SUMTER — Williamsburg Academy goal all season was to play for a State Championship, and following a dominant pitching performance coupled with a late comeback, that goal was accomplished.
The Lady Stallions defeated Colleton Prep 4-2 on May 14 at Patriot Park in Sumter to advance to the championship series where they will face Pee Dee Academy. Junior Nealy Lamb threw a gem in the circle and the Lady Stallions scored three runs in the bottom of the 6th inning to take the game.
“It’s a wonderful feeling,” Williamsburg Academy head coach Pat Wilds said. “We set a goal to start the season it wasn't to win the conference. It was to be at this moment we're at right now.”
Lamb started the game striking out the first eight hitters she saw and finished with 12 on the day. Colleton Prep didn’t have a base runner until there was one out in the fourth inning. The Lady War Hawks had two hits all game.
“Honestly everything,” Lamb said when asked what was working for her in the circle. “I was just throwing my ‘A’ game.”
Despite a dominant performance from Lamb, the Stallions entered the bottom of the 6th trailing 2-1.
In the bottom half of the inning, Braylee Matthews led off with a single and the ball snuck under the glove of the right fielder, allowing her to go to third on the play. Abbie McCants then singled her home to tie the game.
“Abbie McCants came through,” Wilds said. “(She) started the ball rolling.”
The Lady Stallions would then load the bases with one out, forcing Colleton Prep to bring in a new pitcher. Hayden Williams was then hit by a pitch giving Williamsburg Academy a 3-2 lead. Billie Easler, the lone senior on the team, reached on an error to give WA a much-needed insurance run to put them up two heading into the seventh.
“I preach to them all the time to stay focused,” Wilds said. “Look for an opening. I try to teach the players if they see an opening to take it.”
Colleton Prep took the lead in the top of the 6th thanks to a mental mistake by the Lady Stallions.
After a leadoff walk, the runner stole second base with no outs. Colleton Prep then tried to bunt the runner to third, but struck out. The runner took off for third anyway, and a throw to the base from the Williamsburg Academy defense ended up in left field giving the Lady War Hawks a 2-1 lead.
“Just play for each other and play for our senior,” Lamb said on the message between the top and bottom of the 6th inning. “Just play for her and not for ourselves.”
Williamsburg Academy scored the first run of the game in the third inning capitalizing on another Colleton Prep error, before the Lady War Hawks tied it in the top of the 5th, leading to the dramatic 6th inning.
The Lady Stallions, after defeating the defending State Champions, will look to win their own. Williamsburg Academy will face Pee Dee Academy in a best two out of three series. The series will start on Monday at Pee Dee Academy before shifting to Williamsburg Academy Tuesday and a “if needed” deciding game at a neutral site on Wednesday.
“It's going to be a battle,” Wilds said.
