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Courtney Deifel could not have asked for a much better start to the 2026 season for her Arkansas softball team Friday at the Kickin’ Chicken Classic in Conway, S.C.

The eighth-ranked Razorbacks (1-0) scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning and raced away with a 17-1 victory over Virginia in a 5-inning run-rule to begin the season. It was the most runs scored in a season opener in program history.

It marked the fifth consecutive Opening Day win for Arkansas.

"I thought our team just set a really good tone in the beginning," Deifel said. "How can you not say that when you score 10 runs in the first inning of Game 1 of the season?"

Virginia (0-1), which received the second-most votes among unranked teams in the ESPN/USA Softball poll and is ranked by multiple other publications, had no answer for Arkansas’ two-out offense in the first inning. The Razorbacks scored all 10 of their runs with two outs.

"I don't think they really flinch at how many outs there are," Deifel said. "I think anytime they're stepping in, they have an opportunity to do something. There was some big-time at-bats with two outs. This team just had really great composure all day."

California transfer first baseman Tianna Bell began the scoring for Arkansas with an RBI single to right field. It was the first of six hits the Razorbacks recorded with two outs in the inning, three of which were extra-base knocks.

Senior right fielder Kailey Wyckoff grew the lead with an RBI single to center field to score Bell, and junior catcher Kennedy Miller grew the lead to 4-0 with a two-run single to center field.

Karlie Davison was hit by a pitch to roll the lineup back around to leadoff hitter Reagan Johnson, who delivered with a two-run double to center field. It was one of four doubles the Razorbacks hit in the game.

After a two-run double by Arizona transfer left fielder Dakota Kennedy stretched the lead to 8-0, third baseman Ella McDowell laced a two-run homer over the wall in left field to cap the inning’s scoring.

It was the eighth career home run for McDowell, who also homered on Opening Day last season in a 3-1 victory at Texas State. The sophomore from Richmond, Texas, was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI.

"What I liked the most is that her first at-bat she got rung up on a pitch that she thought was a ball, and they called it a strike," Deifel said. "She wanted to get in there and do something about it. That's who Ella is."

Cavaliers starting right-handed pitcher Julia Cuozzo (0-1) pitched the entire inning but was replaced by right-hander Ava Hodges to begin the second. Cuozzo gave up 6 hits and 3 walks with 1 strikeout against 13 batters faced. She threw 55 pitches, and all 10 runs she surrendered were earned.

The Razorbacks stretched their lead to 13-0 in the second inning with run-scoring hits from Cam Harrison (single), Davison (double) and Johnson (groundout). Johnson’s 3 RBI were a career high for the senior from Karnes City, Texas.

Arkansas senior left-handed pitcher Robyn Herron gave up a solo home run to Kassidy Hudson in the bottom of the second, which made the score 13-1. It was one of only a few mistakes the pitcher made.

Herron (1-0) was strong in her 4-inning start, giving up 3 hits with 5 strikeouts and no walks against 15 batters faced. Of the 63 pitches she threw, 42 were called for strikes.

Deifel said the lefty didn't feel as if she had her best stuff, despite a strong stat line.

"I think that anytime you don't have your best stuff and you can compete and put your team in a good spot, I think it shows a lot of character," Deifel said.

After a pair of scoreless innings, the Razorbacks plated four runs in the top of the fifth inning to stretch the lead to 17-1. During the inning, Ramsey Walker and Brinli Bain each hit RBI singles.

Hodges pitched the final 4 innings for the Cavaliers and gave up 7 runs on 9 hits with 3 walks and 2 strikeouts.

Arkansas finished the game batting 15 for 30 (.500), including 12 for 19 (.632) with runners in scoring position.

"It's a fun day when you put up that many runs," Deifel said. "But that's not why it was fun. It was fun because they just competed really well. They trusted their preparation, and their competitive energy throughout the day was at a really good spot."

