By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer | garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
The spring sports season has come and gone in the blink of an eye, but the postseason waits for Woodruff’s spring sports teams after successful regular seasons brought much success and many exciting moments. Here is a look back at the final week of the season and how the Wolverines fared as the postseason looms.
Sweep Dreams
The Woodruff baseball team ended the regular season in style, winning its final five games to finish its 26-game slate with a 19-7 record and second-place finish in region play. The Wolverines swept Union County in the final region series, winning game one 12-1. Game two was a thriller, with Woodruff pushing across the only run of the game in the seventh inning, taking a 1-0 win. They finished off the sweep with a 10-2 win last Friday. In a non-region contest to end the regular season on Monday, the Wolverines crushed 4A top-10 ranked Westside 12-2 in a five-inning run rule win.
Softball Awaits Playoff Seeding
The Woodruff softball team fell at home to Chapman on senior night, 6-2, and fell out of contention for the region championship. Still, the Lady Wolverines could finish second and have a home playoff game. Entering the week, Woodruff is 6-2 in conference play and will finish either second or third. The Lady Wolverines have one region game remaining, against Union County, and a non-region game against Chesnee on Thursday night to conclude the regular season. Following the loss to Chapman, the Woodruff softball team is a solid 13-6 on the season.
Boys Tennis Captures Number Two Seed
The boys’ tennis team continued its stellar season, defeating Union County 4-2 to cap the regular season with an 8-3 record and secured the second seed in Region 3. The Wolverines finished conference play with a 6-2 record, losing to Chapman. Woodruff hosts Powdersville in the first round of the 3A playoffs.
Boys Soccer Also Secures Second Place
The boys’ soccer team fell just short of winning its third straight region championship, falling to Chapman on penalty kicks in a game that was locked in a 0-0 tie after regular and two overtimes. The Wolverines finished the regular season with a 14-3 record after downing Union County 7-2 in the season finale. Woodruff awaits its play-off opponent but is guaranteed at least one home play-off game. Defense has been the name of the game for the Wolverines this season, with Woodruff having allowed just nine nonpenalty kick goals in 17 games.
Girls Soccer
It has been a season of youth for the Lady Wolverines’ soccer team. Woodruff finished the regular season with a record of 7-11 and 4-4 in region play, which earned the team a number three seed in the playoffs. Woodruff starts six freshmen, and, combined with a loaded schedule, it was a time of growing pains at times. It will be the 24th consecutive season that the program has qualified for the play-offs. The Lady Wolverines did end the regular season in terrific fashion on Monday, trouncing Union County for the second time this season by a score of 5-0.
Golf Preparing for Region Tournament
The Woodruff golf team competed in one match and a tournament last week. The Wolverines finished in second place in a match with Broome, Chapman, and Mountain View Prep. Woodruff shot 172 in that contest, 16 strokes ahead of MVP. Addison Davis led the Wolverines, shooting 41. Hunter West recorded a 43, and Jackson McCarley and Evan Smith each shot a 44. Wyatt McCarley had a solid outing with a 45. The Wolverines also competed in the Ezell Invitational, finishing 14th overall and shooting a team score of 369. Davis and West lead the way, each shooting a combined 90 over two rounds. T.J. Morris ended at 93.
Track and Field Prepares for Upper-State Meet
The Woodruff track and field teams are nearing the end of their season, with the upper-state meet approaching, followed by the state meet for those Wolverines who qualify. Woodruff’s track and field teams have seen many standouts during the season, with Nathan McConnell among the stars in pole vault, while Aiden Gibson has been one of the best high jumpers in the area. It has been runners and throwers who have stolen the show for the girls’ team, with Jordan Robinson performing at a high level in spring races and Sydnee Cothran pacing the team in distance races.
Author: gmitchell85
