The Marlboro County High football team will wrap up their spring practice sessions this week.  That will include the annual Black and Gold spring game on Thursday.
"We had wanted to have the game during the last period of the school day, so the student body would all be on hand to watch.  However, it is just too hot for that," said head coach Bobby Collins.
The game will start at 7 p.m. instead.  Collins intends to divide the team into two roughly-even units and play two 25 or 30 minute halves.
One thing that will be on display is Collins' offensive strategy and how it differs from that of former coach Dean Boyd.
"Last year, the team was in the shotgun with one running back about 95% of the time.  I prefer to have the quarterback under center most of the time, with a tight end and usually two running backs," said Collins.

Marlboro Academy wrapped up the softball season Tuesday by winning the SCISA Class AA state championship.  The Lady Dragons defeated rival Pee Dee Academy 9-0 to sweep the best-of-three series to win the title.  The Dragons were led by senior pitcher Jenna Greene who held Pee Dee to just one hit in the final game, while striking out 11 Eagle batters.  The Dragons finish the season with a 32-2 record including wins over much larger schools from across both South and North Carolina.  Above, the Dragons “dogpile” on top of head coach Boyd McLaurin after picking up the championship trophy.  For more on the Lady Dragons’ championship, see Sports, page 6. 

Marlboro Academy's softball team will face Pee Dee Academy in a best-of-three series to decide the SCISA Class AA softball crown.  The Lady Dragons will travel to Mullins Monday evening for the series opener.  The second game will be at Marlboro at 5:30 Tuesday.  If a third game is needed it will be played at a neutral site yet to be determined.

Tuesday was a record setting day for Caitlyn Nolan.  The Virginia Tech senior softball shortstop blasted two home runs to set the school single-season home run record with 18.
Nolan, a former Marlboro County High standout, is a Bennettsville native.  She is the daughter of Ernie and Anita Nolan.
After wrapping up ACC action this past weekend, the No. 24 Hokies stayed hot, getting a doubleheader sweep over Longwood University at Tech Softball Park by winning game 1, 6-0, and game 2, 8-5.

Play wrapped up in the First United Methodist Church youth basketball league on Tuesday night with championship games in the three oldest divisions.  This year 154 kids ages 6-14 participated in the league that runs from December until February.  The league will complete its 26th year of ministry with a banquet and trophy presentation ceremony tonight at the church which is on Main Street in Bennettsville.
Photos by Dan McNiel