High school sports, May 11: Grand slam puts Prep one win from baseball final
E.J. Churchich belted a grand slam to cap a five-run third inning Tuesday that propelled Hilton Head Prep to a 5-0 victory over Pee Dee Academy in the opening game of their SCISA Class 2-A baseball semifinal series.
Tyler Fox and Gavin Hurlbut combined on a two-hit shutout for the Dolphins (21-9), who play host in Wednesday’s Game 2 with a chance to lock up a berth in next week’s final series.
With two out and two runners on in the third, Fox drove home the game’s first run with a single to left. Hurlbut was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Churchich followed by ripping his first pitch over the left-field fence.
Fox went five innings on the mound, striking out five and pitching out of a jam in the fifth after Pee Dee got runners to second and third. Hurlbut finished up by retiring six of the seven batters he faced.
GIRLS’ SOCCER
Hilton Head Prep 6, Coastal Christian 0: Charlotte Covington scored four goals and Tori Herman notched the other two as the Dolphins punched their ticket to the SCISA 2-A semifinals.
Katie Cadden and Cori Leonard tallied two assists apiece for the Dolphins, while goalkeeper Melis Tirhi recorded the shutout. Prep next faces Myrtle Beach’s unbeaten Christian Academy on Thursday, to be played at Beaufort Academy.
Hilton Head Christian 3, The King's Academy 0: Emily Bailey tallied all three goals as the Eagles continued their quest for a second consecutive SCISA 2-A crown. HHCA advanced to a Thursday contest against Oakbrook Prep, set for Heathwood Hall in Columbia.
SOFTBALL
Rebels seeded No.1 for SCISA tourney: Thomas Heyward, which has lost just once in 26 outings this year, was the quick choice as top seed for this weekend’s SCISA Class 2-A tournament that begins Friday in Sumter.
The Rebels will open against Lee Academy, with the victor advancing to face the winner between Pee Dee Academy and Carolina Academy that night. Two more wins would be required Saturday to move on to a championship series Monday against the other bracket winner.
Thomas Heyward has finished runner-up three of the past four years since its last title in 2011.
BOYS’ TENNIS
Bobcats duo selected All-Region: Bluffton’s Alex Hahn and Matthew Ball were part of the 11-man squad honoring the best in Region 8-4A. The Bobcats reached the second round of the playoffs before getting eliminated by Lower State finalist South Aiken.
This story was originally published May 11, 2016 at 9:47 AM with the headline "High school sports, May 11: Grand slam puts Prep one win from baseball final."