Cyclones edge BHS Jackets, 2-0

Eric Rowell

Former Buford High School baseball player and Army veteran, Brent Bowers threw out the first pitch at the Buford vs. Chester baseball game Wednesday night, March 6 when BHS celebrated military appreciation night at Buford Park.

Chester tallied two first inning runs and made them stand in a 2-0 win over Class AA foe Buford at Buford Park on Wednesday, March 6.

BHS southpaw hurler Kholby Pate hurled a solid game for the Jackets, working six frames and notching nine strikeouts. He walked one and allowed two unearned runs in the opening frame.

James Gardner worked an inning in relief, yielding no runs and two walks.

Pate had a solid game at the plate with three singles. Evan “Buck Shot” Flynn had the other Jackets’ hit.

The game was billed as Buford baseball’s salute to military.

Former Jackets’ player Brent Bowers, a U.S. Army veteran, threw out the ceremonial opening pitch.

“We honored all veterans and current military,” BHS coach Eric Funderburk said. “We appreciate the assistance from the Buford Junior ROTC, and we have a special link since our senior player Garrett Johnson is enlisted in the Army following his graduation.

“It was a special night and we appreciate all those who participated and all those who assisted in making it a grand occasion,” Funderburk said.

Buford hosted Class AAAA foe South Pointe of Rock Hill in a non-region game on Thursday.

Vols top Knights

The Andrew Jackson Volunteers opened regular-season baseball play, taking an 8-5 win over North Central High School on Tuesday, March 5 at the AJ field.

Chandler Neal, who went five innings, was the winner, allowing three runs, three hits and a walk. He fanned 12 Knights. Eric Miles hurled two innings and yielded two runs and four hits. He fanned two.

Tripp Rollings led the Vols with three hits, including two singles and a double, to go with two RBIs. Kipp Rollings supplied two hits, a single and a two-run home run, and scored a run. Sydney Watson smashed a solo home run. Corley Faulkenberry had a double, drove in a run and scored twice.

Neal had a RBI-hit and tallied a run.

North Central’s Grayson King belted a two-run home run to go with a single and drove in three runs. J.P. Faulkenberry had two hits, including a home run and a single, with a RBI.

Broderick Gaither had a single, triple and scored twice. Jay Williams had a hit and tallied a run. Tyler Bowers added a hit.

AJ hosted Class AAAA foe Lancaster on Thursday night.

The Bruins, who were rained out in their Region III-AAAA opener at Nation Ford on Tuesday night, will travel to Northwestern tonight for a 6 p.m. region game.

Lady Bruins win

The Lancaster Lady Bruins opened Region III-AAAA softball play with a 5-1 win over Nation Ford on Tuesday, March 5 at the LHS softball field.

Senior hurler Katy Ghent, who signed with Columbia College to play softball on Wednesday, March 6, hurled a nifty three-hitter. She struck out 10 of the 25 batters she faced.

Ghent aided her cause with a hit and scored a run.

Kaela Robinson led the LHS attack with two hits and scored two runs.

Elizabeth Gaston and Morgan Cope each rapped a double and drove in a run. Jada Ames had a hit and drove in two runs.

Claire Brown supplied a hit and scored a run. Aliyah Byrd tallied a run.

“We are very proud of the girls performance tonight,” LHS coach Kim Perry said. “After having a rough showing during the preseason tournament, this was a great win for our girls. All the girls contributed.

“Once again, everyone contributed to the success we had tonight,” she said. 

“We need to continue this level of play every game in order to compete in our region.” Perry said.

AJ booters fall

After a solid third-place showing in the Gilbert tournament over the weekend, the host AJ Vols soccer team had high hopes of being able to defeat tourney winner Gilbert in AJ’s regular-season soccer opener on Tuesday, March 5.

After losing to Indian Land in the Class AA Upper State championship last season, Gilbert, coached by Kevin Darlington, moved up to Class AAA this year.

The first half of the match featured a defensive battle. Gilbert keeper Dylan Amick allowed no goals, but neither did AJ’s Luke Kennington 

When the teams prepared for the second-half kickoff, it appeared that either team was capable of victory, but Shane Barton scored a goal in less than a minute after the kickoff for Gilbert.

That quick score seem to completely change the match’s complexion.

Kennington had been moved from goal to forward in hopes of improving AJ’s chance of scoring, but with Gilbert’s outstanding defense, the Vols were never able to score. Barton added another goal and Jonathan Sewell scored one for Gilbert to make the final score of 3-0.

AJ seniors Cody Ussery, Trevor Hammond, and Matthew Wood played well. 

AJ sophomores Zach Arioli and MaKenzie Denkins also played well in the match.

Lady Bruins fall

The Lancaster Lady Bruins dropped a 2-1 loss to Nation Ford in Region III-AAAA play on Tuesday, March 6.

The Lady Falcons scored a goal some 20 minutes into the match to take a 1-0 lead at the half.

LHS scored six minutes into the second half on a give-and-go between Frances Whitesides and Reagan Latham, with Whitesides scoring and Latham on the assist.

“We missed multiple opportunities, but we are a young team,” Lancaster High coach Ed Humphrey said. “Our inexperience showed toward the end of the game when they got a corner and we did not get the ball out and they scored with eight minutes left. 

“We finished the game strong. We had opportunities and did not take advantage of them,” Humphrey said.

Lady Warriors win

The Indian Land High School Lady Warriors, ranked No. 5 in the Class AA preseason poll, opened their season with a 4-0 win over the Lewisville Lions.

Kate Komorous scored twice. Shalyn Dougherty tallied and had an assist. Katherine Kilroy also scored for the winners.

Indian Land, which led 1-0 at the half, outshot the Lady Lions, 27-2.