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

3A Baseball Game 3 – Northern Guilford holds off Crest 2-1 to win first state title
ALL THREE GAMES OF THIS SERIES CAN BE HEARD ON GREENSBOROSPORTS RADIO

ZEBULON, N.C. – Northern Guilford’s Logan King ripped a triple in the second inning that scored Troy Minor, tying the game at 1 before he scored on an RBI groundout by Brandon Bledsoe to give the Nighthawks a 2-1 lead that they made stand up to win the 3A State Championship over Crest. The title was the first in school history for the Nighthawk baseball program.

Joe Millwee got the call to the mound for Northern Guilford in game three, and the senior pitched quite well. Millwee went 5.1 innings with only a single run allowed, striking out four while walking two. He scattered six hits through his work.

Crest opened the scoring in the first inning as the Chargers came out of the gates swinging. Game one starting pitcher, Riley Cheek, led off the ball game with a single and crossed the plate on an RBI double by the next Crest batter, Nick Melton. Despite the hot start, the Chargers couldn’t muster any further offense.

Trailing by a run in their final at bat, Crest managed to work three walks off Northern Guilford reliever Josh Pike in the top of the seventh. With the tying run at third and go-ahead run at second, Pike buckled down and forced Logan McNeely to fly out to right field to end the game.

Northern Guilford shortshop and leadoff hitter J.T. Jarrett was named the series M.V.P. Jarrett went 4 for 10 in the series with 4 RBIs.

FINAL BOX SCORE


3A Baseball Game 2 – Crest forces game 3 with a 4-2 win over Northern Guilford
ZEBULON, N.C. – The Crest Chargers scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth and then made a game-ending double play with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh to take a 4-2 win over Northern Guilford and force a game three in the 3A Baseball State Championship Series.

Crest got a pair of runs in the sixth inning to take the lead for good. The Chargers got a leadoff single by C.J. Mayhue and Harrill followed drawing a walk. Cash bunted the two runners over. An error on the second baseman allowed both runners to cross the plate and gave Crest a 4-2 lead.

John Clark Ouzts went the distance on the mound for Northern Guilford, scattering six hits over six frames with four walks.

Crest chipped at Ouzts with a run in the third and in the fourth. Riley Cash reached on a dropped third strike with one out in the third before stealing second. Cash scored on an RBI single by Ben Ledbetter. In the fourth Lawson Harrill drew a two out walk, coming around to score on an RBI single by Riley Cheek tying the score at 2.

Northern Guilford got their only two runs in the fourth. Brandon Bledsoe was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Logan King followed with a single. J.T. Jarrett then ripped a double down the left field line to plate both runners and give the Nighthawks a brief 2-1 lead.

The win by Crest forces a decisive game three in the 3A Championship series. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Five County Stadium in Zebulon.
FINAL BOX SCORE


1A Softball Game 2 – Whiteville bats come alive, blast North Stanly 12-0 to force game 3
RALEIGH, N.C. – With their backs against the wall, trailing a 1-0 in the best-of-three series for the 1A State Championship, Whiteville’s bats woke up early, scoring five runs in the opening inning on the way to a 12-0 victory in five innings.

The Wolfpack batted around in the top of the first inning, as Laura Thompson led off with a double, Kourtney Grainger and Sage McLelland then singled with the next two batter drawing walks. All five came around to score in the frame, giving Whiteville a 5-0 lead before heading out to the field.

Whiteville batted around again in the fifth inning when Ivy Hayes reached on an error to lead off. The Wolfpack sacrificed her into scoring position, and Raeganne Sholar singled to bring her around. Santana Best and Lauren Hilbourn added two-out singles in the inning before Laura Thompson drew a walk, Kourtney grainger cleared the bases with a double to make it 10-0. Sage McLelland launched a two-run homer to score Grainger and bring the game to a close in five innings.

