• Photo: Whale Branch's Andre Watson, center, runs in the 4x100 relay Saturday in Columbia. Watson led the Warriors to the Class 1-A boys team championship, winning two individual events.
  Alex Hicks Jr. -- Spartanburg Herald-Journal

Watson's record-setting day leads Whale Branch boys to state track title

COLUMBIA -- Andre Watson never truly realizes just how fast he runs until playing the videotape after the fact.

And even then it's sometimes hard to believe.

"I surprise myself every time," he said.

Prep Roundup, May 13: Thomas Heyward reaches state softball finals

With its third win this season over Colleton Prep, the Thomas Heyward Academy softball team advanced to next week's SCISAA Class 2-A championship series against Marlboro Academy.

The defending state champion Rebels knocked off Williamsburg Academy, 12-0, to start their day Saturday in the SCISAA state tournament in Lexington, and then took down Colleton Prep 5-0 to punch their ticket to the finals.

They will meet a Marlboro County team that they just faced to end the regular season. The Rebels won both games the teams played this year, winning 1-0 and 2-1.

Hilton Head High, Hardeeville boys continue quest for soccer titles today

The Hilton Head Island High School boys soccer team has a chance to even the score tonight. With the girls team.

The Seahawks host Chapin at 7 tonight in a Class 3-A playoff game with a trip to the Lower State Championship on the line. Hilton Head High's girls secured their spot in the Lower State final on Friday night with a 5-1 win at St. James.

Also tonight, Hardeeville plays at 5 p.m. at the Governor's School in Hartsville for a spot in the Class 1-A Lower State Championship.

Hardeeville boys start fast, then hold off St. John's in soccer playoff opener

Adrian Morales felt like his old self Thursday.

After scoring more than 20 goals as a sophomore, Morales moved back for his junior season, more content to defend and pass to freshman teammates, he said. But the Hardeeville High School boys soccer team needed him up top to open the Class 1-A playoffs.

And Morales responded with a second-half hat trick to help the Hurricanes defeat St. John's 5-4 in Hardeeville. The Hurricanes advance to play at the Governor's School on Saturday in Hartsville.

Whale Branch boys ready to make run at state track title this weekend

This could be the year for Whale Branch. It's not like it's been a long wait, though.

In only its second year of existence, Whale Branch has to be considered one of the favorites to take home the Class 1-A boys championship at this weekend's S.C. Track and Field State Championships at Spring Valley High School in Columbia.

The Warriors finished sixth last year in their first state meet. The return of the core of that team, coupled with the addition of senior sprinter Andre Watson, has the Warriors' coaches thinking title.

BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFF PREVIEW: HHH takes streak into opener

It was an adjustment period unlike any Wayne Quinlan had encountered before.

The coach of the Hilton Head Island High boys soccer team generally knows what his Seahawks will bring to the table before each season begins. Except this year, of course, as Hilton Head High stumbled out of the gate with an 0-3 record.

"It took me longer to get a handle on this team than it has for any team that I've had that I can remember," Quinlan said. "Just to figure out who can play where, what was our shape or our formation going to be. In the preseason and in pre-region season, it was all experimentation. I'm not sure we played the same formation two matches in a row."

Prep Roundup, April 20: Whale Branch tennis program scores first win

The first-year Whale Branch boys tennis program picked up its first victory Thursday in its final region match of the season, shutting out Wade Hampton, 6-0.

The Warriors' lone senior, Josh Salters, got the sweep started with a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 3 singles. No. 1 player Dustin Jagos finished out the region schedule undefeated, and he'll be participating in the state singles tournament. Jagos is 10-0 this season.

Whale Branch (1-9) will travel to Charleston on Monday to face Academic Magnet in a non-region match.

Prep Roundup, April 8: Beaufort High teams take Beaufort Track Classic titles

TRACK AND FIELD

Beaufort Track Classic: Beaufort High School's boys and girls teams dominated their own Beaufort Track Classic on Saturday, both winning titles.

The Beaufort boys finished with 150 1/2 team points, well ahead of second-place Ridgeland, which had 83. The Eagles won six events, including two by Martin Washington in the high jump and long jump. The Eagles also won the 4x100-meter and 4x800 relays.

Whale Branch hosting inaugural track meet today

Several teams will travel to Whale Branch High School today to compete in the inaugural Marwin Kline Invitational track meet.

