By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald

Former-South Effingham softball standout Alex Brown, now playing at Clemson University, earned second-team All-Atlantic Conference honors on May 8.

The utility infielder, who was used at second base, shortstop, and third base, hit .324 with four doubles, four triples, four home runs and 24 runs batted in.

Brown started 50 of the team’s 51 games and helped Clemson to a 34-17 overall record, 15-9 in ACC play. The fourth-place Tigers advanced to the ACC championship semifinals before losing to top-seeded Duke in extra innings.

It was the second time Brown received All-ACC acknowledgement. She was a second-teamer last season at the University of North Carolina.

Brown transferred in the offseason after the Tar Heels softball coach retired.

In a matchup with her former UNC teammates, Brown went 5-for-10 with two home runs as Clemson swept the three-game set 5-0, 4-1 and 9-1.

On Sunday night, the Tigers’ season was rewarded with a spot in the 2024 NCAA Division I softball tournament. Clemson will be playing Southeastern Louisiana in the Tuscaloosa Regional on Friday at 2. Alabama and USC Upstate round out the four-team, double-elimination tourney. 

Former-ECHS Mills wins Sun Conference Freshman of the Year

College of Coastal Georgia’s Rylee Mills was recently named the NAIA Sun Conference’s Freshman of the Year.

Mills, who starred at Effingham County High School, finished the regular season at Coastal with a .388 batting average with a team-leading 13 doubles and 40 runs batted in.

As a pitcher, she posted an 11-4 record with a 2.12 earned run average during the regular season.

Coastal won the Sun Conference’s regular-season title but lost to Southeastern in the conference tournament.

Despite the loss, the Mariners (36-12) advanced to the NAIA National Softball Tournament against Benedictine College (Kan.) on May 13.

LACROSSE

ECHS girls to play in FCA all-star game

Several Effingham County girls have been selected to play in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ All-Star lacrosse game on May 21.

Olivia Morgan, Megan Coleman, Michaela Gordy, Grace Pritchard, Katie Harris, Mackenzie Brown, Avery Lee, Ava Deloach, Mariah Goodman and Faith Strickland will represent the Rebels.

The game is slated for 5 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Savannah.

TRACK AND FIELD

Edwards breaks USCB records

Former-South Effingham track and field standout Cameron Edwards, now at the University of South Carolina-Beaufort, broke two school records at the Peach Belt Conference Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida, on April 30.

Edwards, who transferred from Savannah State University, jumped 14.41 meters (47 feet, 3.3 inches) in the triple jump and 7.01 meters (23 feet) in the long jump.

Overall, Edwards finished third in the long jump and fourth in the triple in the PBC tourney.

Edwards was a two-time state champion in the triple jump as a Mustang.