Hayes was brilliant in the circle as well. She limited the Comets to just two hits while striking out six in her five innings of work. Sam Hogan and Merris Talbert were the lone Comets to get hits off the Whiteville junior.

With the win, Whiteville evens the series at a game a piece, forcing the decisive game three this afternoon at 5:00 p.m. at NC State’s Dail Softball Complex.

FINAL BOX SCORE


1A Softball Game 3 – North Stanly outlasts Whiteville 4-2 to win in 11 innings?
RALEIGH, N.C. – The Comets of North Stanly captured their first NCHSAA fast-pitch state championship, hanging on to beat Whiteville 4-2 in an 11-inning thriller in the series finale.

Merris Talbert went 11 innings for the Comets, hurling eight strikeouts while allowing just two runs, both earned, two walks and seven hits in the outing. She was matched almost pitch for pitch by Whiteville’s Ivy Hayes who also went 11-innings, giving up 12 hits, and four runs, all earned. Hayes only walked one while striking out eight.

It was a pitcher’s duel until the final inning. In the top half of the 11th North Stanly got a leadoff single from Payton Landis. Then Alexa Sells dug in and launched one out of the park to give the Comets a 3-1 lead. Sells was named the series M.V.P. for what turned out to be the game-winning homer. Mimi Selke added to the Comet lead when she reached with a single in the inning and scored on an RBI single by Jada Jordan.

With a 4-1 lead and three outs to get, Talbert went back to work in the circle against the Wolfpack. Laura Thompson reached with a one-out single. She scored on an RBI single by Sage McLelland to trim the Comet advantage to 4-2 with one out in the inning. However, Talbert reached back to get a little extra for the next two batters, striking them both out to close out the win and series for North Stanly.

The two teams swapped runs in the third inning. North Stanly scratched first with Sam Hogan leading off with a double before scoring on an RBI single by Jordan. Whiteville answered with Santana Best leading off with a single. She was bunted into scoring position by Lauren Hilbourn and scored on a two out single by Kourtney Grainger to tie the game at 1.

FINAL BOX SCORE


4A Softball Game 2 – North Davidson holds off Cape Fear 3-2 to sweep
GREENSBORO, N.C. – North Davidson got their bats stared early, pushing a run across in the bottom of the first and another in the bottom of the second on their way to a 3-2 series sweeping victory over Cape Fear in the 4A State Softball Championship. The win gave North Davidson the school’s second fast-pitch state championship, their first since winning the 4A title in 2010.

Faith Jarvis opened the bottom of the first with a leadoff double for the Knights. Jarvis came home to score the game’s first run on a two-out RBI single by designated player Katie McNeill.

North Davidson followed almost an identical script for their run in the second as Syndey Snyder doubled to open the inning, this time scoring on an RBI groundout by Lexi Bryant to take a 2-0 lead.

Cape Fear did not go quietly as the Colts battled back in the sixth. Haley Cashwell started the inning off with a single, reaching second on an error while Bri Bryant drew a 1-out walk. Both came around to score, Cashwell on an RBI by Sammi Jo Loney and Bryant on an RBI groundout by Alyssa Goshorn to tie the game at two.

In the bottom half of the sixth, Autumn Stover got things started for the Knights with a leadoff single. Katie McNeill moved her up with a ground out and then Snyder drove her home with a two-out RBI single to put the Knights ahead for good 3-2.

Kaitlyn Knuckles pitched all six innings for Cape Fear. She kept the Colts in the game while their bats warmed up. Knuckles allowed three runs, all earned, including eight hits, with a walk and a strikeout.

Reagan Spencer pitched well for the Knights but ran into trouble in the sixth, where she was removed after giving up a pair of runs. Spencer was named the series MVP for her performance in the pitching circle over the two-game set. McNeill took over going the remaining 1.1 innings, retiring all four batters she faced including two strikeouts. She was credited with the win.

