Laurens District 55 High School

Lady Raider Softball

2010 Region 1-4A Champions

2010 District 1 Champions

Less than 48 hours after suffering their first region loss, the Lady Raiders returned to the field with renewed focus and belted out a 26-1 win over the Woodmont Wildcats.  The Raiders tagged the Wildcats for 5 runs in the first inning, 11 runs in the 2nd, 3 runs in the 3rd, and 7 runs in the 4th inning. 

In the top of the first, Liz Williamson laced a triple and came in to score when Rebekah Smith provided the Raider faithful with a glimpse of things to come by belting a home run to push the Raiders out to an early 2-0 lead.  Evans, Carman and A Aylesworth would also score to give the Raiders a 5-0 lead after 1.

In the top of the second inning the Lady Raiders exploded for eleven runs.  The Raider bats were smoking as Liz Williamson hit her first career grand slam and Megan Evans teed off on her first home run of the season. 

Going into the bottom of the 2nd inning, the Lady Raiders retired Williamson to the bench and Elizabeth Carman took over on the mound.  Carman allowed 1 run in the 2nd, but then settled in and retired the last 9 batters of the game in order.  Williamson picked up the win and gathered 2 strke outs while Carman had 6 Ks, and allowed 1 run on 2 hits.

Leading the Raiders at the plate were Wagner, 4-5, 3 runs scored, 1 HBP, 3 RBIs; Henderson 1 run scored, 2 RBIs; Williamson 2-3, 1 3B, 1 Grand Slam HR, 3 runs scored, 1 ROE, 4 RBIs; Foreback 1BB, 1 run scored; R Smith 4-5, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 runs scored, 4 RBIs; Evans 2-3, 1 HR, 3 runs scored, 1 ROE, 4 RBIs; H Smith 1 BB, 1 run scored; Carman 3-4, 1 BB, 3 runs scored, 3 RBIs; A Aylesworth, 2-5, 3 runs scored, 2 ROE, 1 RBI; Howard 1 BB, 2 ROE, 2 runs scored; M Smith 3-5, 3 runs scored, 1 ROE, 3 RBIs.

In the first game of the evening, the JV Lady Raiders downed the Wildcats 12-3.  Allison Foreback went the distance on the mound and picked up the win.

The Lady Raiders dropped their first region game in a 3-5 loss to the Wren Hurricaines.  The Lady Raiders jumped out to a quick start with Jordan Henderson scoring the 1st run of the game in the first Raider at bat.  In the bottom of the 5th inning Marissa Wagner singled and scored on a Liz Williamson home run to take the Raider lead to 3-0.  It appeared the Raiders were in control, however, the Hurricaines came storming back in the top of the sixth scoring 5 runs and taking the win 3-5. 

Liz Williamson took the loss.  She had 11 strike outs while giving up 8 hits, 1 HBP, and 1 BB.

The Lady Raiders traveled up I85 on Monday afternoon to take on TL Hanna.  Lead off hitter Marissa Wagner lined a scorcher to left field that was too hot to handle and reached on error.  Jordan Henderson got the signal,  stepped in the box, and laid down a perfect SAC to move Wagner to second.  Bekah Smith kept her hitting streak alive with a single that scored Wagner and the Raiders plated the first run of the game. 

The Jackets of Hanna shut down the Raiders for two innings and the score remained 1-0 heading into the 4th inning of play.  Megan Evans led off in the fourth with a single to left field, and on a SAC bunt by Carman, Evans turned on the speed and dove safely into 3rd.  A Brooke Howard single to right was good enough to score Evans and push the Raider lead to 2-0.  Wagner would score for the 2nd time in the 4th inning and the Raiders appeared in control with a 3-0 lead.

The Jackets of Hanna battled back in the bottom of the 5th stringing together 3 hits in a row to plate 2 runs and cut the Raider lead to 1. With Coach Clark barking that a 1 run lead was never enough, the Lady Raiders would score 1 run in the 5th and 2 in the sixth to bring home a 6-2 win.  

