North Augusta Post 71 seniors advances over junior team in softball playoffs (2024)

It was the tale of two North Augusta softball teams on Monday as the Post 71 juniors and seniors faced off in the first round of the American Legion Division 2 playoffs.

The Blue Angel seniors called game early after a 10-run fourth inning, advancing with a 14-1 win over their junior counterparts. Despite being shorthanded in the dugout, coach Cliff Lowe said he was happy with how they started their playoff run.

“It was a really good game for us,” he said. “We went into this with a heavy vacation week, so we only had nine players out of our normal 13 or so players. So had to put some people in some positions that they normally haven't played before, but came through, made some really good clutch hits. Pitching was great, gave up one run in the first inning, other than that, came back and really solid pitching by Emmy McKie on the mound.”

The seniors earned the fourth seed with a 10-6 record in the regular season while the juniors finished 3-13. The two teams played a doubleheader midway through June, which the seniors swept with two double-digit wins.

It’s not personal for the Post 71 seniors, as Lowe said he looks forward to seeing players from the junior team rise to his senior team.

“We play with this other team during our regular season,” he said. “They're all part of our high school team. It's one big family, so wish them the best. They gave us good games earlier in the season, wish them well in their future. And hopefully, as they gravitate up and they'll get to be part of the senior team here in the next few years.”

First baseman Leigh Anne Strock plays for Strom Thurmond during the high school season and said she likes to play the junior group since it's comprised of players from rival schools like Fox Creek and North Augusta.

“So it's fun to play against them again,” she said. “Just during the summer, whenever it doesn't really matter because school ball matters.”

The key to a successful postseason run is to continue honing in on their strengths, including solid defense and clutch at-bats, Lowe said. Strock has been the backbone of the senior team defensively throughout the regular season, and Lowe is looking for her and several other players to continue stepping up in the playoffs.

“First baseman Leigh Anne Strock is probably our anchor on our team,” he said. “She's a really solid defensive player. Great bat. Lawsyn Lowe is another good solid player for us. She's not here tonight, which is a big miss for us. She's probably leads the team in batting average this whole season. So, really good job. And just our pitching. I mean, Emmy McKie on the mound. They’re kind of our key players right now.”

It was the junior team who broke through first with a leadoff run, but the seniors quickly answered to take a 3-1 lead. They tacked on another run in the second but it was the fourth inning when the Blue Angel seniors found their groove at the plate.

Emily Geddes ended the game with a two-run home run to give the seniors a 14-1 lead. She finished with three hits in four at-bats and was a triple away from hitting for the cycle.

Strom Thurmond pitcher Emmy McKie only gave up one hit and one run on the mound, holding the junior team to three scoreless innings. She said it’s easy to pitch well when she knows the defense is playing well behind her.

“You just have to take it one game at a time,” McKie said. “And you have to know your teammates have your back, whether you're a leader or not, and just be there for them, put your teammates above yourself.”

The Division 2 playoffs consist of single-elimination, seven-inning games, a change from the five-inning doubleheaders teams play during the season. The Blue Angel seniors faced Abbeville Post 2 on Tuesday night.

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