News Summary
The South Florence Bruins kicked off their playoff journey with a commanding 14-4 victory over the May River Sharks in the 4A Lower State playoffs. Strong performances from their batting lineup and pitcher Payton Perry, who struck out 10 batters, contributed significantly to the win. South Florence’s offensive power was evident as eight players had at least one hit and one RBI. Looking ahead, the Bruins aim to maintain their momentum in the upcoming match against Gray Collegiate.
South Florence, SC – The South Florence Bruins launched their playoff campaign with an impressive 14-4 victory over the May River Sharks in the opening round of the 4A Lower State playoffs. The game, played on Friday, saw South Florence capitalize on their strong batting lineup and outstanding pitching performance.
With the win, South Florence improved its season record to 23-7. The Bruins set the tone early, scoring five runs in the first two innings, which laid the groundwork for their dominant performance throughout the game. Collectively, the team amassed a total of 17 hits, with every position player contributing to the offensive effort.
The Bruins’ starting pitcher, Payton Perry, showcased a stellar performance on the mound, striking out 10 batters while allowing no earned runs and just two hits over six innings. His control and ability to generate strikeouts played a key role in containing the Sharks, who struggled against Perry’s pitching throughout the match.
Key Contributors
Eight players from South Florence recorded at least one hit and one run batted in (RBI), showcasing the team’s depth and offensive power. Among the standout performances, Page White, Ava Black, and Rylie Rowsey each contributed three RBIs. White notably hit a double and a single during the game, driving in a total of three runs. White emphasized the importance of maintaining a calm mindset at the plate, which proved effective against May River’s pitching staff.
Riley Owens and Reagan Rowsey also had strong outings at the plate, with each player recording three hits. Reagan Rowsey set the tone early with a leadoff double in the third inning, helping the Bruins keep their momentum flowing.
May River’s Struggle
May River’s only scoring opportunity came in the third inning when they managed to score all four of their runs with two outs. This brief surge was aided by a crucial defensive error on the part of South Florence, which the Bruins will need to address moving forward. Despite their late scoring push, the Sharks were unable to recover from the early deficit.
Post-game commentary from Coach Bobby Jones highlighted the need for improvement in fielding and defensive execution despite the strong offensive showing. Jones pointed out that while the hitting was impressive, cleaning up defensive mistakes will be critical in upcoming matches.
Looking Ahead
The South Florence Bruins are set to face Gray Collegiate in Columbia on Monday at 6 p.m. in the winners’ bracket of the playoffs. This matchup presents an opportunity for the Bruins to continue their strong playoff run and build momentum towards advancing further in the 4A Lower State playoffs.
Conversely, May River’s loss snapped their previous nine-game winning streak, bringing their season record to 16-7. With the playoffs underway, both teams will focus on refining their strategies as they navigate through the highly competitive tournament.
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Additional Resources
- MaxPreps: South Florence Finds Playoff Glory
- Wikipedia: Softball
- WMBF News: Francis Marion Softball Hosts Super Regional
- Google Search: Softball playoffs 2025
- SCNow: South Florence vs May River Recap
- Google Scholar: Softball Playoffs
- MaxPreps: May River’s Streak Ends
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Softball