Leading the way at the plate were Wagner with 2 runs scored, 2 ROE; Henderson 2 SACs; R. Smith 2-4, 2 1B, 1 run scored, 1 RBI; Williamson 2-4, 2 2B, 1 run scored, 1 ROE, 1 RBI; Evans 2-3, 2 1B, 1 run scored, 1 HBP, 1 RBI;   Carman 1 BB, 1 SAC; Howard 1-2, 1 2B, 2 BB, 1 run scored, 1 RBI; Aylesworth 1 SAC; H Smith 2 SACs.

Williamson went the distance on the mound striking out 15 while giving up 2 BB, 1 HBP, 4 Hits, and 2 ERs.

In the JV game the Lady Raiders claimed a 11-4 win to remain undefeated in region play.  Leading hitters for the young Raiders were Bragg 1-3, 1 1B, 1 run scored; S. Wagner 2-2, 1 HBP, 1 RBI; Foreback 2 ROE, 2 RBI;  A. Aylesworth 1 ROE, 2 RBIs; M Williamson 1-2, 1 2B, 1 ROE, 2 RBIs; Noffz 1 ROE, 1 SAC; Irby 1 HBP, 1 BB; E Ayleswoth 1 HBP, 1 ROE, 1 RBI; Hill 1-2, 1 1B, 2 RBIs.

Allison Foreback pitched the 2 inning game and picked up 2 Ks while giving up 4 BB, 2 Hits, and 4 runs.

The Laurens Lady Raiders moved up in the latest coach's poll to claim the #7 spot.  Good job ladies!

The Lady Raiders headed toward Columbia on Friday afternoon to take part in the Lady Wildcat Invitational Tournament.  The Lady Raiders were in Pool B with Chester, Cardinal Newman, and Blythewood.  As 7pm rolled around, the Lady Raiders took the field to play an overmatched team representing Chester High School.  The Lady Raiders used 10 hits, 7 walks, and 8 ROE to plate 19 runs in a whitewashing of Chester.  Williamson, Foreback and Carman all saw time on the mound.

Leading hitters were Wagner 1-5, 4 runs scored, 2 ROE; Henderson 2-4, 1 BB, 4 runs scored, 2 ROE, 4 RBIs; R Smith 1-4, 1 BB, 1 ROE, 4 RBIs; Williamson 1-3, 1 run scored, 1 ROE, 5 RBIs; Foreback 1-2; Evans 1 ROE, 1 RBI; M Smith 2 BB, 2 runs scored; Aylesworth 2 BB, 2 runs scored, 1 SAC; Carman 3-4, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI; Howard 1-3, 1 BB, 4 runs scored, 2 ROE.

The Friday nightcap pitted our Lady Raiders against Cardinal Newman.  The Lady Raiders jumped out early in the 1st inning on a home run smash by Rebekah Smith that scored Wagner and Henderson and gave the Lady Raiders a lead they would never relinquish.  The Raiders added 3 runs in the 2nd and tacked on 2 more in the 4th to take an  8-2 win. 

Leading hitters for the Raiders were Wagner 2-2, 2 2B, 2 runs scored, 1 SAC;; Henderson 1-2, 1 BB, 3 runs scored, 1 ROE, 1 RBI; R Smith 1-1, 1 HR, 2 BB, 2 runs scored, 3 RBIs; Williamson 1 ROE, 3 RBIs; Evans 1-3; M Smith 1 BB; Howard 1 SAC; Aylesworth 1-3; Carman 1 BB, 1 run scored;

Liz Williamson toed the mound for the 5 inning game and picked up 11Ks while giving up only 1 BB with no earned runs.

The Lady Raiders had the luxury of a late start on Saturday morning and took the field at 1pm for a match up with the Blythewood Bengals.  Once again the Raiders jumped out to an early lead plating 2 runs in their first at bat courtesy of a Liz Williamson home run.  The Raiders would score 2 runs in the 3rd inning, 1 in the 4th, 1 in the 5th on Williamson's 2nd home run of the game, and 1 more run in the 6th to take a 7-0 shutout win.

Williamson threw 4 innings and picked up 8 Ks while giving up 1 BB, 1 HBP, and 3 hits.  Carman picked up the last two innings on the mound and garnered 1 K.