The Razorbacks inserted freshman right-handed pitcher Saylor Timmerman to begin the fifth inning, and the highly-recruited hurler tied a bow on the run-rule with a shutout inning. Timmerman walked one batter in the inning but otherwise did not allow a base runner.

Player of the Game: Arkansas 3B Ella McDowell

Deifel predicted in the preseason McDowell could be a prime candidate to replace some of the power numbers from last year. Arkansas is looking to replace the home run production of Bri Ellis and Courtney Day, who combined for 42 homers a season ago.

McDowell got off to a good start in that department with the 2-run homer to left field. She continued to make good contact on the ball, as her double in the fifth inning hit off the wall in center field.

"She's going to go after the pitches she wants to hit," Deifel said. "She had some really big at-bats today. She went oppo off a couple changeups and did just some really great things."

Opening Day

Arkansas improved to 9-2 in season openers under Deifel. Arkansas was 9-10 in openers prior to her taking over as head coach in 2016.

Deifel is both the longest-tenured and winningest coach in program history with 360 victories.

Arkansas seasons openers under Courtney Deifel

2026: Virginia, W 17-1 (Conway, S.C.)

2025: at Texas State, W 3-1

2024: Marshall, W 10-3 (Boca Raton, Fla.)

2023: Weber State, W 8-0 (Las Vegas)

2022: Rutgers, W 4-0 (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico)

2021: No. 11 Oklahoma State, L 12-11 (Monroe, La.)

2020: UTEP, W 10-0 (Las Cruces, N.M.)

2019: Campbell, W 7-3 (Lake Charles, La.)

2018: Grand Canyon, W 6-2 (Palm Springs, Calif.)

2017: UMass Lowell, W 10-1 (Denton, Texas)

2016: at Texas, L 4-1

Box Score

For a second straight year, a snowstorm swept through the Grand Strand, bringing a winter spectacle to a place more familiar with boogie boards than sleds.

But after back-to-back years of winter storms, how unusual is it for this area to see so much snow?

Very.

While Myrtle Beach doesn't have a longstanding system of tracking snowfall, the National Weather Service has developed estimates dating back to 1940. To compile this database, the NWS researched snowfall totals from Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Air Force records. They also examined Myrtle Beach airport documents, NWS records and newspaper reports to create "an unofficial snowfall climatology" for Myrtle Beach.

What that database shows is that, prior to the latest storm, Myrtle Beach had seen just 82.4 inches of snow combined since 1940. The highest accumulations came in 1983 (7 inches), 1973 (9 inches) and the record-smashing 14 inches that arrived just before Christmas in 1989.

So yes, this doesn't happen often.

Forecasters say the reason the Grand Strand rarely becomes a winter wonderland is because the combination of cold air and moisture needed for snow is difficult to get with the warm winds coming off the ocean.

3:30 p.m. — Crews working to clear Grand Strand’s snowy roads

Crews have been working to clear snowy roads in the Myrtle Beach area, and officials are urging residents to stay home until driving conditions improve.

There have been no reports of storm-related bridge or road closures, but there have been multiple car crashes countywide.

Five wrecks have been reported in the city of Myrtle Beach since 4 p.m. Jan. 31, city spokeswoman Meredith Denari said. None of the crashes involved deaths or major injuries, but she said some roads are icy and dangerous.

"It is very slick out," Denari said. "And we are asking residents to continue to stay home and not drive."

The state Department of Transportation has been working to clear main routes, but secondary roads likely have more snow cover, Horry County Government spokesman Thomas Bell said.

With the county expected to see freezing temperatures again overnight, any water left on roadways could turn to ice.

"This is a significant event anytime there's snowfall in Horry County, no matter how much falls," Bell said. "We just want people to enjoy it safely, make good decisions, and certainly the safety issue when it comes to refreezing tonight will be something we want folks to heed."

Road conditions in Georgetown County are also hazardous and officials there have also encouraged residents not to drive.

