Under-The-Radar South Carolina 2029s Poised To Break Out

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the vast majority of the 50 states, softball season commences in February. Among those 50 states is South Carolina.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When school ball concluded last year, Latta, East Clarendon, Aynor, Gray Collegiate, Byrnes, Catawba Ridge, Holly Hill Academy, Carolina Academy, Pee Dee Academy, and Laurence Manning Academy were among the teams that experienced state championship euphoria in their respective classifications.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Palmetto State is one of many that gives eighth graders the opportunity to showcase their skills at the high school level. Those former eighth graders are beginning their freshman campaigns soon, and here are six players to be on the lookout for as the 2026 season commences.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["151846"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6987a1b03ec47"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">During club ball, [player_tooltip player_id='151846' first='Lucie' last='Jeffcoat'] wore the uniform of Queen Bees 14U Jeffcoat, which later rebranded under the Impact Caymol umbrella. Jeffcoat's 2A Mid-Carolina team did its best work in its region, as it ran the table in all seven of its area contests. She put together a .263 average with eight singles and a double in her debut season with the Rebels. Defensively, one can place Jeffcoat in the infield—primarily at first base—or as a centerfielder and utility player. She has been praised for her speed, power, and hustle, and has the ability to deliver opposite-field production as a right-handed hitter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":145573,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Reginae Porterfield","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"23","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"White Knoll","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Atlanta Vipers 09 16U Gonce","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6987a1b03ed62"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Reginae Porterfield spends her time playing club ball up in class with the Georgia-based team that is Atlanta Vipers 09 16U Gonce. She played her first season as an eighth grader last year with 5A Division 2 White Knoll, playing an integral role in what was an improved 2025 season for the Timberwolves. Porterfield helped White Knoll to a 14-win season last year after finishing 6-17 two years ago. She ranked second among last year's White Knoll players in runs scored with 26 and first in stolen bases with 17. Porterfield was one of two eighth graders on last year's team and batted .274 with 12 RBIs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["146247"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":156500,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6987a1b03edd4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Let [player_tooltip player_id='146247' first='Cameron' last='Crook'] cook. And she has done plenty of it, not only on the softball diamond, but also on the volleyball court. Crook is coming off a 2025 season during which she earned Region 3-AAAA All-Region honors as an eighth grader. The Falcons of 4A AC Flora had double-digit winning seasons the past three years before last season when AC Flora finished 23-6 with a region championship and a berth in the state tournament. Crook first joined Athletics Gold Tamborra/Olson 2029 in late 2024 and is a force to be reckoned with, whether she's sporting the green and gold of her travel team or the red and Carolina blue hues of the Falcons.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Dempsey Bryson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"20","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Palmetto","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Carolina Elite National RWZ/Drotar","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6987a1b03ee9d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dempsey Bryson, alongside her softball achievements, also recently tried her hand at golf. Her travel resume from 2025 included winning championships with Carolina Elite National RWZ/Drotar at the ACFL Summer Championship in Virginia and at the Diamond Classic Fall Exposure. As evidenced by her ability to play defensively as a catcher, outfielder, or at first base, Bryson is very versatile on the diamond. Bryson finished her middle school career at Palmetto MS and will move on to 3A Palmetto, which was a perfect 8-0 last season against region foes. During the summer schedule, Bryson mostly batted at the top of the order, which is a tell-tale sign of the confidence her coaches have in her to hit for contact and make things happen on the bases.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Avery Moody","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"20","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Pendleton","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Ohana SC 16U King","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6987a1b03ef60"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Avery Moody has more experience than the average freshman, given her first season playing at the varsity level was as a seventh grader. She also plays tennis in addition to what she gets accomplished on the softball diamond. Moody can be in a team's defensive lineup as a utility player or at second base. She can also be part of a team's battery as a catcher. The rising name from 3A Pendleton spent some of her summer playing with Anderson Post 14, with whom she won a state championship. In addition to running with Ohana SC 16U King on the travel circuit, Moody previously wore the Carolina Elite Duck 16U uniform.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Addison Wheeler","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"19","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Boiling Springs","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Carolina Crush Pace","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6987a1b03f021"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Following a somewhat down season in 2024, 5A Division 1 Boiling Springs bounced back by compiling 14 wins (nine in its region) last season. Addison Wheeler has been working diligently to increase the speed on her pitches. She has recently been in the 60s with her right arm. She joined Carolina Crush Pace after previously wearing the uniform of Bombers Fastpitch Carolinas during club ball. In addition to what she does as a right-handed pitcher, she is also a utility player who can operate the middle infield. Wheeler's athletic resume also includes state championship success as a weightlifter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->