NCHSAA Baseball and Softball Friday Updates from Greensboro, Raleigh and Zebulon

4A Softball Game 1 – North Davidson blanks Cape Fear 4-0
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The North Davidson Lady Knights came out swinging in the second inning, pushing across three runs in the frame to jump out to an early lead over Cape Fear on their way to a 4-0 shutout win in Game 1 of the NCHSAA 4A Softball State Championship Series.

Haden Womble led off the inning for the Knights with a single. That was followed by a stolen base for Womble, and a single by Sydney Snyder to move Womble to third. Knights first baseman, Olivia Coleman stepped in and drilled a single plating both runners and giving North Davidson the 2-0 lead. Colman later came around to score on a two-out single by Faith Jarvis.

The Knights added another run in the sixth as Snyder drew a one-out walk, coming around to score on an RBI groundout by right fielder Lexi Bryant to make it 4-0.

North Davidson got a fantastic pitching performance in the circle by Regan Spencer. Spencer threw a complete game shutout, striking out five Colt batters and only allowing two hits and a single walk.

North Davidson improves to 26-7 on the year and is one win away from closing out the best-of-three 4A State Championship Series. Cape Fear dropped to 28-2 on the year. Game two is scheduled for 11:00 am tomorrow morning at UNCG Softball Stadium in Greensboro.

Final Box Score


2A Softball Game 1 – South Granville cruises to a 3-0 win over Parkwood
GREENSBORO, N.C. – South Granville is familiar with the NCHSAA Softball Championships, they’ve won the last two at the 2A level. They certainly showed their comfort with the big stage in game one of the 2017 edition of the State Championship Series, cruising past Parkwood 3-0.

After a leadoff single by Emma Jones in the bottom of the first, Megan White ripped a two out double to score Jones and give the Lady Vikings a 1-0 lead. The Vikings didn’t score again until the fifth when Brianne Coleman ledoff with a single and Jordan Talley launched a two-run homer to put the Vikings up 3-0.

Miranda Baker was superb in the circle for South Granville. Baker spun a complete game, two-hit shutout. She struck out three on the evening while only walking one. She stranded five Parkwood runners on base.

South Granville has the opportunity to sweep the best-of-three series in game two on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at UNCG Softball Stadium in Greensboro.

Final Box Score


4A Baseball Game 1 – Watt 2-run blast lifts T.C. Roberson to 3-1 victory over New Hanover

RALEIGH, N.C. – A pair of lefty starters weaved their way through the opening four frames scoreless between T.C. Roberson and New Hanover in the 4A Baseball State Championship Series Game 1. While the pitching shined early, it was Collin Watt’s bat that won it, as his two-run homer in the fifth lifted T.C. Roberson to a game one win, 3-1 over New Hanover.

Caleb Bishop from New Hanover and Eric Wellington spun scoreless ball through four, with the help of a combined four double plays in the first three innings. However, in the top of the fifth Wellington was touched up as he loaded the bases with one out. Alec Cortner grounded to third base, where Watt stepped on the bag for one, but his throw was in the dirt and the Rams couldn’t complete the game’s fifth double play scoring Blake Walston.

Roberson responded in the bottom of the inning as Jacob McCarthy singled with one out. That brought up the game’s hero Watt who hammered a ball over the left field wall to make it 2-1 T.C. Roberson. The Rams added another run in the sixth on a Luke Wood single.

Wellington got the win, going 5.1 innings only allowing 3 hits and a single earned run. He struck out four while walking only two. T.C. Roberson can close out the best-of-three series with a single win. Game two between the two teams is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Saturday at NC State’s Doak Field at Dail Park.

Final Box Score


1A Baseball Game 1 – Whiteville and Gore blow past Murphy 10-0 in six

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Whiteville Wolfpack cruised to a 10-0 victory over Murphy as the Gatorade Player of the Year, Mackenzie Gore led his team both at the plate and on the mound in game on of the 1A State Championship Series.

The Wolfpack jumped on the Bulldogs early, as Brooks Baldwin opened the game with a single ahead of Gore’s mammoth shot to right field to give the Whiteville side a 2-0 lead. The Wolfpack added a third run in the first inning as Cameron Cartrette walked followed by a wild pitch and passed ball to move pinch runner Joey Kurtyka to third. Lincoln Ransom’s single plated Kurtyka and Whiteville would not look back.

Gore took the mound with a 3-0 lead and dominated the Bulldog hitters. He flung a complete game, two-hit shutout, piling up 13 strikeouts in his six innings of work. Impressively Gore only used 76 pitches in his duties. Caleb Irwin and Luke Garrett were the only two Bulldog hitters to dent Gore, each with singles.

Cartrette tacked on three more runs as he cleared the bases in the second inning for the Wolfpack, ripping a triple down the right field line. That gave Whiteville a 6-0 lead. The Wolfpack added a pair of runs in the fourth and in the sixth innings to wrap up the game.

