The Seahawks are one win away from a three-peat.

The Myrtle Beach boys tennis team was untouchable on in Wednesday’s Class 4A Lower State finals, knocking off AC Flora 5-0 in a match that earned the Seahawks their third lower state title in as many years.

Nolan Cahill, the team’s senior leader who picked up the first win of the night for Myrtle Beach on Court No. 2, said his team’s goal was simple: step on the court and exit with a trip to the finals locked.

“We wanted to leave no doubt today that we are the best team in the lower state,” Cahill said. “We wanted to win quick, win strong and win good. We were trying to get out of here as quickly as possible.”

The Seahawks, indeed, left no doubt.

After Cahill kicked things off with a win, Ashiv Patel did the same — in straight sets — on Court No. 3. From there, the duo of Caleb Cahill and Foster Cahill, Nolan’s younger brothers, closed out individual victories to clinch another trip to the state finals for the Seahawks.

The Myrtle Beach win sets up a rematch of last year’s Class 4A finals against Riverside, which took down Greenwood, 6-0, in the Upper State finals. In 2023, Myrtle Beach won a 5-1 match against Riverside to win back-to-back state titles.

Saturday’s finals match will take place at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Tennis Center in Florence at 10 a.m.

Spenser Green, who picked up the fifth singles win of the night for Myrtle Beach on Court No. 1, is ready for a chance to win a ring for the third year in a row.

“I know the emotions already, and I know they’re going to be high,” Green, a sophomore, said. “The adrenaline will be there. But even though that’s all going to be there, having done this two times before definitely is going to help… I’m already ready for 10 o’clock on Saturday. It’s a rematch, and we’re focused on trying to do this again.”

Myrtle Beach is looking to win its fourth boys tennis state championship since 2019.

“I think there’s going to be a confidence knowing that we have been here before,” Cahill said. “We know we have done it and we can do it again.”

Aynor softball starts playoffs in style

Aynor opened the defense of its 3A softball state championship in rousing fashion.

Alivia Hess hurled a no-hitter and the Blue Jackets scored 11 runs in the second inning as they overwhelmed Philip Simmons 15-0 in five innings on Wednesday.

Philip Simmons was the No. 4 seed out of Region VIII-3A.

“We did what we had to do,” said Aynor coach Tony Mills. “We scored some runs in the first two innings. After that, we just tried to get out of there…

“Give a lot of credit to the other team. They’re trying to build a program over there. Their kids love the game just like our kids love the game. They’re no different than our kids.”

Hess struck out 10 and walked a pair of batters. The sophomore right-hander displayed a fastball that hit the low 60s along with effective offspeed offerings. She didn’t come close to allowing a hit.

“Every day we have drills in the bullpen,” Hess said. “I really focus on hitting my spots and getting my spin rate where it needs to be.”

It was a typical performance from Hess, who is one half of a pitching one-two punch along with junior Maddie Johnson. The duo is one of the best in the state.

“I keep telling people we have two No. 1 pitchers,” Mills said. “… I’m comfortable with rolling either one out there.”

The Blue Jackets amassed 14 hits off of two Philip Simmons pitchers. Caroline Gaskins, Hannah Lewis, Alaina Brown, Maggie Hughes and Lainey Squires all had two hits. Lewis, Brown and Hess each drove in two runs.

Aynor snapped a three-game losing streak with the win. No, the Blue Jackets weren’t in a slump. Far from it. The three losses came in a doubleheader against Upper State 5A power James F. Byrnes and county rival St. James, which won its region.

“We put a tough schedule on them to get them ready for the playoffs,” Mills said.

It looks like they’re ready.

“I think we have a really good team this year,” Hess said. “I think we have a good chance to go back and do it again. I’m proud of the way we played tonight. If we keep it up, we’ve got a good shot.”

The Blue Jackets will host Dreher on Friday night.

Wednesday’s Horry County playoff results

Baseball

Class 4A Baseball

No. 1 North Myrtle Beach 5, No. 3 May River 1

No. 2 AC Flora 2, No. 4 Myrtle Beach 1

Softball

5A Softball

No. 1 St. James 10, At-Large Goose Creek 0

No. 3 Stratford 9, No. 4 Conway 3

3A Softball

No. 1 Aynor 15, No. 4 Philip Simmons 0

No. 2 Loris 11, No. 3 Battery Creek 1

1A Softball

No. 4 Green Sea Floyds 8, No. 1 Branchville 4

Boys Soccer

Class 5A Boys Soccer

No. 2 Wando 4, No. 1 Carolina Forest 0

No. 1 Stratford 3, No. 2 Socastee 1

Class 4A Boys Soccer

No. 3 Bluffton 3, No. 1 Myrtle Beach 3 (Bluffton wins on penalty kicks)

Christ Church 9, Green Sea Floyds 0

Boys Tennis

Class 5A Boys Tennis

Lower State finals: No. 1 Wando 4, No. 1 Carolina Forest 2

Class 4A Boys Tennis

Lower State finals: No. 1 Myrtle Beach 5, No. 1 AC Flora 0

Thursday’s Horry County playoff schedule

Baseball

5A Baseball

Second round: No. 1 St. James vs. No. 2 Berkeley

Elimination game: No. 3 Conway vs. No. 4 Cane Bay

Elimination game: No. 4 Carolina Forest vs. At-Large White Knoll

3A Baseball

Second round: No. 2 Loris at No. 1 Camden

Elimination game: No. 4 Aynor at No. 3 Darlington

1A Baseball

No. 2 Green Sea Floyds vs. No. 4 Lowcountry Leaderhip OR No. 1 Hemingway

Softball

5A Softball

No. 1 Summerville 11, At-Large Socastee 0

4A Softball

No. 4 North Myrtle Beach at No. 2 Lugoff-Elgin

At-Large Myrtle Beach at No. 3 South Florence

Girls Soccer

5A Girls Soccer

No. 1 St. James vs. No. 2 Cane Bay

No. 2 Carolina Forest at No. 1 Wando

No. 4 Conway at No. 1 West Ashley

4A Girls Soccer

No. 3 North Myrtle Beach 3 at No. 1 Lucy Beckham

May 2, 2024 | Horry Independent, The (Conway, SC)
Author/Byline: Joe Wedra | Section: Sports