By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer | garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
Only two Woodruff spring sports teams remain as the season has ended for most Wolverine squads in the past week. Only track and field and golf have remaining competitions as students now turn their attention to the final two weeks of school, and seniors prepare to graduate. Here is a look back on the previous week of spring sports for Woodruff High School and the Wolverines.
Baseball Eliminated by Walhalla
After a promising start to the district playoffs in an 8-2 win over Walhalla, the Wolverine baseball team fell into the loser’s bracket after being defeated by Southside Christian, the number one ranked 3A team in the state. Following that setback, Woodruff hosted Walhalla again last Saturday in a bid to keep their season alive. Trailing 7-2 in their final at-bat, the Wolverines went down with a fight, scoring four times in the seventh inning before a questionable strike three ended the game and Woodruff’s season with the tying run on second base. The Wolverines finish the season with a 20-9 record, the best for the program since 1989.
Softball falls in District Round
The Lady Wolverine softball team started the playoffs with a bang by run-ruling Pendleton, 13-3, in six innings at home. But nagging injuries again played a factor in a winner’s bracket game at Palmetto, which had seen the return of their ace pitcher. The Lady Mustangs defeated Woodruff, sending the Lady Wolverines to an elimination game against Chapman on Tuesday night. Mary Ellis Mitchell blasted a two-run home run to keep Woodruff close, but the Panthers edged out the win, 5-3, to end the Lady Wolverines’ season.
Boys Soccer Gives Valiant Fight at Nationally Ranked Powdersville
The Woodruff boys’ soccer team fought valiantly in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs, but fell on the road to a nationally ranked Powdersville team that has been among the best in the state for the past several seasons. Trailing only 2-1 late in the first half, the Wolverines were unable to claw back into the game as the Patriots advanced on a 5-1 score. It was yet another marvelous season for the boys’ program, which has seen a renaissance in the past three years. Woodruff ends its campaign with a record of 15-4.
Woodruff Track and Field Athletes Qualify for State Meet
The Woodruff track and field teams will be well represented in the 3A state track meet this Saturday, with 36 Wolverines qualifying for a bid to win a state title. For Woodruff, 23 girls and 13 boys qualified for state.
For the girls team, their qualifiers were Larson Abramd (high jump), Reese Abrams (4×800-meter relay), Callie Adams (pole vault), Alexis Baldwin (javelin), McKenzi Bivens (shot put), Sydnee Cothran (4×800-meter relay), Alyssa Dolquist (pole vault and 4×100-meter relay), Sobie Duncan (pole vault), Kyoni Elmore (high jump and 4×100-meter relay), Alexis Esterling (400 meter dash, 4×100-meter relay, and 4×400-meter relay), Harrison Hatchett (pole vault), Alaya Jenkins (4×400-meter relay), Jasmine McKnight (4×100-meter relay), Genesis Muralles Guevara (discus), Ella Page (4×800-meter relay), Presley Pate (4×800-meter relay), Emery Patz (4×800-meter relay), Amiyah Quarles (4×100-meter and 4×400-meter relay), Jordan Robinson (200-meter dash, triple jump, 4×100-meter, and 4×400-meter relay), Bellashea Schulz (4×400-meter relay), Aidyn Smith (4×400-meter relay), Emma Smith (4×800-meter relay), and Emma Stubbs (discus and shot put).
For the boys’ team, 13 more Wolverines will compete on Saturday. Those qualifying for their events are Skylar Barker (400-meter dash, 4×100-meter and 4×400-meter relay), Quinn Barnett (javelin), Damaris Baxley (4×100-meter relay), Paul Davis (discus), Aiden Gibson (high jump and 4×100-meter relay), Jamarious Glenn (4×400-meter relay), Kieran Goodman (triple jump), Daniel Haas (discus), Landon Johnson (4×100-meter and 4×400-meter relay), Jaylen Lyles (long jump and 4×100-meter relay), Nathan McConnell (pole vault), Jacob Roberson (4×400-meter relay), and Malachi Thompson (4×100-meter relay).
Author: gmitchell85
