From the time she first stepped on a District 56 gym floor, it has been obvious that Bryanna Belton was going to find herself a place to play college basketball.

That place is Columbia International University, which while international, is still in the capital city of South Carolina.

Belton leaves a legacy of success at Clinton High, where she helped lead the Red Devils to the Class 2A Upstate finals with a 23-6 record and the Region 3 championship.

Columbia International was known as Columbia Bible College until 1994. Though contacted by other schools, Belton said she was impressed by the school’s focus on God. She plans to major in biology there.

One of only three seniors on the Clinton High team, Belton was an indefatigable presence. She averaged 9.3 points and 5.9 rebounds, leading a highly balanced Red Devils team in both categories.

Unfortunately, it was a high-school baseball week marred by rain and forfeits.

Winless Southside, having fallen, 17-0, in 2-1/2 innings earliers, forfeited the two remaining games with the Raiders, 7-0.

Laurens (14-9, 10-5 Region 1-4A) next plays Union County at home on Tuesday at 6:30.

Clinton, too, was idle by means of weather. The Red Devils (12-6, 6-2 Region 3-2A) are to take on Columbia’s Eau Claire in a Wednesday doubleheader at 5:30.

Laurens broke a seven-game losing streak in softball my mashing Emerald, 24-2, behind Addison Trevino, who homered twice and drove in five runs.

Thirteen runs in the third inning and seven more in the fourth did the trick for the Raiders (7-11, 4-5) play Emerald again on Monday at home, beginning at 7.

Greenwood Christian defeated Laurens Academy, 15-6, in baseball, even though the Crusaders banged out 10 hits to the Hawks’ six. Errors and walks (eight apiece) were the chief culprits.

However, Evan Asalone. Elijah Hornberger and Hack Hardy each had two hits for LA (5-6).

Greenwood Christian piled up a 9-0 lead after four innings.

Abbeville pounded Thornwell, 13-5, in softball on Friday, despite a fine performance from the Saints’ Madison Landrith, who drove in four runs on two hits. Bree Deese also had two hits.

Clinton rolled to another boys’ tennis victory, albeit shortened by rain, as the Red Devils blanked Batesburg-Leesville, 4-0, rhus keeping their record spotless at 7-0.

# 1 Singles Nathan Meade defeated Gavin Perry 6 – 0, 6 – 0

# 2 Singles Edwin Orr defeated defeated Nate Cash 6 – 0, 6 – 1

# 3 Singles Matthew King defeated Riley Kirkland 6 – 0, 6 – 0

# 4 Singles Jacob King defeated Connor O’Neal 6 – 0, 6 – 0

# 5 Singles Jacob Meyerholtz up 6 – 2 Unfinished – Lightning

# 1 Doubles Meade & Orr DID NOT PLAY

# 2 Doubles Cooper Stinson & Malakye Brewer up 7 – 5 Unfinished Lightning

Amman Dewberry was the driving force in PC’s 14-2 baseball victory over Charleston Southern on Friday night at Elton Pollock Field.

Dewberry went 3-4 with a grand slam and six RBI in the series opener.

Presbyterian (17-22, 9-7 Big South 9-7) pulled a game ahead of the Buccaneers (22-16, 8-8).

The Blue Hose dominated from the outset, scoring a run in the first inning, five more in the second and three in the fourth.

Tyrell Williams (3-1) hurled six strong innings with five strikeouts and one run allowed on four hits.

Game two is Saturday at 3 p.m.

Presbyterian College golfers Jeep Patrick, Jack Wofford and Trey Howard won All-Big South accolades

Patrick, who won the Big South individual title, was the league’s Freshman of the Year, a Second Team All-Big South Selection, a Big South All-Freshman team honoree, and a Big South All-Championship team member. Wofford earned Second Team All-Big South honors for the second consecutive year. Howard earned a spot on the league’s All-Academic team.

Patrick, Wofford, and Howard played major roles in helping the Blue Hose advance to the Big South Championship Match Play semifinals.

A first-inning grand slam, by Winthrop’s Tia Beckham, doomed PC (20-25, 3-10) to a 4-2 loss to the Eagles (26-20, 9-7) and likely eliminated the Blue Hose from the Big South tournament they are hosting May 7-10.

Left fielder Mallory Fletcher led the Blue Hose with two hits, one a double. The team plays a Saturday doubleheader at noon.

When the playoffs begin, professional basketball gets completely new to me.

Indiana has one of many courts that is almost entirely gray and black.

It looks as if special effects are in place with black-and-white video enhanced by bright splashes of yellow.

Or perhaps I’m daft.

Many novels – and non-fiction books – of mine are available at Amazon.

Cowboys Come Home is a modern western about two Texans who return home from World War Ill. They find out times have changed back home.

Forgive Us Our Trespasses is a tale of unspeakable corruption in a small Southern town.