Drawing on championship experience

By Chad Rhoad
Editor/ The Messenger
Published: April 25, 2008

The 2008 state playoffs began Thursday night for the Foxes as they played host to Wando at Jimmy White Park.

The regular season came to an end last week with a victory over region foe Sumter. The Foxes, 7-1 in region play, and then had to wait for the outcome of the Conway/Sumter game to learn their fate in the region.

Conway defeated Sumter; therefore, Conway and Hartsville were Region VI AAAA co-champions, and the Foxes celebrated their second region title in as many years.

Through a series of tiebreakers, Conway received the number one seed in the district. Hartsville head coach Jacob Shumate was optimistic about the playoffs. “We’re confident,” he said. “These guys know what it takes to win it, and they know what they are up against.”

The Foxes are the reigning AAAA state champion and certainly know what it will take to go the distance. Shumate feels as if the road may be a little tougher this year, however.

The Foxes faced Wando in the first game Thursday night at Kellytown Stadium.

If they win, they will face the winner of the game between West Ashley and RidgeView on Saturday, April 26.

If they lose, they will face the loser of that game on Monday, April 28.

The outcomes of the two games will determine locations of subsequent games. Shumate said Andrew Turner would return to the lineup and pitching rotation for the Foxes, so the team will be firing on all cylinders for the big dance.

The South Carolina Baseball Coaches Poll released this week moved Conway to the number one slot with Hartsville sliding to second.

However, if both teams win their respective divisions, they will meet again in the playoffs.

It was also announced Thursday Hartsville’s Jordan Lyles was named to the South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association

North/South Select team for theall star game. Trevor Cassidy was selected to the South 1A 4A team.