2:15 p.m. — Sledding with surf boards in Myrtle Beach

Surf boards and trash can lids became sleds Feb. 1 as families gathered on a small hill at The Market Common’s Valor Memorial Garden to take advantage of a rare opportunity to go sledding in Myrtle Beach.

Lori Coles stood at the bottom of the hill catching her grandkids as they came flying down the gentle slope on plastic storage bin lids. This was an essential job, considering a large pond sat on the other side of her and they didn’t want anyone to end up taking a swim in frigid water.

Coles and her daughter, Alyssa Mims, laughed as the kids came tumbling down on their makeshift sleds. The snow was worn down to mud and grass in some spots, but no one cared.

On the hill, the kids were geared up in rainboots and snow-soaked gloves. The family has been in Myrtle Beach for 20 years and said they have only seen snow a few times. Mims grew up in Pittsburgh, Pa., and got to experience snow and sledding every winter there. Mims was glad to see her kids get that opportunity, too. She said her kids were so excited they were counting down the days until the winter storm arrived.

“It couldn’t come soon enough for them,” Mims said.

12 p.m. — With families stranded in Myrtle Beach, a dance show doesn’t miss a step

Even in a snowstorm, the show must go on.

That was the number at the NRG Dance Project competition at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center on Feb. 1 after 5 inches fell and stranded about 500 participants and their families.

While most all scheduled events along the Grand Strand were postponed ahead of the winter storm, the music played on for the NRG staff and teams from around the Southeast. The four-day event kicked off Jan. 29 before many of the weather models agreed on the forecast.

"The teams were already in town, so we decided it was best to move forward," NRG General Manager Melissa Lankston said. "Most of our teams are from (the region) and couldn't drive home, so they're enjoying dancing and playing in the snow. Some are seeing snow for the first time."

After Saturday night's session, Lankston said the dance teams emerged from the main hall to see it snowing sideways. Many of the participants, ages 4 through 18, dashed outside for makeshift snowball fights and to make snow angels while the L.A.-based NRG staff watched on in awe.

"Everybody is making the most of it," said NRG faculty member Eva Mitchell, thanking the convention center and adjoining Sheraton Hotel for working with them. "The workers were out shoveling the sidewalks all night and they offered extended group rates to those who need to stay longer."

Some convention center staff members also spent the night at the venue to avoid driving in hazardous conditions and to make sure the dance competition went off without a hitch.

"We come to Myrtle Beach in the summer, but this is a first," said Lisa Turner, who brought her daughter, Katie, from Pooler, Ga. "We're probably going to stay over another night until it clears up. It's not very often you get to see snow on the beach."

8:30 a.m. — Heading out to a ‘magical’ scene

Camera in hand, Christian Elia arrived at the Conway Riverwalk just after sunrise.

He wanted to see the snow.

“Magical,” he said as he stood near the blanketed banks of the Waccamaw River. “It’s completely ethereal out here.”

Forecasters said the Myrtle Beach area received about 3-6 inches of accumulation, but inland communities and those closest to the North Carolina border got more. The storm was expected to be out of the region by 9 a.m.

The North Strand saw some power outages, but Santee Cooper reported that most of those issues had been addressed. Just over 1,100 of the utility’s customers were without power as of 8:30 a.m., according to Santee Cooper’s outage map. At one time, about 4,000 customers there had no electricity.

7:15 a.m. — Which areas of the Grand Strand saw the most snow?

Communities near the North Carolina border saw the most snow overnight.

There were reports of 8 inches in North Myrtle Beach and 7 inches in Loris, said Jordan Baker, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Myrtle Beach received about 5 inches and Murrells Inlet saw about 5.5 inches.

“The real winners were just either right along the state line or just north of it,” Baker said, adding that the storm dumped snow in southeastern North Carolina. “A pretty heavy band set up and there were some totals in excess of a foot there.”

The southern end of the Grand Strand didn’t see as much snow. Baker said the NWS had not received many reports from Georgetown early Feb. 1 but radar indicated about 2 inches fell there.

