Clarendon Hall’s remarkable run of consecutive state championships came to an end Wednesday night as the Lady Saints fell to Pee Dee Academy in the SCISA 3A state title series.
Following a narrow 4-3 extra-inning loss in Game 1 on Tuesday, Clarendon Hall struggled to regain footing in Game 2, ultimately dropping the series to a dominant Pee Dee squad that finished the regular season 22-1.
The loss marked the end of an era for the Lady Saints, who were chasing a fourth-straight state crown after winning titles in 1A and 2A classifications before moving up to 3A this year. Despite graduating five seniors last season, Clarendon Hall defied expectations by capturing the region championship and advancing to yet another state final.
Pitching proved to be a challenge in Game 2. Senior ace Calli Yount, coming off a lengthy outing the night before, surrendered eight runs on nine hits, with only one strikeout. Three of those runs were unearned. Sophomore Brynli Brewer took over in relief, pitching five innings and striking out six while allowing four additional runs.
Offensively, the Lady Saints jumped out to an early lead with a pair of runs in the first inning but struggled to produce at the plate as the Golden Eagles extended their lead. Clarendon Hall added a final run in the sixth, but the gap was too wide to close. Seniors Maggie Harrington and Skylar Dymond each had two hits in the loss.
The series served as the swan song for five senior leaders whose contributions helped define one of the most successful stretches in program history. Yount, Harrington, and Mandy Wells played in five consecutive title series, beginning as eighth graders. Dymond and Berry joined shortly after, helping the team secure three championships in a row.
Despite the loss, the program’s future remains promising. Brewer, now a two-year varsity starter, will be joined by up-and-coming players like Sunshine Brown, AC Martens, and Aubree Richardson. The returning players gained valuable experience on the championship stage, which head coach Jeff Bays believes will pay dividends in seasons to come.
Clarendon Hall finishes the season as SCISA 3A state runner-up, capping another deep playoff run in a legacy-building chapter for the Lady Saints softball program.
