NCHSAA Class 4-A Softball, Game Three: Conley Blanks North Davidson 1-0 in 4-A Series Clincher

RALEIGH — Emily Kirby tossed a two-hit shutout in the decisive third game of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 4-A softball championship series as Greenville D.H. Conley nipped North Davidson 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at Dail Softball Stadium at North Carolina State University.

Conley manufactured a first-inning run with a base hit, a bunt single, a ground out, fielder’s choice and a dropped third strike, and the Vikings made it stand up. Championship Most Valuable Player Madison Maloney and Makenna Matthijs each had hits in the inning for the Vikings, with Matthijs later scoring the run on the dropped third strike.

Hailey Coles had two of North Davidson’s three hits.

Katie Taylor of North Davidson doubled in the seventh to give the Knights some hope, but was off the base and was tagged out to end the threat.

North Davidson scored three unearned runs Friday night en route to a 3-2 victory in the series opener. Conley evened the series with a 5-0 victory earlier on Saturday behind a three-shutout pitched by Rachel Weidner.

D.H. Conley won the championship for the third time in the last five years, with previous crowns in 2011 and ’13. The Vikings wound up 27-3 overall while North Davidson, back in the championships for the first time since 2011, completed a 26-7 season under veteran coach Mike Lambros.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
STATE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Dail Softball Stadium, N.C. State
Class 4-A: Game Three

                 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  R  H  E                       
North Davidson   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  3  0
D.H. Conley      1  0  0  0  0  0  x  1  2  2

WP — Emily Kirby
LP — Blakely Thrower