SC prep state finals update: It’s a 3-peat for Catawba Ridge softball

There was a new head coach, a new starting pitcher, and bigger schools for competition.

Catawba Ridge’s softball team took all those changes in stride and swept to its third consecutive state championship Thursday night.

The Copperheads completed their run to the title by swamping visiting St. James 9-1 for a two-game sweep of the Class 5A/Division 2 state championship series.

The Copperheads won Class 4A state titles in 2023 and ‘24 under head coach Michael Kidd, who organized the program. Chloe Burger was the team’s standout pitcher last season.

But Kidd retired last July, Burger is now at USC Upstate, and Catawba Ridge was bumped up to the 5A ranks, playing in Division 2.

None of that seemed to make a difference. Mike Mayak, an assistant coach last season, took over the reins, and freshman Keira O’Brien stepped in as pitcher.

The result? A 31-2 record, culminating in Thursday’s lopsided victory on a rainy night and a field that got muddier as the game progressed.

The big hitter Thursday night was Sarah Rocheleau, who had a single, a grand slam, and five RBI.s Her slam highlighted a six-run sixth inning that blew the game open for the Copperheads.

Catawba Ridge scored three times in the third inning, on RBI hits by Aloni Hogans and Rocheleau, and an error that scored Rocheleau.

St. James, out of Murrells Inlet, scored in the top of the fifth when Samantha Allen dashed home from third base on a wild pitch.

Then came the sixth, with Hogans’ two-run single and Rocheleau’s slam.

Meanwhile, O’Brien was working her magic on the mound. She pitched a complete game, limiting the Sharks to three hits. She walked only one.

Softball finals scores/schedules

CLASS 5A / DIVISION 1

Byrnes vs. Summerville

Game 1: Summerville 3, Byrnes 0

Game 2: Byrnes 9, Summerville 8

Game 3: Byrnes 5, Summerville 4 (8 innings)

CLASS 5A / DIVISION 2

Catawba Ridge vs. St. James

Game 1: Catawba Ridge 9, St. James 6

Game 2: Catawba Ridge 9, St. James 1

CLASS 4A

York vs. Gray Collegiate

Game 1: York 2, Gray Collegiate 1

Game 2: Gray Collegiate 4, York 0

Game 3: Gray Collegiate 5, York 2

CLASS 3A

Belton-Honea Path vs. Aynor

Game 1: Aynor 2, Belton-Honea Path 1

Game 2: Aynor 5, Belton-Honea Path 1

CLASS 2A

Saluda vs. East Clarendon

Game 1: East Clarendon 2, Saluda 1

Game 2: East Clarendon 5, Saluda 3

CLASS 1A

Lewisville vs. Latta

Game 1: Latta 3, Lewisville 0

Game 2: Latta 5, Lewisville 2

This story was originally published May 24, 2025 at 6:35 PM.