History Making Champions

County’s Third State Champs
Make S.C. Softball History

  Not only did Saluda County Recreation Department’s 8U Darlings win Saluda’s third state championship last week, they made history.
  According to Jeffrey Jordan, coach of the 12U state champions, no community has sent three different teams to their respective softball World Series in the same season until this year, when Saluda won 8U, 10U and 12U state titles.
  Jordan got his informaton for the state Dixe Softball director who has been in her position for 30 years.
  The 12U team will play in their World Series in Louisiana, while the 10U and 8U teams will play in Tennessee. The tournaments will begin this weekend.
  The 12U team won their World Series in 2022.
  Fundraising efforts have been going on all week to help finance the trips.

44th Annual Truck and Tractor Pull

  The Saluda Young Farmers 44th Annual Truck and Tractor Pull, “Hottest Pull in the South” will be held July 29th at the Young Farmer Stadium at the County Recreation Complex.  
  The Carolina Truck & Tractor Pullers / Southern Pullers Association professional pull will begin at 7pm.  Ticket gates and pit will open at 4:30pm.  
  Ticket prices are as follows:  Adults - $20, Chil--dren 6 to 12 - $10, 5 and under – Free, and cooler/bulk beverage - $5.00 (no glass containers).  Cash, credit and debit card ticket purchases will be available at the gate.  Concessions will also be available.
  The 2023 Saluda Young Farmer Scholarship winners will be recognized as well.  
  Recipients this year include: Quinten Miller, Makayla Porter, Layne Crouch, Dawson Holsomback, Gracie Minick and Aydan Gantt.  Proceeds from the pull go towards the scholarship program.
  Bring a chair – stand seating is limited.  There will be no charge for parking and no additional charges for entering the pit.
  There are (4) handicap parking spaces available, but proof of handicap must be provided. To purchase handicap parking, contact Dan Rodgers at (864) 980-1758 after 5 PM.
  Come and enjoy a weekend of high-powered action!
Check out www.SaludaYoung Farmer.org or syftp.us for the latest information. Like us on Facebook at “Saluda SC Tractor Pull.”

Saluda Lions Club Donation

  At a recent meeting of the Saluda Lions Club, Daniel J Prohaska, President & CEO of Lions Vision Services, received a check for $3000 from Lions Secretary Walker Beddoes and  Brooksie Rentz.
  The LVS offers a range of programs to low-income South Carolina residents who apply for need-based financial assistance with obtaining vision screenings, eyeglasses, affordable eye surgeries and vision technology.
  This support was made possible by a generous donation from the estate of deceased Past District Governor Lion Charles Rentz and the community support of the Saluda Lions Club annual Saluda County Cup Golf Tournament.

Two State Champs

10-U Angels

12-U Ponytails

County Produces Two
State Champions

The Saluda County Recreation Department produced two state champions in Dixie Youth tournaments last week.
  In Aynor, the county’s 10-U Angels and 12-U Ponytails claimed titles.
  It marked the third straight state championship for the young ladies on the 12-U team. They won the 10-U title two years ago, and last year they made Saluda County history by winning the World Series title. The Ponytails went undefeated in the tournament.
  They’ll play their 2023 World Series tournament in Alexandria, LA.
  The 10-U Angels trip to the title was not as easy. They came out of the losers bracket and had to beat Sumter twice to win the state championship. They accom-plished the feat and will play their World Series in Fairview, TN.
  Both teams are currently conducting fund-raising drives to pay for their trips.
  The county came close to another championship, the Saluda boys Ozone 2 team entered the title game undefeated, but suffered to heart-breaking extra inning losses to Cayce-West Columbia, by scores of 7-5 and 2-1. The the tournament was played in Monck’s Corner.
  Saluda County’s Minor League recorded state wins, before being eliminated in their tournament.
  The 8-U Darlings softball team won their first four games in the state tournament at Georgetown, and was playing for their state title as we went to press. The team won the county’s third state championship. More on this team next week.

2023 State Runners-up

Saluda County’s Ozone 2 team finished as the state runner-up in last week’s tournament. See above story.

Council Holds Short July Meeting

  Saluda County Council’s meeting on July 10 was a  brief one.
  The public portion of the meeting began with a presentation of a grant from Duke Energy  by Theo Lane. See related photo and cutline elsewhere on the front page.
  Council held a public hearing and gave second reading to ordinance 07-23, an ordinance adopting the declaration of covenants, conditions, and restrictions for Saluda County Commerce Park.
  Annette Mathis was appointed to the planning commission, and Sammy Connelly was appointed to the Fire Board, representing Midlands Fire Department.
   Council approved $64,840 for Courthouse repair, $7505 for AC repair and $8210 for roof repair at the County Annex Building. All three projects will be funded from the Public Building Improvement account.

Baseball Trio

One last ride: McCary, Sheaffer, Warren
play for last time together with Post 20

By CAM ADAMS This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  NOTE: The folllowing story appeared in the July 4, 2023, editon of The Index-Journal and is reprinted with permission.