Leading the way at the plate for the Lady Raiders were Wagner 2-3, 1 2B, 1 HBP, 1 RBI; Henderson 1-4, R Smith 2-4, 1 2B, 2 runs scored; Williamson 2-3, 2 HRs, 3 runs scored, 1 ROE, 3 RBIs; Carman 2-2, 1 RBI; Foreback 1 BB; Howard 1 BB; M Smith 1-3; Aylesworth 1-1, 1 BB, 2 runs scored, 1 SAC; H Smith 2 SACs.

Posting a 3-0 record coming out of pool play, the Lady Raiders headed to the semi finals to play the Lexington Wildcats in the Championship Bracket.    The Raiders stuck first when lead off hitter M Wagner was hit by a pitch and came in to score from 3rd when R Smith drew attention as she attempted a SLOW steal of 2nd base.  Smith was tagged out, but not before Wagner had plated the first run of the game.  The 1-0 lead would hold until late in the game, when courtesy of a couple of umpire errors, the Wildcats were able to score twice in the 6th to take a 2-1 win over our Lady Raiders.  The Raiders played well enough on defense but could not string together enough base runners to score. 

Liz Williamson took the loss, striking out 10 and giving up 1 BB, and 1 earned run.

The loss to Lexington dropped the Lady Raiders into the Championship Bracket Consolation Game where they met Nations Ford to determine 3rd and 4th place.  After experiencing their first loss of this young season against Lexington, the Lady Raiders returned to the field refocused and ready to play.  Entering the sixth inning of play the Lady Raiders had a perfect game going retiring 15 batters from Nations Ford in a row.  The Raiders managed to get 5 runners on base, but could not plate a run.  In the top of the 6th with a 0-0 score and Lady Raider Henderson standing on 3rd base just 60 feet away from scoring the first run of the game, the tournament was called due to the impending storm front, and the Lady Raiders were left to wonder what could have been. 

Liz Williamson threw the 5 innings of play and racked up 9 Ks with 0 BB, 0 HBP, 0 Hits, and 0 runs.

The Lady Raiders return to the field on Monday at TL Hanna

The JV Lady Raiders set the tone for the night taking a 10-3 win over the Rams of Westside.  The young Raiders jumped out to an early lead, scoring 7 runs in the 1st inning.  Westside was never able to mount an attach and the JV Raiders move to 3-0 on the season.

The varsity Lady Raiders took the field in the nightcap.  The Raiders and Rams matched each other inning for inning and the Raiders found themselves in a 0-0 tie going into the sixth inning.  The Lady Raiders got a lead off walk and Marissa Wagner followed up with a hard rip for a triple and an RBI.  Jordan Henderson took the bunt sign and laid one down that scored Wagner and digging hard, Henderson was safe at first.  Liz Williamson kept the rally going with a single that was misplayed on the throw to the cut off allowing Henderson from first.  The Raiders took the field in the bottom of sixth holding a 3-0 lead and the Rams went down in order in the seventh.  The win takes the Lady Raiders season record to 3-0.

Liz Williamson pitched a complete game picking up 15Ks, while giving up 2BB and 1 HBP.

Leading hitters were Wagner 1-3, 1 run scored, 1 3B, 1 RBI; Henderson 1-3, 1 run scored, 1 RBI; Williamson 1-3; Carman 1-2, 1 HBP; B Smith 1-3.

In a game that bore no resemblance to the 1st match-up between Laurens and Clinton, the Lady Raiders dug deep and pulled out a 4-2 win in 8 innings of play.  Laurens struck first as Marissa Wagner, batting lead off, took first after being dinged on the arm.  Marissa came around and scored on a sharp single by Bekah Smith putting the Lady Raiders up 1-0. 

The Lady Raiders would hold onto the lead until the 4th inning when Kendra Epting put the Lady Red Devils on the board with a home run blast.  Jada Crocker followed up with a double and came in to score on a single by K. Oxner. 

Down 1-2 going into the late innings of the game, the Lady Raiders put lots of runners on base, but could not get runs across the plate.  In the top of the seventh and down to their last at bat, Bekah Smith started a rally with a base hit.  Elizabeth Carman showed patience at the plate and drew a walk.  Megan Evans came thru with one of her two hits on the night and scored Bekah to tie the game and send the Lady Raiders into extra innings.

