Dillon’s Lady Wildcats earned an 11-1 win over Timberland on Monday night to stay alive in the Class 2A District VIII softball playoffs.

After falling 4-2 to Aynor on Saturday, the Lady Wildcats were sent to the elimination bracket to face the Lady Wolves at home in Dillon.

After a scoreless first inning, Dillon went to bat in the bottom of the second with Taylor Price hitting one over third for a single. Tyieshah Jones walked to put runners on first and second, but Auh’Keria Smiling hit a grounder to third for a fielder’s choice the runner out at third. Shayna Covington struck out swinging to end the inning with no runs on the scoreboard.

With starting pitcher Tori Grimsley on the mound, Timberland got a walk to lead off the top of third, and the next two batters both struck out swinging. The Wolves hit one up the middle but it was stopped by Dillon’s Covington. The next batter flew out, and Dillon took the field. Shaquailla German went up to bat, hitting two fouls before nailing a home run to give Dillon a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Rebecca Callahan was hit by a pitch, and Tara Grimsley struck out, but Da’Kerhia Samuel hit one up the middle for a single. Erin Bailey lined up to third and an error allowed the runners to advance safely. Price followed with a sacrifice fly to pick up another runner and put Dillon up 2-0 with two outs. Jones flew out again to end the inning with two runners left on base.

Timberland started the top of the fourth with a long hit to center for a triple. The next batter hit a slow one to third for the first out and the next batter walked, allowing the runner to score on a passed ball. The Wolves followed with a grounder to third to get the runner out at second, and the next batter ground out to the short stop to end the inning for the Wolves.

With the Wolves trailing 2-1, the Wildcats went to bat and lead of with an out when Shar’Asia Samuel popped out. With two strikes and three balls, Covington punched one by third for a single. The Wolves attempted to pick her off at first, but Covington managed to steal second, and an intent walk from German put runners on first and second. Callahan popped one over third to the shortstop for the second out, but Tara Grimsley hit a double to pick up Covington and leave runners on second and third. Da’Kerhia Samuel followed with a single up the middle to bring in two more runners and push Dillon ahead 5-1.

German took the mound in the top of the fifth, striking out the first batter. The next Timberland batter ground out to the short stop, but the Wolves hit one between third and short stop for a single. German struck out the next batter to end the inning. Timberland sent in a new pitcher in the bottom of the inning, and Dillon’s Price led off with a hit up the middle for a single. Jones walked, and Shar’Asia Samuel popped one up to the short stop for the first out. Covington hit a grounder and went out at first, but advanced the runners to second and third. German was again walked to load the bases, and Callahan hit a fly over second that was bobbled in the field to allow three runners to score, putting Dillon up 8-1. Tara Grimsley walked and advanced to second on a passed ball, and with runners on second and third, Timberland changed pitchers. Da’Kerhia Samuel ground out to the short stop to end the inning.

At the top of the sixth, Timberland hit one up the middle that was stopped by Callahan. The next batter struck out, but the Wolves got a hit to short left which was caught by Smiling in the field. The final batter struck out, and Timberland returned to their starting pitcher as the Wildcats went to bat.

Bailey led off the bottom of the inning with a hit in the gap between third and short stop for a single, but Price hit into a fielder’s choice that got courtesy runner Brianna Froneberger out at second. Jones followed with a hot hit to the short stop which was fielded and thrown to second, but the runners were safe and one crossed home to put Dillon up 9-1. Jones scored on a hit to third from Shar’Asia Samuel for a 10-1 lead, and Covington hit a grounder to the pitcher and went out at first, but advanced the runner to second. Another intent walk for German put runners on first and second, and a walk for Callahan loaded the bases. Tara Grimsley hit one to left to score another runner, and the game ended on the 10-run rule.

Dillon improved to 15-2 and was scheduled to face Aynor on Wednesday night for a shot at the District VIII championship. A win for the Wildcats would force a second game to decide the championship.

The winner will move on to face the District VII champion in the first round of Lower State playoffs on Saturday, May 10. Waccamaw was set to host Andrews for the District VII title on Wednesday night.

Photos by Johnnie Daniels/THE DILLON HERALD. Click the images below to view at full size!