FINAL BOX SCORE


4A Baseball Game 2 – T.C. Roberson bashes way to a 10-4 win and sweep of New Hanover?
RALEIGH, N.C. – T.C. Roberson got going early, as the Rams drew three walks in the opening inning off New Hanover starter, Blake Walston, before Will Butcher smashed a shot to left field for a grand slam that put the Rams ahead for good 4-0 in the opening inning. The Rams kept swinging, racking up 10 runs on their way to a 10-4 victory and series sweep of the Wildcats.

T.C. Roberson piled on five more runs in the second inning, as Jacob McCarthy led off with a double before Garrett Blaylock singled him home. Blaylock went 2 for 2 on the afternoon including the RBI and a double, he was named the series MVP for his heroics over the weekend.

The Rams kept the pressure on after the Blaylock single as Collin Watt scored on an RBI groundout by Ty Gossett to make it 6-0. Butcher dug back in, lofting a soft fly into shallow center that fell in for a single scoring Blaylock from third. A Spencer Keehan single to center plated two more and T.C. Roberson had a 9-0 lead through an inning and a half.

New Hanover started to claw back in the third as Jac Croom led off the inning with a double. A pair of errors by Blaylock in the inning helped keep the inning going and the Wildcats pushed three across the plate to trim the advantage to 9-3.

In the fourth, T.C. Roberson got a leadoff walk by Gossett. Gossett came around to score with a Butcher double to right center, making it 10-3 Rams. The Wildcats tacked on one run in the seventh, but did not threaten to get back in the game.

The win gave T.C. Roberson the school’s fourth baseball state title, all at the 3A level. The last title for the Rams came back in 2002.

FINAL BOX SCORE


3A Baseball Game 2 – Crest forces game 3 with a 4-2 win over Northern Guilford
ZEBULON, N.C. – The Crest Chargers scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth and then made a game-ending double play with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh to take a 4-2 win over Northern Guilford and force a game three in the 3A Baseball State Championship Series.

Crest got a pair of runs in the sixth inning to take the lead for good. The Chargers got a leadoff single by C.J. Mayhue and Harrill followed drawing a walk. Cash bunted the two runners over. An error on the second baseman allowed both runners to cross the plate and gave Crest a 4-2 lead.

John Clark Ouzts went the distance on the mound for Northern Guilford, scattering six hits over six frames with four walks.

Crest chipped at Ouzts with a run in the third and in the fourth. Riley Cash reached on a dropped third strike with one out in the third before stealing second. Cash scored on an RBI single by Ben Ledbetter. In the fourth Lawson Harrill drew a two out walk, coming around to score on an RBI single by Riley Cheek tying the score at 2.

Northern Guilford got their only two runs in the fourth. Brandon Bledsoe was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Logan King followed with a single. J.T. Jarrett then ripped a double down the left field line to plate both runners and give the Nighthawks a brief 2-1 lead.

The win by Crest forces a decisive game three in the 3A Championship series. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Five County Stadium in Zebulon.
FINAL BOX SCORE


3A Softball Game 2 – Orange sweeps Piedmont with a 4-1 victory
RALEIGH, N.C. – The Orange Panthers captured the school’s first fast-pitch softball state championship with a 4-1 win in game two, sweeping the series over Piedmont.

Orange jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening inning as Mia Davidson drew a leadoff walk and Abigail Hamlett singled. The pair came around on Jaden Hurdle’s RBI single.

Davidson later scored again in the seventh as she was walked with two outs following a Hayley Funk single. Funk and Davidson scored on Hamlett’s two-out double, pushing the Orange advantage to 4-1.

Piedmont’s lone run came in the third inning as Kyrah Phelix had a leadoff single. She advanced on Kristen DelBene’s two-out single before Gracie Gibson singled sending Phelix across the plate to cut the Orange lead to 2-1.

For the second in as many outings, Kristina Givins was outstanding in the circle for Orange. Givins scattered six hits with only a single run. She struck out one, walking only two.