“Unfortunately, (the) Georgetown area really kind of didn’t get as much as they were hoping for,” he said, noting there was a report of 3 inches just north of Andrews.

The snow was tapering off around sunrise with storm expected to be out of the area by 9 a.m. But with the temperatures staying below freezing on Feb. 1, the powder wasn’t expected to melt quickly.

“We have some sunshine, which would help a very small, small bit,” Baker said. “But then tonight, inland areas get into the single digits and at the coast probably in the low teens. So this one’s going to stick around for at least a couple days.”

CONWAY — In 2010, Jon Angell opened his first J Peters Grill & Bar in Anderson.

Angell said he’ll never forget those first few months trying to become a legitimate player in a tough industry. He put in 20-hour days and slept in a booth, despite his house only being a few miles away.

“That's how it all began,” Angell said. “I was only going to do one restaurant.”

Despite having no plans to expand his brand, just eight months later Angell was opening his second J Peters. After that, he got the fever for it. Eventually people were telling Angell to try J Peters at the coast and he started building restaurants in the Myrtle Beach area.

Angell admits he made many mistakes in those early years and grew too quickly — at one point owning 17 restaurants.

He’s pared his operation down, but not along the Grand Strand. In fact, Angell now lives here full time and is continuing to expand in the area.

Angell now operates eight J Peters locations, and half of them are in the Myrtle Beach area. His restaurants in Carolina Forest, North Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island will soon be joined by a fifth in Conway.

J Peters joins Coastal Centre redevelopment plans

J Peters is coming to Conway as a part of the Coastal Centre redevelopment by Rise Partners. The restaurant will be front and center near the 16th Avenue entrance.

Angell plans for J Peters to open by the end of 2026, just in time for the holidays.

Other Coastal Centre businesses that have filed plans with the city include a Walmart Neighborhood Market, Chipotle, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Ulta, PetSmart, Five Below, Burlington and Parker’s Kitchen convenience store.

More shopping and dining announcements are coming, according to a Rise Partners leasing manager Carter Smith. Smith expects stores to begin opening by the spring and early summer.

Angell has been involved in the mall’s redevelopment since the early days of the project. He believes Conway has a demand for more casual restaurants. The J Peters menu features sandwiches, steaks, pasta dishes and more.

The Conway building will officially be turned over to Angell in July.

Angell has his contractor lined up and is already buying equipment for the restaurant so he can open as soon as possible. He said the restaurant will have a similar look to his Carolina Forest location with brown tile floors and dark tables.

CONWAY, SC—A South Carolina city is celebrating after marking a major tourism milestone.

Conway City Administrator Adam Emrick told the city council on Monday that 2.8 million people visited downtown Conway last year.

“To put the number of 2.8 million into perspective, Hilton Head annually welcomes 2.5 million people,” he said.

“My optimistic but not unrealistic prediction for 2026 is that we're going to be very close to that 3 million number this year,” Emrick continued.

He also reminded council meeting attendees of his 2025 goal of 2 million visitors during the year.

“When I said that, I was being optimistic, but I was not being unrealistic,” he said.

The achievement of 2.8 million visitors exceeded his prediction “by 800,000 people. That is an increase of 15.7%,” he noted.

Conway decorates for several holidays, including Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day.

In recent years, they’ve sought to expand their Halloween decorating endeavors, even changing the city’s name for the season to the “City of Halloween.”

The city also marked a tourism achievement last year, with 450,000 people coming through downtown Conway in October alone.

Conway’s decorations, particularly for Halloween, get more extravagant each year—and the decorating budget has increased to account for it.

Emrick said the city is now spending about $225,000 a year for holiday decorating.

“And we entirely pay for the holidays out of our hospitality fee collection, which is a point-of-sale collection at restaurants and prepared food. So, we don't spend any property tax revenue. We don't spend any other tax revenue,” he explained in an interview last year.

Since ramping up holiday décor, Emrick said “we have seen our collections in just the downtown increase 20% year over year each year. And we're expecting another year like that.”