  Take about almost any baseball game Matt Sheaffer has played this summer, you’ll find his surroundings are familiar.
  Manning first base, Sheaffer will see teammate Jonah McCary anchoring the third-baseman position or commanding the mound. Behind Sheaffer in the outfield is another familiar face: Demetrous Warren.
  It’s been like this for a long time: Through recreational ball and through their time as Saluda Tigers. Sheaffer’s grown up with these guys.
  But when his time with Greenwood Post 20 is over, so will his time with McCary and Warren.
  And all these years later, Sheaffer is thankful.
  “It’s awesome to kind of go through your career together, and then once you grow up, you all accomplish the same goal for yourself,” Sheaffer said. “Doing it as one team has been really special.”
  TeammatesThe former Tigers will be heading to three different places, but all have the same destination — playing college baseball. They all signed on the same day in April. Sheaffer put pen to paper with Gardner-Webb, McCary with Lander and Warren with Claflin.
  As the three looked to their left and right at the signing table at Saluda High School’s gym, none of them were the least bit surprised.
  They know how good their teammates are.
  “Matt ain’t grown a bit. He still rakes. He’s been good since he was born,” McCary said with a laugh. “Growth-wise, athletically, both of them have just gotten better.”
  Sheaffer returned the favor.
  “Jonah’s always been that No. 1 guy since we were little on the bump,” Sheaffer said. “It’s been kind of cool just to see how he’s grown up and he’s always kept the same role throughout our entire time.”
  The trio has seen a lot during their time as teammates. Walk-off wins and tear-jerking losses. Times of celebration and times of frustration.
  And they wouldn’t change who’s been by their side through it all.
  “It’s been great,” Warren said. “There’s nobody I’d rather grow up with than these people right here.”
  Program buildersSaluda coach Travis Mills had a senior class of nine this past spring, four of which will play college ball, including Brice Miller, a USC Salkahatchie signee.
  Mills didn’t sell them short, those seniors laid the foundation for Saluda baseball, and Warren, McCary and Sheaffer are no exception.
  “All of them were elite defenders and they were just elite teammates, did anything they could to make the team better and work extremely hard, practice every day of the week, so they definitely gave their all for Saluda baseball while they had the chance to play for us,” Mills said.
  “I’m just extremely proud of them and grateful for their effort for those years.”
  Between their junior and senior years, the three Tigers saw the program go from 12-14 to 16-9, being just a win away from the district final. During that time, they all did their thing to make Saluda baseball better.
  Sheaffer was a brick wall at first base, catching about any ball thrown his way. McCary was a big-time hitter, amounting to a .365 batting average. And Warren was a force to be reckoned with in the outfield, making diving catches time and time again for Saluda.
  And that’s who they did it all for — Saluda.
  “I think it’s awesome because I absolutely love Saluda,” McCary said. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than Saluda, and knowing that we had a part in helping it grow is awesome to me because I want everything good to come to Saluda.”
  They’ve done the same for Greenwood Post 20, too. With a smaller roster, Braves’ coach Nate Hamilton recognized the importance of his four Saluda guys, which includes rising senior teammate Manny Dominguez.
  “We’re very fortunate to have them,” Hamilton said. “I know they’re not from this area but we’ve got guys from Saluda before but to bring in four guys from one high school and three of them in that same graduating class, it’s big for us and they’ve been a big part of our success when we have been successful.”
  BrothersPlaying baseball together has obviously brought the three closer over the years.
  Outside of the diamond?
  “Yeah, we hang out a good bit,” Sheaffer said.
  McCary interjected.
  “I mean, it’s Saluda. Small town. We have to see each other,” he said laughing.
  Baseball has helped the three get to know one another. For one, they know how to lift each other up.
  “We’ve kind of learned how to talk to each other because you know what to say in the right situations that kind of help bring you back to what you’re really trying to focus on,” Sheaffer said.
  Another thing? They know how talented each other is. Right now that’s good.
  Later? Could spell trouble for the soon-to-be Peach Belt Conference rivals.
  “I’m not looking forward to playing against (Warren). I don’t want to pitch against him. He’s good,” McCary said.
  Over the course of their baseball careers, the trio has had the time of their lives with each other. Some of their favorite memories are, of course, winning games, the bus rides back home and “absolutely just waxing somebody,” according to McCary.
  With one regular season game with Post 20 left before playoffs, they know their time in the same uniform is coming to a close, and college ball is inching closer.
  They won’t lie. They’re pretty sentimental about it.
  But along with the sentiment, the three feel a number of other emotions. They’re thankful. They’re excited. And they’re really proud.
  “I know everybody has had this dream since we were like little kids and finally everybody’s reached their dream and accomplished that and I’m just really proud of these guys for it,” Warren said.
  “It’s kind of our last step forward to college. It’s like dang — it’s here.”

Fireworks From The Sky

Wendy Cheney hosted a July 4th gathering at her home on West Church Street in Saluda. When it came time to shoot fireworks, one of her guests, Rex Sightler, flew his drone and captured this display.