By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer
garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
It has been a terrific start for Woodruff’s spring sports teams, with many exciting moments already taking place just two weeks into the season. From soccer teams’ early success to a walk-off win by the softball team, to a young baseball team’s rapid growth, the fledgling spring sports season has already given Wolverine fans lots to cheer about. Here are some of the highlights from the past week.
Boys’ Soccer picks up where they left off.
The Woodruff boys’ soccer team has been sensational to start the season, with a 3-0 record to begin the campaign. The Wolverines defeated 4A powerhouse Travelers Rest 6-2 behind six goals from six different players, with five of those goals being scored by underclassmen. Sophomore
Carlos Garcia scored a goal and dished out an assist in the victory. In their next game, Woodruff toppled the 3A top 10-ranked Newberry 2-1 to keep their early record unblemished. The boys’ soccer program has won two region championships in the past three seasons and, despite a youthful roster, is once again one of the best teams in 3A.
Girls’ soccer is back!
Woodruff girls’ soccer won 21 straight region titles between 2003 and 2023, and after two rebuilding years, the Lady Wolverines are back. Following their monumental upset of 3A powerhouse Powdersville, Woodruff obliterated 3A #7-ranked Newberry on Tuesday night, 6-1. Kaelyn Glass scored a hat trick with three goals against Newberry to lead the way. Those two victories improve the Lady Wolverines’ overall record to 4-2-1 on the season.
Softball Walks it Off
The Lady Wolverine softball team provided an early-season thriller with a 3-2 walk-off victory over rival Clinton on Tuesday night. Woodruff trailed 2-0 in the first inning but rallied back to tie the game entering the bottom of the seventh inning. With two outs and Ruthie Sheffield on second base, junior pitcher Danicka Simmons belted the game-winning hit. Simmons finished 2-3 at the plate and also pitched a complete game in the circle to earn the win. The Woodruff softball team is 2-1, with its first win coming in a 4-2 victory over Laurens.
Young Wolverine Baseball Team Growing up Fast
The Woodruff baseball team knew it would experience growing pains this season with a young roster, but that youth is beginning to flourish early. A second victory of the season over Strom Thurmond, 11-7, helped bolster the confidence of the young Wolverines, and a penchant for speed and base stealing has proved effective so far through the first two weeks of the season against a stacked slate of competition that also included 5A powerhouse Dutch Fork and 3A contender Fox Creek. Expect the Woodruff baseball team to continue getting better with each game.
