American Legion honors Quad
The Quad players and coaches in attendance at the celebration dinner on July 18, 2023. Left to right front row are: Maddie Andrews (coach), Katelyn Church, Savannah Evans, Alyssa Poston, and Jaysha McCullough. Left to right back row are: Tatum Weaver, Savanna Parker, Chris Weaver (coach), Averie Easters, Trinity Davis, Whitney Turner, Ramzee Williams, McKenzie Kubas, and Lee Andrews (coach). The players not in attendance are: Caydon Thompson, Olivia Martin, Dakota Melancon, Arianna McPhail, and Ashton Goodwin. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
By John Benjamin
“The Quad” ladies fast pitch softball team and the Darlington County American Legion Posts that sponsored the team celebrated a stellar season on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. The Quad had just won the South Carolina American Legion Ladies Fast Pitch Softball state championship the evening before, Monday, July 17, 2023. The Quad won the championship game 8 to 1 with two home runs against a team from Anderson, SC. The game was played at the fine softball field of Columbia College in Columbia, SC. The Quad also finished the season undefeated with a 22 win, 0 loss record.
The Quad is sponsored by the four American Legion Posts in Darlington County. Hence the team name. These Posts are Darlington Posts 13 and 210, Lamar Post 94, and Hartsville Post 53. The season celebration was held at Hartsville Post 53 this year.
Eleven of sixteen team members and their families along with coaches Chris Weaver, Lee Andrews, and Maddie Andrews attended. The team, coaches, and American Legion members in attendance enjoyed a fine BBQ meal prepared by “Beasley’s Barbeque Catering and More.” After the meal, Brenda Jenkins, American Legion Darlington County Softball Director, and Curtis Tyner, American Legion Darlington County Softball Finance Officer presented certificates to the players and American Legion challenge coins to the coaches in recognition of their hard work and dedication resulting in an exemplary season.
One of the team’s fans did have a couple of questions. The pitchers were asked how many different pitches they had. Depending on the pitcher, the answer was five to seven. The other question was what the official strike zone is. That answer was knees to armpits and over the plate. The questioning fan had observed a strike zone from ankles to forehead and apparently home plate looks much wider to some of the umpires.
Subsequent to the team celebration meal, American Legion South Carolina (SC) fast pitch softball all-star games were held at the Columbia College field. All-stars from the SC Southern Division played two games against the SC Northern Division all-stars on July 24, 2023. “The Quad” had three players and an alternate on the SC Division team. The players from The Quad were Caydon Thompson, Savanna Parker, pitcher Alyssa Poston, and alternate Olivia Martin. The SC Division all-stars won both games at 3 to 1 then 9 to 3. Alyssa Poston was named Most Valuable Player for these SC all-star games.
The last SC American Legion softball event in 2023 is the August 5, 2023 “Clash of the Carolinas.” It will be the SC all-stars playing the North Carolina all-stars. The location is: Big League Camp, 3645 Yancey Road, Marion, NC. There will be a home run derby at 1:00pm and the game played at 3:00pm. The all-star rosters for the two teams had not been set when this story was written.
