GREENSBORO, N.C. – Enka battled back from a two-run deficit after the first inning to take game one of the NCHSAA 3A Softball Championship over C.B. Aycock 8-6. The Sugar Jets answered the Falcons two runs in the bottom of the first, with a pair of their own in the second. Addison Harris followed that up in the top of the third with a two-run homer to make it 4-2.
The Falcons trimmed the deficit to one in the bottom of the fifth as C.B. Aycock got a pair of singles from Connor Vinson and Tanika Powell to start the inning. Vinson eventually stole third base before coming around to score on an RBI groundout by Madison Walton making the score 4-3.
The Jets exploded for four runs in the top of the seventh inning, all coming with two outs in the inning. Whitney Fletcher and Brittany Fletcher started the two-out rally with a pair of singles before Kloyee Anderson singled and Claire Crout doubled, all coming around to score in the inning and building an 8-3 lead for Enka.
The Jets managed to hang on despite a feverish rally by the Falcons in the bottom of the seventh. Allie Phillips led off the inning with a single, then Connor Vinson reached on an error before Powell slapped a triple, scoring both runners with no one out in the frame. Powell scored on an RBI-groundout by Hannah Vinson, trimming the Enka lead to 8-6.
Enka pitcher Courtney Pearson managed to slam the door on the Falcon rally, inducing two groundouts to end the game and give the Sugar Jets a game one win in the best-of-three State Championship Series.
Game two of the 3A Softball Championship Series between Enka and C.B. Aycock is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon at UNCG’s Spartan Softball Stadium.
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