Kline is a former Battery Creek standout. His 400-meter time of 47.11 seconds in 1991 is among the top 10 times in state history. Kline, a three-time all-American at Tennessee, is expected to be in attendance.

Battery Creek, Beaufort High, Bluffton, Hardeeville and Ridgeland are the area teams joining the hosts. Allendale-Fairfax, Edisto and Orangeburg-Wilkinson are also registered to compete.

Prep Roundup, March 31: Hegarty's hat trick lifts Hilton Head Prep soccer team

BOYS SOCCER

Hilton Head Prep 5, Hilton Head Christian 0: Aidan Hegarty scored three times -- upping his output to seven goals in the last three games -- and the Dolphins prevailed in the matchup of island rivals.

Will Peterkin notched two goals and an assist for Hilton Head Prep, and Dylan Clark had one goal and assisted on another.

Prep Notebook, March 30: Bluffton softball climbs to No. 2 in state

Bluffton High School softball jumped to No. 2 this week in the latest South Carolina coaches' rankings.

The Bobcats are 9-0 overall and 6-0 in Region 7-AAA after Thursday's win at Battery Creek. They defeated Cane Bay 4-2 on Monday and won 3-0 Wednesday at Berkeley.

Bluffton trails only top-ranked Hartsville in the rankings. Bluffton travels to Florida today for a tournament before a long layoff for spring break.

Prep Roundup, March 29: Hilton Head High softball team takes two from Battery Creek

SOFTBALL

Hilton Head Island High 10-15, Battery Creek 0-7: Freshman Whitney Haley won both ends of a doubleheader for the Seahawks.

In the first game, she struck out five and surrendered no hits in a three-inning run-rule game. She started Game 2 and left with a big lead. Freshman Peyton Leitner struck out six to close out the game.

Prep Roundup, March 28: Beaufort High soccer team rallies past Colleton County

BOYS SOCCER

Beaufort High 4, Colleton County 2: Hector Lopez scored two goals, and the Eagles rallied from a 2-0 halftime deficit to notch their first win in Region 8-AAAA.

Josh Gutierrez and David Seguine also scored in the second half for Beaufort High (3-2, 1-1).

2012 Island Packet/Beaufort Gazette All-Area Girls Basketball Team

Player of the year: Sabrina Drammis, Hilton Head Island High School

Coach of the year: Gary Mazzanna, Thomas Heyward Academy

First team

Prep Roundup, March 21

GIRLS SOCCER

Beaufort Academy 7, Cathedral Academy 0: Brynna Ferry and Laura Roddey each scored a pair of goals in leading the Eagles to victory.

Maddie Griffith, Miranda Weslake and Kiana Fortner also scored for Beaufort Academy (3-2 overall, 2-0 SCISAA Region 1-AA). Goalie Charlotte Delfosse didn't even need to make save for the shutout.

Prep Roundup, March 16

BASEBALL

Northwood 11, Thomas Heyward 8, 9 innings: The Rebels fell despite a huge night from Joe Laycock, whose three-run home run in the seventh tied the game at 7 and forced extra innings. Laycock finished 3 for 4 with a double, two home runs and six RBIs.

Prep Roundup, March 14

BOYS SOCCER

Beaufort Academy 3, Battery Creek 3: Connor Akers scored in stoppage time as Beaufort Academy rallied to tie the Dolphins.

Akers also had an assist on one of Gibson Achurch's two goals. George Sanford also had an assist for the Eagles (0-2-1).

Prep Roundup, March 10

BOYS SOCCER

Battery Creek 4, Beaufort Academy 1: Luka Basuino scored a pair of goals and had an assist to lead the Dolphins (2-1). Alan Escobar added a goal and an assist, Mannny Gonzalez scored a goal, and Oscar Tierrablanca and Gabriel Pienda tallied assists.

Battery Creek hosts Beaufort Academy at Tuesday.

2012 High School Spring Sports Preview

BASEBALL

Battery Creek

Coach: Dan Tooman (Fifth year, 37-48)

2012 Baseball Preview: New coach has Beaufort High focused on basics

David Tilton feels people might discount this Beaufort High School baseball team.

The Eagles did not make the playoffs last season, lost pitcher Beau Brown and another solid bat in Kyle Dawson. But Beaufort High returns a lot, including its infield, catcher/do-it-all senior Weber Pike and some new arms first-year coach Scott Mullen is excited about.

And Tilton, the Eagles' slugger and No. 1 starting pitcher, feels the team is on the correct path.