By Thomas Grant Jr.
The post-graduate “award tour” continues for Gray Collegiate Academy infielder Aspen Boulware.
In a span of two days, the University of South Carolina-bound Boulware was a repeat recipient of South Carolina Player of the Year honors from national publications. For the second consecutive year, she was recognized by both Maxpreps.com and Gatorade.
She joined Summerville’s Ansley Bennett in winning two straight Gatorade honors over the past four seasons. Fresh off winning a third state title in four years, Boulware and teammate pitcher MacKenzie Sease were named to the S.C. Coaches Association of Women’s Sports All-State team.
“I’m not surprised. She’s a great, great player,” Gray Collegiate Academy head coach Doug Frye said. “She gets walked a lot, hit a lot. Doesn’t get pitches and she still managed to have .580 batting average and she scored 71 runs this year. That was amazing. When she gets on, she scores.
“What she’s done is great, probably never done again. Her leadership, you can’t match. How hard she works every day. She doesn’t take days off and she’s so positive with her teammates.”
In leading Gray Collegiate Academy to a 34-0 record and a second straight Class 4A title, Boulware finished with 12 home runs. She closed her high school career with a solo home run in her last at-bat.
Off the field, Boulware has maintained an A average and volunteered locally with multiple community service initiatives through her church youth group.
She is the daughter of former Florida State All-American and NFL safety Michael Boulware, the niece of former Super Bowl champion linebacker Peter Boulware, who like his younger brother, graduated from Spring Valley High School and mother of former Florida State All-American softball pitcher Jessica Boulware.
As the younger Boulware prepares to begin her career at South Carolina, where she’s tentatively slated to play in the infield, Frye said the school is getting a “stud” who can make an immediate impact.
“She’s kind of a quiet kid, not real loud but leads by example,” he said. “She gets out there and work. It’s going to be fun and sit back and watch her play and watch her develop. I think she’s going to hit better there than she did with us because in the SEC, they’re going to give her stuff to hit and she’s going to get to swing the bat a little freer.”
SCBCA holds All-Star Game
A trio of Cayce/West Columbia All-State players were selected to the S.C. Baseball Coaches Association North-South Games at Lexington County Baseball Stadium.
Landon Jeffcoat and Justin Sightler of Airport and Garrett Blakenship of Gray Collegiate Academy were selected to the Class 3A/4A South team. They will face the North team at 11 a.m.
The 1A/2A game will follow at 1:30 p.m. and close with the Class 5A contest at 4 p.m.
The SCBCA also announced its All-State teams. Jeffcoat was once again selected in Class 4A along with fellow Eagles’ Rylan Bullis and Daniel Butts and were joined by the War Eagles’ Zak Perry.
(Photo by Talon-Gray Collegiate Academy)
