FLORENCE – The Westwood softball team (10-12) got a masterful pitching performance from Makaylah Drakeford in a 1-0 victory at South Florence Tuesday in their 4A playoff opener.
Drakeford pitched a 3-hitter and struck out five in a complete-game effort. She walked three.
Westwood’s only run against South Florence Starting pitcher Payton Perry came in the fourth inning. Ella Griffin drilled a line-drive double into right field to lead off the inning, and promptly scored when Anna Graves reached base on an error.
It was the only run needed, and the only run that blemished Perry’s complete-game 3-hitter.
Westwood travels to James Island Thursday for a winner’s bracket game. The Trojans bested Myrtle Beach 5-3 Tuesday night.
Myrtle Beach and South Florence play in an elimination game Thursday.
The Redhawks finished out Region 5-4A play with a 5-4 loss at Lugoff-Elgin April 24.
Westwood took a 2-0 lead on Makaylah Drakeford’s 2-out, 2-run double that scored Jada McConnell and Marguerite Ridgeway in the first inning.
The Demons scored a run in the second and three in the third to take a 4-2 lead, but Westwood evened the score at 4 with Anna Belton’s 2-run home run in the sixth. Lugoff-Elgin scored a walk-off run on a sacrifice fly for the win.
Westwood – 2-0-0-0-0-2-0 – 4, 10, 1
Lugoff-Elgin – 0-1-3-0-0-0-1 – 5, 8, 0
WP: Reece Pickett.
Hitters: W – Makaylah Drakeford 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI. Anna Belton 2-4, 2 RBI. Jada McConnell 2-4. Taylor Blevins 2-4. Parker Horton 2B.
Westwood – 0-0-0-1-0-0-0 – 1, 3, 0
South Florence– 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 – 0, 3, 1
WP: Makaylah Drakeford.
Hitters: W – Ella Griffin 2B.