Whiteville can close out the best-of-three series Saturday afternoon in game two of the series. First pitch between the Wolfpack and Bulldogs is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Doak Field at Dail Park on the campus of NC State University in Raleigh.

Final Box Score


3A Softball Game 1 – Orange holds off Piedmont 3-2 on a two-run HR by Davidson

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Orange Panthers got their 3A State Championship Series off to a good start as Mia Davidson’s two-run shot in the sixth lifted them to a 3-2 win over Piedmont in game one.

Davidson’s two run shot to center field gave Orange a 3-2 lead, plating Hayley Funk who singled earlier to lead off the inning. The bomb by Davidson handed a one-run lead to Kristina Givins who worked around a two-out double by Kristen Delbene and a two-out walk, to preserve a 3-2 victory and 1-0 series lead for Orange.

Piedmont did all of their damage against Givins in the third inning. Kyrah Phelix led off with a single and Avery Bellai drew a walk to put two on with no one out. Gracie Gibson singled to bring both runners home with one out and lift the Piedmont side to the lead for the time.

Orange took the early lead as Abigail Hamlet singled off the pitcher’s glove with one out in the bottom of the first. She scored on an RBI single up the middle by Jaden Hurdle. Givins got the win, working around nine Piedmont hits in seven innings, allowing just the two runs.

Orange has an opportunity to close the best-of-three series with a win in game two on Saturday. The game is scheduled to begin at 2:00 pm at Dail Softball Field on the campus of NC State University in Raleigh.

Final Box Score – Not provided


3A Baseball Game 1 – Northern Guilford gets past Crest 4-2 behind strong outing from Cotter?
ZEBULON, N.C. – Northern Guilford took game one of the 3A State Championship Series over Crest 4-2 behind a complete game, four-hit performance by Cameron Cotter. Cotter allowed two runs, striking out six with only two walks on the evening.

The Nighthawk offense got going early, scoring in the bottom of the second inning with John Clark Ouzts led off the inning with a single ripped to left. Brandon Bledsoe singled to bring him home and give Northern Guilford a 1-0 lead.

The Chargers did not go away quietly as they responded in the third inning. Pitcher Riley Cheek helped his own cause with a one-out double, coming around to score on an RBI single to center field by shortstop Nick Melton. Melton’s single tied the game at 1.

J.T. Jarrett delivered single to center field in the fourth inning, sending Reece Brondolo and Logan King racing for home to give the Nighthawks a 3-1 advantage.

Crest trimmed the lead to one in the top of the sixth as Logan McNeely led off with a walk, then stole second base. Ben Ledbetter singled to right field to bring McNeely around, cutting the Northern Guilford lead in half at 3-2. However, the Nighthawks got some insurance in the bottom half of the inning as Evan Mericka grounded to short, reaching on a throwing error. The error allowed Bledsoe to come around to score, increasing the Northern lead to 4-2.

Northern Guilford can close out the best-of-three Championship Series with a win tomorrow. Game two of the series is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at Five County Stadium in Zebulon.

Final Box Score


2A Baseball Game 1 – Holmes nabs opener 3-1 R-S Central despite only two hits?
ZEBULON, N.C. – The John A. Holmes Aces found a way to win the opening game of the 2A State Championship Series against R-S Central, 3-1, despite only mustering two hits in the contest.

Dylan Patrick was masterful on the mound for the Aces. Patrick amassed nine strikeouts, holding the Hilltoppers to a single run. He worked around six hits and two walks during his seven innings on the hill.

R-S Central grabbed the lead in the third inning as Keaton Snethen scored on what ended up being a single by Cam Snethen after an appeal. Cam Snethen smoked a ball out into left field that got by a diving Luke Hoggard in left and rolled all the way to the wall. Both Snethens appeared to score on the play, however, upon appeal to second base, it was rule that Cam didn’t touch second, and he was called out which removed his run from the board, leaving the score 1-0 Hilltoppers.

Holmes got on the board in the fourth inning as Ben Ward drew a one out walk, working his way over to third before scoring on a passed ball by Hilltoppers catcher Wesley Smith. The passed ball also moved Patrick onto third, and he was able to score on an RBI single to right by Harrison Powell. Hoggard was cutdown at the plate on the play to end the inning, but not before the Aces had grabbed a 2-1 advantage.

Holmes got another run in the fifth as Nathaniel Stallings drew a leadoff walk, stole second and took third on a wild pitch. Stallings came around to score on the second and final hit of the game for the Aces, this one by Chace Kelley, giving Holmes the final margin 3-1.

Holmes can close out the best-of-three series in game two on Saturday at Five County Stadium. First pitch for Game 2 of the 2A series is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

FINAL BOX SCORE