<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0myIXJ_0t7mGKPQ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0myIXJ_0t7mGKPQ00" width="1763" height="1175" ><figcaption>Members of the Aynor softball team celebrate with fans lining the outfield fence after defeating Dillon, 1-0, and winning the Lower State championship on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Joe Wedra/joe.wedra@myhorrynews.com) By Joe Wedra joe.wedra@myhorrynews.com</figcaption></figure>Aynor softball is eager to repeat.This season, head coach Tony Mills has tried to keep his team focused on the tasks at hand.One game at a time.One pitch at a time.Focus on the little things.Mills might be one of the best coaches in the state at keeping his team grounded and in the moment, being careful to craft his entire season around not thinking too far ahead and instead keying on the timeless coaching cliches.But on Friday night, his Blue Jackets were able to finally admit it: they are ready to win back-to-back state championships.Aynor defeated Dillon, 1-0, at home on Friday to continue a postseason run in which they are outscoring opponents 52-2.The win confirmed a truth that everyone surrounding the team has suspected for months: the Blue Jackets are poised to keep a storybook run rolling as they look ahead to the 3A state championship series.“Nobody would have ever thought this program would have done this 10 years ago,” head coach Tony Mills said after the game, drenched after being doused with a post-win Gatorade bucket bath. “Nobody wanted to play us. We couldn’t get on schedules. We were just trying to get better… Nobody wanted to schedule us, we were just little ‘ole Aynor. Now we have the big 5A schools who want to play us. That says a lot about everyone in this program.”Mills’ focus on the big picture after Aynor’s win was fitting.Following the win, Aynor’s team took their giant “W” flag (denoting a win) and paraded around the outfield wall to shake the hands of fans that lined the fence to watch the game from the back of their vehicles.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2LsQAj_0t7mGKPQ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2LsQAj_0t7mGKPQ00" width="1763" height="1175" ><figcaption>Aynor softball fans line the fence to watch the Lower State finals game against Dillon in their vehicles on May 17, 2024. (Photo by Joe Wedra/joe.wedra@myhorrynews.com) By Joe Wedra joe.wedra@myhorrynews.com</figcaption></figure>On the field, parents, siblings and friends flooded the infield to take photos and keep the celebration rolling.Through it all was the small-town pride that this Aynor team has been known for during its well-followed run. And on Friday night, the town got to witness another key piece to the puzzle that has been working all season long: the pitching abilities of Maddie Johnson.The junior Clemson commit was nearly flawless against Dillon, tossing seven shutout innings and leading the Blue Jackets to a title-clinching performance that ended with a double play in the top of the seventh inning.Even with just a one-run lead, Johnson locked in.“This was a big moment and it’s just super exciting to be out here and playing with the same girls. It’s really enjoyable. For me, it makes you enjoy it a lot more when you have fun people to play with,” Johnson said after the win.“We have grown up doing this and playing together. We always go out as a team and get food together and things, we’re just always together. We have such a close bond and we all really love each other.”Her coach wasn’t surprised that she didn’t need more than one run to confidently run the show in the circle.Johnson, like the rest of her Aynor teammates, hasn’t been fazed by pressure this season.“I know when Maddie gets two, three, four runs — and she didn’t even get that tonight — when she gets that, that’s a lot of runs with a kid like Maddie," Mills said.“You hear people talking about us saying that we’re going to get tight in the seventh inning and all of the pressure is on us… but, we have had pressure on us all year. Tonight isn’t the first time we have had pressure on us. We have that every time we play… We didn’t play our best tonight but we got the win.”All the Blue Jackets would ultimately need was a fourth-inning RBI from Riley Rabon to put a notch on the scoreboard and run away with the win. After Alivia Hess led off the inning with a hard-hit double down the left field line, Rabon roped a single that was bobbled in right field. The hit brought Hess home and scored the lone run of the game.With Johnson’s gritty pitching outing, that’s all it would take for the Blue Jackets to have the game-winning advantage.“I know that my team needs me and I have to do what I have to do,” Johnson said of staying composed while pitching with a one-run lead. “My team has my back on the field always. So I know what my job is and I’m just able to focus on what I need to do.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=45mv89_0t7mGKPQ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=45mv89_0t7mGKPQ00" width="1763" height="1175" ><figcaption>The Aynor softball team poses for a team photo after winning the Lower State championship on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Joe Wedra/joe.wedra@myhorrynews.com) By Joe Wedra joe.wedra@myhorrynews.com</figcaption></figure>Now, the page flips for Aynor.They will face Belton-Honea Path — the 3A Upper State champion — in the state finals series next week. Belton-Honea Path defeated Palmetto, 5-1 on Friday, to advance to the series.The first game will be played at Belton-Honea Path on Monday, while game two of the series will return to Aynor.For those who will be attending, thoughts will surround the on-field storylines.How will the Upper State champs handle Johnson’s high-level pitching?Will Aynor’s bats come alive against a Belton-Honea Path team that has lost just three games all season?Can the Blue Jacket defense make more difference-making plays?All fair questions.But immediately after Friday’s win, Aynor — in typical Aynor softball fashion — was thinking about some different items of business.“I told them after the game that we’re going to Buc-ee’s,” Mills said with a smile. “We’re going there going and coming. And when we get to the field, the first thing we’re going to do is go out there and just look around. We’re going to soak it in. And we’re going to just enjoy the moment. We’re going to enjoy being there.”Now, that’s not to say Aynor won’t be locked in on their opponent and a chance to win this year’s state championship. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. You could very successfully argue that the accomplishments of this year’s group have been helped, in part, by the way they stay loose, have fun and embrace the simple things.That includes Mills’ announcement that the team would be making a trip to Buc-ee’s, which was met with a loud celebratory roar in the team’s post-game huddle.The hard work will continue into next week. But so, too, will moments spent with each other.That’s a sentiment Johnson echoed when asked what she was looking forward to most about the state title run.“Honestly, I’m most looking forward to the bus rides together,” Johnson said. “These are the last moments we’re going to get with our seniors. As much time as we can spend together, that’s all that matters. In reality, softball is just a game. This team and the friendships we make out here is what matters most.”In the world of sports, some have the theory that the teams that have the most fun and stay the most relaxed are the ones that will ultimately be the most successful.Aynor softball certainly seems to lead the way in those categories.This year, it might be the recipe to bringing another state championship to Horry County.</div></body>

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Aynor softball's run continues with Lower State championship win

Aynor softball is eager to repeat. This season, head coach Tony Mills has tried to keep his team focused on the tasks at hand. Focus on the little things. Mills might be one of the best coaches in the state at keeping his team grounded and in the moment, being careful to craft his entire season around not thinking too far ahead and instead keying on the timeless coaching cliches.

Aynor softball's run continues with Lower State championship win

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