A.C. Flora’s Pressli Reynolds continued a stellar 2025 season with a complete game against Dreher where she recorded 13 strikeouts. Photo by Mike Maddock
The A.C. Flora Falcons have claimed a second straight region title in softball following a 14-1 win over the Richland Northeast Cavaliers Monday, April 28.
“It’s huge,” A.C. Flora head coach James Marlow said. “We’ve tried to keep up with the history. I’ve gone back and done some of the history and it looks to me like they have won one since 2005. So, winning back-to-back is a huge step for our program to gain community respect, respect from other teams. It helps get different games scheduled against tougher opponents. It really strengthens the brand of A.C. Flora softball in a significant way.”
This year’s Region 3-4A championship is another step for a Falcons’ program that continues to grow under Marlow since his arrival in 2022. The Falcons went 12-18 and finished third in Region 4-4A in Marlow’s first season at A.C. Flora. The next year, A.C. Flora was in position to win the Region 5-4A championship, but a late season lost to Ridge View gave the title to Lugoff-Elgin.
The Falcons broke through last year, finishing 14-7 overall and 7-1 in the region to capture the program’s first region title since 2005.
“It was a goal when we got here,” Marlow said. “The girls were tired of not being able to get over that hurdle. Last year we were able to win with the tiebreaker. The girls were ecstatic, not just for beating another good program but to get that region title. They felt good about their achievement. It was huge for the program to show people we do have a system here. We can be productive. We are a family. There are other things coming in the future because we are very young.”
Marlow credits coaching stability for the program’s success.
“There were a lot of coaches in a row at A.C. Flora before I came,” Marlow said. “Having the same staff year after year allowed the girls to get used to the same routines, the same language, and being comfortable with the same faces. We implemented the weight room. We implemented some other offseason things and summer programs, hitting wise, and found the girls the resources to be successful and create unity with a program we call ‘bigs and littles’ to help the older and younger girls bond. The parents are buying in, too. We’ve also had the great fortune to have a girl or two come in from private school and help fill some gaps. Stability and having the girls have expectations, routines, and being held accountable are the things that have helped improve this program.”
While the Falcons boast a 17-4 overall record and are 11-0 in the region, the season started a bit rocky by losing two players to injury during a tournament at Byrnes High School. During that tournament, the Falcons only loss was to Union. They have lost only three games the rest of the way.
A trio of players have stepped up at the plate— Annie Storm, Garner Lanford, and Pressli Reynolds. Abbey Brown and Saylor Yates have also made an impact with their bats.
The Falcons also rely on Reynolds and Lanford on the mound. Often there are factors to determine which player starts which game. If the Falcons are playing on a smaller field, Reynolds will get the start because she induces more ground balls.
Lanford usually gets the nod with bigger fields since she forces more fly balls.
As A.C. Flora soon turns its focus to the postseason, there are more hurdles to clear. Despite the regular season success over the last few seasons, the Falcons have yet to get past the district round. Marlow has called the postseason showings disappointing. Moving into the semifinal round is the goal for this year’s team.
“Winning the region isn’t good enough anymore,” Marlow said. “We’ve achieved that stage. We have to get further into the playoffs. The girls are more excited about it and are ready to prove we can be even better. I’m excited about what they could potentially do this year.”
Marlow believes his Falcons need to be present, fundamentally sound, and work on the little things to have the postseason success they craves.
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