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Michael Pendley is one of five Pinewood track and field athletes who have already qualified for the SCISA state meet.

Pinewood has no track and no real area to practice, but that has not stopped the school from establishing its first track team.

This spring 21 athletes are participating in the introductory season for the Panther track and field team. Training has been the primary focus so far.

The Panther coaches have set goals to improve each member and to qualify as many team members as possible for the season finale SCISA state meet. Athletes qualify by meeting a qualifying standard during any SCISA-sanctioned meet throughout the season.

With only three and ½ weeks of practice, the team participated in its first meet earlier this month at Porter-Gaud. Junior Patrice Matthews won the girls 100-meter dash with a time of 13.34 in her first time participating in the event. Her time qualified her for the SCISA state meet.

Freshman Jazlyn Hooks also had a first-place finish for the team, as she won the Long Jump with a 15-foot, 5-inch mark that qualified her for the state meet.

After attending their second meet held last week at Orangeburg Prep, three more athletes qualified. Ryan Colucci qualified in the 1600 with a time of 5:09. Jim Brown Qualified in the Discus, throwing 109-8. Michael Pendley qualified in the Shot Put with a 37-9 throw.

“There are six guys throwing on the team and all have never picked up a shot put or discus until four weeks ago so for Pendley to qualify is a huge achievement,” Pinewood coach Kelly Hazel said. “There are many challenges to this first season, but motivating the kids is not one of them. It is an eye opener to realize how new this is to some of them. One athlete asked where the starting line was for the mile. I thought she was kidding. She wasn’t!”   

Baseball

The Pinewood baseball team suffered a loss on Friday afternoon at the hands of Lawrence Manning. Similar to the game last week against Berkeley, Lawrence Manning jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. This was the only run Lawrence Manning scored against Pinewood pitcher Trevor Reeves.

Pinewood third baseman Bryan Doucett offered back-to-back fabulous defensive plays to thwart any hopes that Lawrence Manning had of scoring in the sixth. Pinewood's Trevor Reeves, Logan Stumph, JD Waite, Hayden Hefflin and Reid Coyle delivered singles throughout the game. Outstanding bunts were additionally laid down by Clower and Doucett.

Pinewood could not capitalize on these hits, however, and remained scoreless throughout the game. The losing pitcher was Trevor Reeves.

Tennis

The Pinewood tennis team lost a tough match last week to Porter-Gaud 6-3. Three of the six singles matches went to third set tiebreaks. Joel Roberts, playing No. 3 singles, won his tie-brake 10-6 while Jacob Cumbie, playing No. 2 singles, lost his tie break 21-19 and Adam Elliget, playing No. 4 singles, lost his tie-brake 10-6.

Pinewood had several match points in both contests that proved to be crucial to the win. Elliget and his brother, JT Elliget, then won the No. 1 doubles match while Cumbie and Roberts won at No. 2 doubles. If Cumbie and Adam Elliget had won one of their match points, Pinewood would have won the match.

The tennis team also took on Hilton Head Prep earlier in the week and lost 2-7. Pinewood is now 2-2 in the region.

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