Gray Collegiate Boys Soccer Play Through Weather to Reach Upper State Final

War Eagles 'Weather the storm'

It's one of those things that I thought we got to kind to weather the storm a little bit literally today.”

Gray Collegiate boys soccer coach Kevin Heise

Saturday's High School Spring Playoff Schedule

Softball

Chesnee at Batesburg-Leesville

Brookland-Cayce at Lakewood 10 a.m.

River Bluff at Ashley Ridge 11 a.m.

Landrum at Gray Collegiate noon

White Knoll at Summerville noon

Pickens at Irmo noon

Chapin at Berkeley 1:30 p.m.

Cane Bay at Lexington 3 p.m.

Manning at Swansea 5;p.m.

Camden at Gilbert 6 p.m.

Baseball

Socastee at River Bluff 1 p.m.

Gilbert at Georgetown 4 p.m.

Dutch Fork at St. James 6 p.m.

Boys Soccer

Hanahan at Brookland-Cayce 1 p.m.

Fort Dorchester at Chapin 1 p.m.

Girls Soccer

St. James at Chapin 5 p.m.

Gray Collegiate at Southside Christian 6 p.m.

Friday saw numerous spring sports adjusted its playoff schedule due to potential bad weather.

Gray Collegiate Academy and head coach Kevin Heise were among the few exceptions. Heise was more than determined to "weather the storm" in order to play the third round Class 2A Upper State playoff match with Buford at the West Columbia Soccer Complex.

Despite gushing winds and extended stoppage in action due to on-field injuries and referees adminishing outspoken fans, the War Eagles got their wish. More important, they came away with the 3-0 victory to advance to Monday's Upper State final versus Andrew Jackson or St. Joseph's Catholic.

"It started this morning with the weather forecast," Gray Collegiate head coach Kevin Heise said. "All day, we said 'We're going to play! We're going to play! We're going to play!' So we're glad we got it in."

An injury to a Buford player early in the contest made for a first half which stretched nearly an hour in real time. Gray Collegiate got two unassisted, long distance goals from Guillermo Cely and J.T. Gardner to take a 2-0 lead at halftime.

The second goal by Gardner came against the backup Buford goalkeeper who entered the match after the starter left the game after colliding with a Gray Collegiate player.

Gardner added a final goal late in the second half off the second attempt of a penalty kick.

"Credit Buford, they came out and played a hard game," Heise said. The keeper did a good job. It's one of those things that I thought we got to kind to weather the storm a little bit literally today and then, we got out here and I told the coaches with about 15 minutes left in the game I don't think I've ever been part of a game with so many stops in action. It was just like choppy as hard to get at, so it's hard to establish much of a flow. But I'm glad we got a 'W' and we move on."

Softball

Crescent 14, Batesburg-Leesville 0

The Panthers will play host to the Andrew Jackson/Brashier Middle College winner Monday in a Class 2A elimination game.

May River 14, Airport 4

Eva Platt drove in two runs and Jayda Lindler, Maddy Rivers and Alyssa Ceacal all had two hits as the Lady Eagles saw the Lady Sharks pull away from a 2-2 contest in the elimination game.

SCISA

Baseball

Pee Dee Academy 12, Northside Christian 2

The Crusaders will face either Spartanburg Christian or Orangeburg Prep in an Class 2A elimination game Monday.