Davidson was named the series M.V.P. drawing three walks on the day in game two. She homered in the sixth inning of game one to give Orange a 3-2 victory.

FINAL BOX SCORE


2A Baseball Game 2 – Holmes sweeps R-S Central with a 7-2 victory in game two
ZEBULON, N.C. – Holmes got a masterful performance from senior Mathew Benfield who spun a complete game, allowing just two runs, both earned, on four hits, striking out six and working around three walks. Benfield’s steady presence on the mound helped Holmes power their way to a 7-2 victory in game two of the 2A State Championship Series, earning the Aces a sweep and their first ever State Championship.

The two teams traded runs in the opening inning. Holmes got a run on a two-out RBI single by Luke Hoggard, plating Ben Ward who reached on an error, taking a 1-0 lead. R-S Central struck back in the bottom of the frame, as Jake Laughter drove in Jace Crowe who singled with two out earlier, tying the game at 1.

The Aces piled on two in the third as Ward led off the inning with a walk. Dylan Patrick, the game one starting and winning pitcher, followed that with a one out single to set the table for Harrison Powell. Powell grounded into what looked to be an inning-ending double play, but shortstop Keaton Snethen’s throw got away from the first baseman and two runs scored to put Holmes up 3-1.

Then in the fifth, Holmes tacked on three more. Patrick Downum was hit by a pitch to begin the inning. Hoggard singled to move him up into scoring position and that brought up Powell who ripped an RBI single with one away, making it 4-1 Holmes.

With runners on the corners and two outs, Nathaniel Stallings executed a perfect squeeze bunt, scoring Hoggard from third and putting the Aces on top 5-1. Stanley White roped a triple over the right fielder, scoring Powell from second and making the Aces lead 6-1.

The Hilltoppers struck back in the bottom of the fifth as Keaton Snethen scored on an RBI single by Crowe, but that would be as close as R-S Central could get at 6-2. Holmes picked up one more in the top of the seventh as Powell scored on an RBI single by Chace Kelley putting the score to the final margin.

Holmes’ Patrick was named the series MVP for his pitching performance on Friday night and 1 for 3 day at the plate on Saturday with an intentional walk and run scored.

FINAL BOX SCORE


1A Baseball Game 2 – Whiteville scores five in bottom of the seventh to stun Murphy 9-8 and sweep series
RALEIGH, N.C. – Facing a four-run deficit in their final at bat, the Whiteville Wolfpack went to work, sending nine men to the plate before scoring the game-winning fifth run of the inning on a Jake Harwood single to right field. The Wolfpack stunned Murphy 9-8 to take game two and the 1A State Championship series by a 2-0 count to claim the school’s eighth championship.

The Wolfpack got off to a good start, jumping out to a 3-0 lead posting three runs in the second inning. Dylan Lawson opened the inning with a single, coming around to score on a one-out RBI double by Will Hinson. Dylon Hamilton drew a one-out walk to follow that. Then Brooks Baldwin slashed a triple to right, scoring both runners.

Baldwin finished the game a homer short of the cycle. He was 3 for 5 in the game with five runs batted in, including a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh rally. He also doubled home a run to tie the game in the sixth, scoring Earl Grubbs on the play, tying the game at 4.

Murphy scrapped and clawed the whole game. The Bulldogs tied the game with three in the fourth inning, turning a walk, a hit-batsman, a Royce Peterson double and a Caleb Irwin single into three runs.

The Bulldogs took the lead for the first time in the series in the sixth. With the game tied at three, Joey Curry drew a leadoff walk, making his way around the bases, eventually scoring on a two-out single by Jacob Bates.

Murphy exploded for four runs in the top of the seventh inning, as the first two men of the inning reached, Colton Posey on a hit by pitch and Luke Garrett on a double. Jeremiah Clark broke the tie with a sacrifice fly to right scoring Posey. Then, Joey Curry sent Garrett scrambling home with an RBI-single. Irwin followed that with a two-out RBI single of his own, plating Curry. Finally, Jacob Bates singled to right scoring Irwin, stretching out their lead to 8-4, needing just three outs to force a decisive game 3 in the series.

