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Only time will tell if the Hanahan Hawkettes can extend their region championship to 10 straight seasons, but they are playing well enough these days to be right where they normally are when the sun goes down on the regular season later this month. In the latest example, junior third baseman Izzy Hildebrandt singled through the left side with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning to plate freshman first baseman Jamie O’Connor and sophomore shortstop Camryn Fowler with the game’s only two runs during a 2-0 Hanahan victory over visiting Cane Bay Wednesday, April 2, in a non-region game. Hawkettes freshman pitcher Dria Tolbert earned the win from inside the circle, hurling a three-hitter with three strikeouts.
Cane Bay didn’t record a hit after the top of the third inning. Tolbert retired 13 straight to end the game. The win was the seventh in eight games for the Hawkettes (10-5), who seem to be playing with a lot of confidence these days, or are they? “I think they need more confidence,” Hanahan coach Katrina Moffett said.
“Us coaches have all the confidence in the world in them. We try to tell them that every day, but I think they need more confidence in themselves at the plate for sure and on the mound. Tonight really helped.
” Cane Bay (6-7) hurt itself with five errors in the loss. Hanahan returns to Region 6-3A play Thursday, April 3 (after press time) at home against North Charleston. It travels to James Island Tuesday, April 8, and hosts Wando Friday, April 11, in two more non-region clashes.
Matchups against Oceanside Collegiate Tuesday, April 22, and Thursday, April 24, will likely decide the region championship. Hanahan hosts the second contest. “If we play the way we played this past weekend, we can make a run like we always do,” Moffett said.
“That’s what we’ve come to expect from Hanahan. It really just depends on who shows up to play. I definitely think if we get everything working – pitching, hitting and defense – we can make another strong run.
” Moffet’s team posted a 3-1 record in Ashley Ridge’s tournament at Wescott Park in Summerville March 28-29. The Hawkettes knocked off Lexington (9-6), May River (12-3) and Ashley Ridge (11-8) before falling to two-time defending 5A champion Summerville (6-3) in the championship game. “We hit the ball as well as we have all year,” Moffett said.
The Hawkettes had scored 79 runs in their previous seven games before gutting one out against Cane Bay. The Hanahan roster is made up of two seniors, four juniors, four sophomores and four freshmen. Junior leadoff hitter Briar Mros, the catcher, and sophomore three-hole hitter Selena Riley, the centerfielder, lead the Hawkettes in batting average.
Both are over .500 on the season. Riley drove in six runs total against May River and Ashley Ridge and Fowler knocked in five runs against Ashley Ridge.
Hanahan has used five different pitchers this spring: Tolbert, Hildebrandt, Gabby Colantuoni, O'Connor and Maggie Priddy..
