Category Archives: Sports
Easley girls’ season ends in second-round loss to Eastside
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Hosting Eastside in the second round of the Class 4A girls’ soccer playoffs on Thursday, the Easley Green Wave knew it would be
a tough game after falling to the Eagles 1-0 earlier in the season.
They had no idea how tough, though, as Eastside controlled the game from start to finish in a 6-0 victory to end the Green Wave’s season.
“Eastside wanted it more than we did,” Easley head coach Paul Horn said. “That’s why they are where they are. They know how to move the ball and they played
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Lions knock out Southside to begin state title defense
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
CENTRAL — On an extremely windy evening, the Daniel High School boys’ soccer team began its state championship title defense at home
against Southside on Monday in round one of the Class 3A playoffs.
While the wind seemed to throw the Lions off at times, that didn’t stop them from pulling out a dominant 3-0 win.
“I had no doubt in my mind that this was ours,” Daniel head coach Thomas Izaguirre said. “The biggest factor in this game was the wind. There were a lot of
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Liberty falls to Blacksburg
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — With a chance to stay atop the region standings, the Liberty Red Devil baseball team hosted Blacksburg last week.
However, the Red Devils were never able to put things together against the Wildcats, falling 5-0 to put them on the road for the majority of the Class 2A playoffs.
“It hurts, for sure,” Liberty head coach Trey Ulmer said. “That’s a good team we lost to. I have no doubt about that, I just don’t think we gave them our best tonight.”
The disappointing result for Liberty came as errors and a huge three-run third inning gave the Wildcats the advantage while the Red Devils struggled to string
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Daniel, Pickens seniors recognized for signing with colleges
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — With graduation nearing at the end of the month, multiple Pickens County high school student-athletes made their final decisions and signed with colleges in ceremonies last week as they prepare to compete at the next level.
Daniel held the first ceremony on April 25, which saw basketball star Destiny Hoover sign with Hollins University.
Hoover was a three-time all-region selection for the Lions and also earned a spot in the North-South All-Star Game following her senior
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Blue Flame fall to Westside with region title on the line
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
ANDERSON — As Pickens catcher Kaylee Bolding drove the ball down the right field line to bring home Ava Belle Lawton in the top of the ninth inning on Monday night against Westside, it seemed like the Blue Flame were destined to bring home their first region title since 2002.
Add in the insurance RBI double by pitcher Sophie Duzan, who also had not given up a run in the circle since the third inning, and the 6-4
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Lions’ Young earns camp MVP honors
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
ROCK HILL — Heading into his senior season at Daniel High School, accolades continue to come for
offensive lineman Watson Young, and he earned another big one over the weekend as he was named one of two offensive line MVPs at the Under Armour ESPN Camp in Rock Hill.
The 6-foot-3, 280-pound Young competed against some of the top football players from around the Southeastern
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Red Devils demolish Walhalla in five-inning run-rule win
By Justin Robertson
Courtesy the Journal
sports@upstatetoday.com
WALHALLA — The Liberty High School baseball team spoiled senior-night for the Walhalla Razorbacks last week, as the Red Devils took
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County squads on playoff push
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — With just two weeks until the start of the South Carolina High School League playoffs in baseball, soccer and softball, multiple 
county teams are battling for higher seeds and playoff spots down the stretch of the season.
On the baseball diamond, three county teams have clinched spots, while one will be fighting for its playoff life this week.
Near the top of their regions, Easley and Liberty both enter the week with
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Daniel gets crucial region win over Pendleton in extra innings
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
CENTRAL — Down 4-3 with two outs in the 10th inning, Daniel High School freshman Aubrey Hedlund-Hoover stepped to the plate knowing she had to at least drive in Ally Grace Batson if the Lions’ softball team hoped to stay alive against Pendleton last week.
“I was trying not to swing at really bad pitches,” Hedlund-Hoover joked. “I wanted a base hit to make everyone proud.”
Hedlund-Hoover more than delivered, knocking a bloop single to right field that not only scored Batson, but brought Kurtlyn Alexander home from first after an error by Pendleton’s Addison Wilson to give Daniel a 5-4 comeback win on April 11.
Filling in for senior shortstop Kinsley Dunn, Hedlund-Hoover was admittedly nervous going into the game, but she impressed Daniel head coach Cora Downer with her play both in the field and the batter’s box.
“Kinsley’s been my senior leader and lead-off batter,” Downer said. “Aubrey had to come in and play short and bat, which she hadn’t done all year. She stepped up and she won us the game.”
The freshman wasn’t the only standout for Daniel, as Batson went the distance in the circle in the 10-inning contest, overcoming a tough first inning to strike out 14.
After facing an early deficit, Daniel worked to get back into the action starting with a sacrifice fly from Maddie Iams in the second to cut the lead to 2-1.
The Lions faced trouble again in the fourth as Pendleton loaded the bases with no outs. However, Batson masterfully worked her way out of the jam to keep Daniel in it.
“She 100 percent kept us in the game,” Downer said. “I expect nothing less from that kid.”
The Lions finally tied things up in the fifth on an RBI single from Alexander before the two teams’ bats went dry over the final two innings of regulation.
In extra innings, neither side was willing to give an inch, matching the other at every step, including one-run ninth innings from both sides.
An RBI double from Pendleton’s Ella Bryant gave the Bulldogs the advantage in the 10th, but the Lions were able to get runners on the corner with one out in their chance at the bat.
Batter interference on a bunt from Reese Livingston stunned the Lions before Hedlund-Hoover proved to be the hero in the 5-4 win.
The win put Daniel (7-3, 5-3 Western 3A) in prime position for a home playoff game with less than a two weeks left in the regular season.
“We’re sitting well,” Downer said. “If we win out, I love our chances.”
Daniel 5, Pendleton 4
PHS 200 000 001 1 4 9 1
DWD 010 010 001 2 5 7 1
WP: Batson, 10 IP, 2R, 8H, 14K
LP: Wright, 9.2 IP, 3R, 6H, 6BB, 6K
DWD — Hedlund-Hoover 3-4, RBI, BB; Alexander 1-3, RBI, 2 BB, 2 R
PHS — Jennings 3-5, 2B, RBI; Beak 2-4, 2 RBI
Green Wave use strong sixth inning to take down Berea
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — After an over two-week layoff, the Easley Green Wave softball team returned to action on Monday against the Berea Bulldogs. 
Behind three late runs, Easley was able to pull out the much-needed region win, 6-3.
The Bulldogs entered the game winless in Region 1-4A, but that didn’t stop them shocking Easley with a first inning run to give them an early
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