Mackenzie Gore was named the series MVP. He homered and was the winning pitcher in game one, striking out 13 on his night without allowing a run on two hits. He was 1 for 3 in game two, scoring a run in the decisive seventh inning after reaching on a fielding error to lead off the inning.

FINAL BOX SCORE


2A Softball Game 2 – Parkwood scraps their way to a game three with a 3-2 win over South Granville?
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Parkwood got a big performance out of junior pitcher Caroline Ruth as she held the two-time defending 2A Champions, South Granville to just seven hits and two runs while going 2 for 3 at the plate with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Ruth provided the framework for a 3-2 Rebel win that forced a decisive game three in the 2A State Championship Series.

The two teams traded runs in the early going with Parkwood grabbing a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Baylee Morton doubled to lead off the inning and came around to score eventually on a fielding error. South Granville answered in the next inning with Emma Jones singling with one out before Viking pitcher Miranda Barker helped her own cause with an RBI single to tie the score.

South Granville took the lead in the top of the fifth as Megan White left the yard with a solo shot to make it 2-1. Parkwood put together a two-out rally in the fifth to tie it at two as Amber Briggs got things started with a single before Mary Pierce Barnes smacked a double to bring her around.

Parkwood snatched the lead in the bottom of the sixth as Ruth led off the inning with a double. She eventually scored the game-winning run when Allie Griffin ripped a single with two outs in the inning to put the Rebels up 3-2.

FINAL BOX SCORE


2A Softball Game 3 – Parkwood thumps South Granville 7-2 to win first championship?
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Parkwood Rebels exploded for 5 runs in the fifth inning to break a 1-1 tie, capitalizing on three South Granville errors in the frame, on their way to a 7-2 game three win over the Vikings and the school’s first fast-pitch softball state championship.

Things started out smoothly in the fifth inning for the Vikings, as Miranda Barker retired the first batter of the inning without incident. However, that’s where the normalcy stopped.

A usually solid defensive unit committed three errors behind her, as Chloe Hardy and Amber Briggs reached on errors. Amber Briggs singled to load the bases. It looked like Barker might be able to work around the trouble as Hardy was cut down at the plate on a fielder’s choice for the second out of the inning, but Barker hit Amber Parker forcing in a run to make it 2-1.

Barker then walked opposing pitcher Caroline Ruth forcing in another run, bringing up Baylee Morton with the bases jammed. Morton unloaded on a double, clearing the bases bringing in three runs and pushing the score to 6-1 in favor of the Rebels late in the game.

South Granville answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the fifth as Emma Jones singled and came around to score on a two-out double by Ally Goss. The Vikings couldn’t manage any further progress and Parkwood tacked on another run in the top of the seventh, as Baylee Morton doubled and eventually came around to score on the fifth South Granville error of the night.

Morton was named M.V.P. of the series for Parkwood. In the series clinching game she went 3 for 4 with a run scored and three RBI. Parkwood finished the season 27-3 on the year.

FINAL BOX SCORE

2 thoughts on “NCHSAA Baseball and Softball Saturday Updates from Greensboro, Raleigh and Zebulon

  1. Nice job covering the games Andy! Us nighthawk fans that couldn’t make the trip appreciate it!!

  2. Sure am glad they won and that 2-1 Final Game was tighter that people will ever realize….

    Our coverage on Northern in the NCHSAA Finals sets the record for us and them at (7-0)….

    Four Football Titles
    Two Basketball Titles
    and now One Baseball Title….

    The one basketball went back but the game was won on the court any way…

    Still hits pretty good, to see teams go the (7-0) stretch…

    Bottom line, glad to know some people were tuned in and following the action…(And reading our re-caps too.)

    Thanks!!!!!

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