The Quad crowned Lower State Champions
The Quad American Legion Softball Team, won the Lower State Championship game by a score of 13-1 against The Legends from Sumter Thursday, July 13 to advance to the State Championship. They travel to Columbia to play the American Legion Softball team from Anderson on Monday, July 17. Team members (front) L-R: Ashton Goodwin, Katelyn Church, Alyssa Poston, Savannah Parker, Olivia Martin, Savannah Evans. (Back row): Coach Lee Andrews, Tatum Weaver, Avarie Easters, Trinity Davis, Dakota Melancon, Caydon Thompson, Whittney Turner, Jaysha McCullough, Ramzee Williams, Mackenzie Kubas, Coach Madie Andrews and Coach Chris Weaver. PHOTO BY PHYLLIS CAPLES
Quad Designated Hitter/First Baseman, Dakota Melancon, slides into second after a double. PHOTO BY PHYLLIS CAPLES
Quad Pitcher, Alyssa Poston, delivering a pitch for The Quad. PHOTO BY PHYLLIS CAPLES
Third Baseman, Caydon Thompson, takes a big swing in Thursday’s Lower State Championship Game. PHOTO BY PHYLLIS CAPLES
By Don Gearhart
For the second year in a row, The Quad hosted the Post 15 Lady Legends from Sumter in the American Ladies Legion Lower State Championship. The Quad entered the contest with a perfect 20-0 record while the Lady Legends stood at 18-2 with both losses coming at the hands of The Quad.
The ladies from Sumter struck first with an unearned run in the top of the initial inning. Two uncharacteristic errors resulted in that run. The Quad failed to score in their half of the inning and trailed Post 15 by a 1-0 score.
Mixing her pitches well, Alyssa Poston did not allow another baserunner and retired ten straight batters after giving up the run in the first inning. Meanwhile, The Quad got back in control in the bottom of the second inning, all with two outs. Savannah Parker scratched out a base hit and tied the score when Dakota Melancon doubled deep over the center fielder’s head. Jaysha McCullough and Poston drew bases-on-balls to load the bases. Whitney Turner, running for Melancon, scored on a passed ball with McCullough and Poston moving up a base on the same play. That set the stage for Katelyn Church’s two-run single that gave The Quad a 4-1 lead.
The Quad added six more runs in the bottom of the third. Caydon Thompson doubled down the right field line. Ramzee Williams and Parker drew walks to load the bases. Thompson scored on a passed ball and Turner laid down a successful bunt single to load the bases again. McCullough bounced a base hit threw a drawn-in infield for two RBI. Poston’s infield single produced another run and Church doubled over the left fielder’s head to drive in two more runs. The Quad now was in full control with a 10-1 lead.
The bottom of the fourth was quick and efficient. Thompson led off with a double that short-hopped the fence in dead center field. Goodwin’s grounder to short was misplayed to put two runners on base. Williams quickly drove in a run with a base hit and another scored when Melancon’s grounder to short was booted. McCullough laid down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Williams to score complete a 13-1 win due to the 12-run rule after four innings.
Poston’s no-hitter was not a perfect game due to the errors in the first inning but nonetheless was a stalwart effort against a team they had only beaten 4-0 and 3-2 in contests earlier in the season. Church, Thompson, and Melancon each had two hits for The Quad.
The State Championship game will pit The Quad against the Post 14 Lady Bombers from Anderson.