When the Battery Creek softball team defends its Class 3A state championship next season, it will do so with a new coach at the helm.

Battery Creek is one win away from claiming the school’s first softball state title after a 2-1 win at Union County in the opening game of the Class 3A state championship series Monday.

Battery Creek’s softball team is two wins away from a state championship.

Battery Creek’s softball team is back in the Class 3A Lower State championship game, and this time the Dolphins are in the driver’s seat. Alexis Ortiz threw a three-hit shutout and went 2-for-2 with a double and a homer to lead the Dolphins to a 4-0 win over visiting Hanahan on Monday. McKenzie Young went 3-for-4 with a triple and a run, Emily Crosby was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, and Margaret Schubert drove in a run for the Dolphins. Ortiz continued her dominant postseason run, striking out five and walking three in her fourth shutout in five playoff games. Ortiz has allowed one run, 10 hits, and four walks with 54 strikeouts in 32 postseason innings. The Dolphins (19-8-1) will host either Aynor or Hanahan for the Lower State title Friday. The visiting team will need to defeat Battery Creek twice to advance.

Battery Creek posted its third shutout in four postseason games with a 1-0 win over visiting Gilbert on Friday in the first round of the Class 3A Lower State softball tournament.