A senate RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE Lewisville High School softball TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2024 SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

Whereas, the South Carolina Senate is pleased to learn that the members of the Lewisville softball team of Chester County captured the state title at the championship series. To the cheers of exuberant fans, the Lewisville Lady Lions defeated a competitive Lake View High School, 8-6, in the second game of the best-of-three series, taking Lewisville's first state championship since 2018 and finishing the season with a 25-4 record; and

Whereas, Lake View scored the first run in the first inning, but Lewisville answered with a run when junior catcher Jordyn Miller hit a one-out double and came in on an RBI single by Molly Dease. In the top of the third, however, Lakeview's Lady Wild Gators posted four runs to build a 5-1 lead; and

Whereas, Lewisville's shortstop Saleena Rollins dove for a line drive, destined for the power rally, with a Lake View runner on first base still in the fourth inning. She got off the ground and threw a bullet to first for a double play to end the inning. Her play changed the momentum of the game for the Lady Lions, and the Lady Gators would score only one other run for the rest of the game; and

Whereas, in the bottom of the fourth, Lewisville cut the deficit with three runs. Sarah Ashley led off with a double, and Molly Dease singled to score courtesy runner Emma Dorsey to make it 5-2. Kyleigh Fletcher got a two-out walk and stole second. With runners on second and third, Kinley Lambert hit a single for the Lady Lions that scored both Molly Dease and Kyleigh Fletcher for a 5-4 score; and  

Whereas, Lake View scored the team's final run of the game in the top of the fifth inning to put Lake View up 6-4. In the bottom of the fifth, Lewisville rallied with four runs. Saleena Rollins led off and reached first after being hit by a pitch. Jordyn Miller singled, and then Saleena Rollins, after a brief stop at third, took off to steal home, posting her nineteenth steal of the season, making it a 6-5 game; and

Whereas, Sarah Ashley then singled in Jordyn Miller to tie the game at 6. On Molly Dease's third hit of the day, she drove in Sarah Ashley to give Lewisville a 7-6 lead. The Lady Lions scored their final run of the game on Laney Lambert's sacrifice bunt that brought in Molly Dease and the final 8-6 win; and

Whereas, losing only two senior starters after this season, Saleena Rollins and Emma Dorsey, Lewisville boasts returning eighth and ninth graders, along with sophomore pitcher Sarah Owens who posted twenty wins and 195 strike outs for the season, to continue building championship teams; and

Whereas, Sarah Owens was named the SCCAWS 1A Player of the Year, and Saleena Rollins, who led the team with forty-nine runs, was named to SCCAWS All-Stars. Both were named to All-State, while Sarah Owens with twenty-seven runs for the season was honored as Region 3A Player of the Year. Saleena Rollins, Jordyn Miller who posted twenty-five runs for the season, Aubree Smith, Laney Lambert, Kyleigh Fletcher, and Abby Barnes were named All-Region players; and

Whereas, in a sport that requires strength, strategy, and speed, Head Coach Jerry Thomas and his skilled coaching staff used their own athletic experience and training to hone a championship-caliber team and teach these athletes lessons that will prove invaluable through life both on and off the diamond; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate value the pride and recognition that the Lewisville softball players have brought to their school and their community and look forward to following their continued achievements in the days ahead. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Lewisville High School softball team, coaches, and school officials for an extraordinary season and congratulate them for winning the 2024 South Carolina Class A State Championship title.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Kelly Grant and Coach Jerry Thomas.

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