Ford finished the season at 13-14 overall.
The Nation Ford girls’ soccer team beat Dorman 1-0 in the second round of the 5A playoffs. They will travel to Mauldin for the third round on Saturday, May 6. The win improved Nation Ford to 12-9 on the season.
Fort Mill
The Fort Mill girls’ soccer team lost to JL Mann 1-0 in Greenville Thursday in the second round of the 5A playoffs. Fort Mill ends their season at 10-9-1.
The Fort Mill baseball team fell to TL Hanna on a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning in Anderson. TL Hanna scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh and rallied from being down 2-0. The loss drops Fort Mill to 14-13 on the season. They are scheduled to play Dutch Fork on Saturday, May 6 next in the double elimination playoffs.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
