Local high school athletes earn all-state honors

State baseball champion Bishop England landed two players on the Class AAA all-state team, which is picked by the South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association. The players are junior Leo Albano and sophomore Geoffrey Gilbert.

Both players had key roles on a team that posted a 24-9 record and won the state title, topping Seneca in the best-of-three series.

Albano played in the outfield and pitched, while Gilbert, a lefty, pitched and played first base and the outfield.

Albano batted .371 and collected 20 RBI and 18 stolen bases.

“Leo was our most consistent hitter all year,” Coach Mike Darnell said. “We moved him from lead off to No. 3 midway through the year and he stayed there. He’s a real tough guy to get out and can do so many things at the plate and on the bases.”

Gilbert, one of the top pitchers in the state, committed to play for the Clemson Tigers late last summer. The 6-1, 180-pound southpaw has a fastball in the upper 80s. He also has an impressive breaking pitch and is developing a change-up.

He was 8-0 this spring with a 1.32 ERA. He struck out 83 batters in 47 2/3 innings of work.

“Gilbert came up big in big games late in the season,” Darnell said. “He had dominant stuff but struggled with control in the middle of the season. He was able to get it figured out and pitch well when we really needed him in the playoffs.”

Softball all-state and all-stars

State softball champion Hanahan had two players earn Class AAA all-state honors while another player was selected to play in the North-South games.

The all-state selections included pitcher Drayton Siegling and catcher Jordan Fabian. Both players will be back next year for the Hawks, who topped Crescent 8-7 in 12 innings to win the state championship. The Hawks posted a 30-4 record and won its first state title since 2008.

Senior Mackenzie Dyson, who was the winning pitcher in the deciding game against Crescent, was selected to play in the North-South games. The games will be held June 14-15 at USC-Aiken. Dyson will play college ball for the North Greenville Crusaders.

Soccer honors

The South Carolina Soccer Coaches Association has released its all-state team and Bishop England is well represented.

The BE boys had three players make the Class AAA all-state team: sophomore forward James Cox, senior midfielder Alex Mailoux and sophomore midfielder Russell McLaughlin.

The Bishops went 16-3 this spring. They lost a 4-2 overtime decision to Bluffton in the Lower State Championship.

Hanahan had one selection on the boys’ team: senior goalkeeper Jacob Williams.

The Bishop England girls had four players make the all-state team after posting a 15-6-1 record, losing a 2-1 decision to Brookland-Cayce in the Lower State Championship. The all-state selections are junior forward Kessey Bradshaw, senior midfielder Mackenzie McAvoy, junior midfielder Haley Merrill and junior forward Lauren Moriarty.

All-state track

Class AAA state boys track and field team Hanahan had two athletes named all-state in individual events. Quincy Mitchell was all-state in the 100- and 200-meter dashes while teammate Noah Ward was all-state in the 1,600-meter run. Mitchell is a junior while Ward is only an eighth-grader.

Class AAA girls state champion Bishop England had two athletes earn all-state honors in individual events. Sophomore Patricia George was all-state in the 800-meter run while senior Allison Seney earned all-state status in the pole vault.

Lacrosse players of the year

Bishop England lacrosse star Emma Pizzo has been named Class AAAA Player of the Year by the South Carolina High School Lacrosse Coaches Association. Pizzo, who helped lead the Lady Bishops to their second state title last month, finished the season with 113 points. She was also named Midfielder of the Year. Pizzo’s teammate Grace Ann Carlson was named Attack of the Year, while Beatrice Navarro received Defender of the Year honors. On the BE boys’ lacrosse team, Connor Malark was named Class AAAA Player of the Year, along with Midfielder of the Year. The boys’ team captured their first state lacrosse title on April 29 with an 11-4 victory over A.C. Flora.

Daniel Island Publishing

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Unit 108
Daniel Island, SC 29492 

Office Number: 843-856-1999
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