JOHNSTON -- The Strom Thurmond softball program has had sniffs of glory in recent years.
Last season was one of the Rebels' best opportunities at the program's first state championship, but an extra-innings heartbreaker against Gray Collegiate Academy in the Class AA Upper State tournament opener was compounded by a two-run loss to Mid-Carolina to end their season prematurely.
This year, with so many returners, the goal isn't to get close - it's to win the title that eluded them before. And the first part of that meant taking care of a No. 4 seed in the District 3 playoff opener, which the Region 3-AA champion Rebels did quickly with a 15-0 victory in three innings Wednesday over Keenan.
"We accomplished our goal. Our goal was to take care of business and to do so as fast as possible, and that's what we did," said Rebels head coach Drake Dunlap. "They were locked in. That was really good to get some subs in, and our starters did a really good job of cheering them on. Getting some varsity experience for people who don't normally get it, and seeing the starters support them."
Strom Thurmond (18-4) scored all 15 of its runs in the bottom of the first inning before Keenan could record an out - the Rebels sent runners off the bases early to record automatic outs to speed up the process, which accounted for five of their six outs in the game.
Madison Rodrigues got the start in the circle and allowed a lone single, striking out eight in three innings pitched to make sure the Rebels' playoff opener would be a short one.
"I've been really proud of both our pitchers," said Dunlap, referring to Rodrigues and Emmy McKie. "Madison's been great. Both of them have two losses apiece. Both of them have ERAs under 3, so been proud of both our pitchers. Madison, throwing strikes is the name of the game, and she did that a lot today."
It came down to a lot of patience at the plate for the Rebels' hitters, who drew seven walks and two hit batters while racking up 10 hits - Halynn Smith had two, while eight batters had one apiece - and advancing on several wild pitches.
The goal for these Rebels isn't just to win one playoff game - it's several, and sometimes it can be hard to lock in for that postseason opener when it's a No. 1 seed facing a No. 4. But this group has been close enough to know to not take that for granted.
"The past two years, us collectively as a team, we've all agreed, our goal is to play for a state championship," Dunlap said. "... We've had a common goal all year. We've tried to schedule tougher competition throughout the year, maybe do some things in non-region games that can prepare us for the playoffs, both offensively and defensively. Just keeping that same goal, that same mindset all year."
Up next for the Rebels is another home game Friday night against Landrum, the runner-up from Region 1-AA that beat Mid-Carolina 10-7 in its playoff opener.
"They have a pitcher that's committed to North Greenville, she's a really good pitcher and she held us to three runs last year," Dunlap said. "She's also a really good hitter. They've won, I think, eight games in a row, so they're a hot team, they're very well coached, and it will be a challenge."