The Raiders were at the top of the line up going into the eighth inning.  Jordan Henderson got a huge single to give the Lady Raiders a much needed base runner.  Liz Williamson drew an intentional walk and the Raiders had runners on 1st and 2nd.  Continuing her hot streak at the plate, Bekah came thru with another single to load the bases with only 1 out.  Elizabeth Carman drew her 2nd walk of the night and the go ahead run walked in. After Megan Evans hit into a fielder's choice, Brooke Howard drew a walk and the Lady Raiders sent run #4 to the plate.

The Lady Red Devils took the field in the bottom of the 8th down 4-2 and went down in order.

Leading hitters for the Lady Raiders were Henderson, 2-5, 1 run scored, 1 RBI; Williamson 1-4,  1BB; B Smith, 4-5, 1 2B, 2 runs scored; Carman, 1-3, 2 BB, 1 RBI; Evans, 2-5, 1 RBI; Howard, 1 BB, ! RBI; Aylesworth, 1-2; M Smith, 1-2; H Smith, 1-2, 1 Sac.

Liz Williamson picked up the win with 15Ks while giving up 3 BB and 2 earned runs.

In the JV game the Lady Raiders took home a 12-3 win.  Jordan Henderson went the distance on the mound and picked up the win.

The Lady Raiders return to action tomorrow night at Westside.  JV game begins at 5pm with the Varsity to follow.

The JV Lady Raiders traveled to the BSYAA park on Friday and Saturday to participate in the Boiling Springs JV Tournament.  The young Raiders battled throughout the weekend and came away with an 11-0 win over Gaffney in the final game of the tournament.

Leading hitters for the weekend were Noffz,  2-12, 4 runs scored, 1 2B, 4 RBIs; Hill, 3-10, 1 2B, 1BB, 4 runs scored, 1 HBP, 3 RBIs; Irby, 1-10, 1BB, 2 RBIs; Aylesworth 3-11, 1 2B, 2 runs scored, 1 HBP, 2 RBIs; Norris 2-6, 1 2B,  Williamson 4-8, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1BB, 3 runs scored, 1 RBI.

Logan Hill pitched all 4 tournament games.  For the weekend, Hill recorded 22 Ks.

Elizabeth Aylesworth was placed on the All Tournament and received a Certificate of Achievement.

The Lady Raiders opened the 2011 season with an 18-0 win over their cross town rival, the Clinton Lady Red Devils.  Liz Williamson was the starting pitcher for the Lady Raiders and garnered 3 Ks in the top half of the first inning.  In their first at bat, Laurens jumped on board quickly with Jordan Henderson and Liz Williamson plating runs.

The Lady Raiders broke the game open in the bottom of the 2nd inning scoring 7 runs to take a 9-0 lead.  The Raiders continued their offensive assualt in the 3rd and 4th innings with Liz Williamson going yard in both innings for back-to-back home run blasts.

Williamson picked up the win and garnered 12 Ks, while giving up 2 BB and 1 HBP.

Leading hitters were Wagner: 3-4, 3 runs scored, 2 RBIs; Henderson: 2-2, 2BB, 4 runs scored; Williamson: 3-4, 2 HR, 3 runs scored, 7 RBIs; Carman: 1 BB, 1 run scored; Smith: 1-3, 1 3B, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs;  Howard: 1 BB, 1 run scored; Smith: 1-2, 1 run scored;  Evans: 1-1, 1 run scored; Foreback: 2 BB, 1 run scored; Aylesworth: 1-1, 1 RBI; H. Smith, 1BB, 1 run scored.

In the JV contest the JV Lady Raiders took a 6-2 win.

The remainder of the Lady Raider's games for the week were rained out.  The Lady Raiders will return to action on Wednesday at Clinton for the rematch with the Lady Red Devils.

www.sc.prepcountry.com has released the first preseason state rankings and the Lady Raiders are ranked #10 in 4AAAA.

1.  JL Mann  2.  Boiling Springs  3. Summerville  4. Hillcrest  5. Wando  6.  South Florence  7.  Mauldin  8.  White Knoll  9.  Byrnes  10.  LAURENS