By MONTE DUTTON

Particularly since the Laurens High baseball team was playing afterward, I chose an overcast Monday to pay a visit to the Raiders practicing football earlier and down below.

I waited a while because I wanted to see new head coach Greg Porter lead the charges of his charges with pads on.

Football practices remain special, even though I haven’t been in one in almost 50 years.

I’ve been around a lot of practices. I was an equipment manager at Furman.

Anyway, I reckon I have more memories of practices than games because sports require more practices than games. The memory of the end of my last practice is an indelible one.

Porter is a well-known instrument of change. His successful turnarounds rival a freight train. He unloads at one station and loads up at another.

Coaches fall into many categories. Strong, silent types like Tom Landry. Think tanks like Bill Walsh. Cheerleaders like Pete Carroll. Young whippersnappers. Old coots. Salesmen. Generals. Preachers. Teachers. Bleachers creatures. Jeepers creepers.

Porter is a motivator. His voice is strong, durable and could probably be used as a backup storm siren. He doesn’t sound like a siren. His voice carries. It’s deep.

The new head Raider has a satirical bent. He uses what would be called street smarts here if we had enough streets. Y’all ain’t foolin’ me! Porter makes a kid smile while he’s being dressed down.

It’s early. Laurens looks better. What else could it be?

Porter is a character. I like characters.

Meanwhile, Laurens Academy made a valiant SCISA playoff run in softball, playing four games before being eliminated.

It started poorly as Jefferson Davis Academy clubbed the Crusaders, 17-1. The Raiders’ Regan Stil stopped LA on two hits, one by Olivia Huck and the other by Madison Loe. Huck’s triple drove in the only run, but the Crusaders were plagued by nine errors.

Huck no-hit Richard Winn later on Friday, 10-0, allowingly only a pair of walks. Thiis time the Crusaders cranked out 10 hits, three by Madeline Baldwin and two each by Huck and Abby Howard.

LA staved off elimination again on Saturday with a 12-11 victory over Wardlaw. Baldwin singled in Lillie Davenport in the bottom of the seventh inning. Huck and  Baldwin both had three hits.

Cross edged LA, 4-3, in the Crusaders’ finale which they led 3-2 until the Stingrays pulled out their own walk-off. Loe and Catherine Ridd each had two hits in a losing cause.

Laurens and Clinton both put players on the state baseball coaches All-State teams.

Catcher Bennett Edwards made the Class 4A team for the Raiders, and Clinton’s Carson Glenn pitched his way onto the 3A squad.

Both Laurens County schools have every right to feel slighted. Catawba Ridge, which the Raiders defeated twice in the playoffs, placed four.

In Class 3A, Emerald (10-13-1) put two players on the team, while the Region 4 champ Red Devils had only the one.

Class 4A

Caleb Owens – Easley
Peter Mershon – Eastside
Jackson Mullen – Catawba Ridge
Miller Harrelson – Airport
Maverick Grigsby – Lugoff Elgin
Luke Roupe – North Myrtle Beach
Peyton Rogers – West Florence
Brad Larson – Hilton Head

Aaron Tolbert – Easley
Luke Godwin – Greenwood
Cole Bellinger – Greer
Bennett Edwards – Laurens
Peyton Dhein – Catawba Ridge
Caden Glauber – Catawba Ridge
Owen Noonan – Catawba Ridge
Jackson Jean – North Augusta
Cam Atkins – Airport
Billy Robertson – Lugoff Elgin
Roper Wentzky – A.C. Flora
C.J. Oxendine – North Myrtle Beach
Camp Keels – West Florence
Hunter Doyle – Lucy Beckham
Jake Amman – James Island
Taj Marchand – James Island

Class 3A
Brody Linker – Crescent
Lane McGaha – BHP
A.J. Cammarota – Blue Ridge
Tanner Hardin – Union
Jack Painter – Dreher
Scott Hardy – Gilbert
WJ Allen – Marlboro County

Kade Bell – Camden
Diego Patrick – Waccamaw
Carson Glenn – Clinton
Collin Mcabee – Woodruff
Ian McCary – Daniel
William Cutshall – Seneca
Sterling Coaxum – Hanahan
Landon Fowler – Powdersville
Braden Williams – Powdersville
Mason Thompkins – Blue Ridge

Byer Ware – Camden
Jackson Huff – Loris
Hudson Mullen – Beaufort
Carson Bay – Seneca
Brunson Price – Gilbert
Tucker Meredith – Emerald
Will Howard – Emerald
Cade Norton – Blue Ridge
Kole Brown – Chapman
Peyton Burton – Palmetto
Bo Moody – Georgetown

4A Player of the Year – Jackson Mullen – Catawba Ridge
4A Pitcher of the Year – Peyton Rogers – West Florence
3A Player of the Year – Sterling Coaxum – Hanahan
3A Pitcher of the Year – Brody Linker – Crescent
Decision time is approaching. What’s next? Do I keep doing it the way I am now? Do I amend this site? Do I continue to concentrate on local sports coverage, or do I change my priorities?

I’m thinking. I’m thinking.

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