HS PLAYOFFS: S. Caldwell, Alex Central headed to state softball title series

HobbsDailyReport.com

HUDSON – A six-run sixth inning answered South Caldwell High’s need on Thursday night, netting the Spartans a shot at a state softball championship.

The rally got second-seeded South Caldwell past top-seed and visiting Richmond County 10-9 and closed out a best-of-3 series for the West 4A title.

South Caldwell won Game 1 in Rockingham 3-2 on Wednesday night then added its 25th straight victory to move into a best-of-3 series on June 1-2 for the state 4A title.

The Spartans (27-2), coached by Casey Justice, will play No. 8 Fayetteville Britt or No. 4 Wilmington Hoggard for the crown. Britt is up one game to none heading into Friday’s second game, at Britt, in the East bracket. If a third game is needed, it will be played Saturday in Fayetteville.

South Caldwell worked its way back to beat the Raiders (24-5), who had a one-run lead that was stretched to five runs in the sixth inning via adding four more runs.

The Spartans’ go-ahead rally in the bottom of the sixth inning featured a bases-loaded walk drawn by Ciara Hanson, a run scoring when Reagan Weisner was hit by a pitch, a two-run double by Graclyn Green and a two-run double by Addison Blair.

Richmond County had runners at first and second in its final at-bat but they were left stranded.

South Caldwell had a 3-0 lead after winning pitcher Anna King hit a home run in the second inning, but the Raiders wiped that out with one swing – a grand-slam by Taylor Parrish.

Weinser later hit a home run for the Spartans.

Thursday’s victory was the 20th in the postseason (20-18) all-time for South Caldwell, which reached the West 4A title series after having a first-round bye, then beating McDowell 8-6, West Forsyth 12-0 and Mooresville 2-1.

The Spartans had previously played for a West title once, in 2015 when they fell 6-2 and 2-0 against North Davidson.

Alexander Central 20, Carson 8

Julie Gast went 5-for-6 with two RBIs and Kelsea Dejarnette went 4-for-5 and drove in six runs as the Cougars (26-5) cruised to a West 3A title with a road victory.

Alexander Central, seeded No. 3, scored 10 runs in the top of the seventh inning and finished with 24 hits that more than offset making five errors.

The Cougars, coached by Darrell Adkins, will face No. 5 Cleveland or No. 2 Western Alamance in a best-of-3 series for a state title on June 1-2.

Game 2 of the East best-of-3 series is Friday at 6 p.m. at Cleveland, which won the opening game 12-4 on Wednesday. A third game, if needed, is set for Saturday at Western Alamance as a time to be determined.

On Thursday night, Alexander Central had a five-run first inning and No. 4 Carson (20-8) scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning.

After five innings, the Cougars were in front 8-6. Each team scored twice in the sixth inning, making it 10-8, before Alexander Central exploded for 10 runs in its final at-bat.

Leadoff hitter Lanie Goforth went 3-for-6 and drove in three runs, Alexis Walter was 4-for-5 with two RBIs and Ashley Seagle went 3-for-5 with two RBIs for the Cougars.

Carson had 10 hits, led by two each by Kary Hales and Kaitlyn Honeycutt and Sierra Ratliff and Jess Freeze each drove in two runs.

Five players combined to hit six home runs in the game – Dejarnette hit two and Goforth and Gast hit one each for the Cougars while Ratliff and Honeycutt each hit a home run for Carson.

Chesney Millsaps got a win after going seven innings, allowing 10 hits, eight runs (three earned), walking three and striking out to for Alexander Central.

Rylie Stewart, the starter for Carson, took the loss. She went one-third of an inning, allowing seven hits, nine runs (all earned) and she walked two.

The Cougars touched reliever Katie Jewell for 15 hits over six innings. She gave up eight runs (seven earned), walked one and struck out one.

Alexander Central will be playing for its ninth girls’ softball state title since 1991. The Cougars won titles in 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2014.

MORE COVERAGE: https://www.salisburypost.com/2018/05/25/prep-softball-carson-crunched-in-finale/

Franklin 8, Bunker Hill 4

Three home runs — including back-to-back shots in the fourth inning — carried second-seeded Franklin past No. 13 seed Bunker Hill in Claremont, forcing a deciding third game in the West 2A series.

Bunker Hill (17-7) visits Franklin (23-1) on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Macon Middle School, with the winner advancing to the June 1-2 best-of-3 series for a state 2A title.

Second-seeded North Johnston (27-1) and No. 1 South Granville (23-0) are battling for an East 2A title.

Franklin, dealt a 2-0 loss by Bunker Hill on Tuesday at Franklin, got back-to-back home runs from Haeli Bryson and McKenize Redoutey and a solo shot the next inning by Paige Norton to knock off the Bears.

Bryson was the winning pitcher.

Kailey Travis and Sydnie Ammons each had two hits for Bunker Hill, coached by Randy Joines..

MORE COVERAGE: https://www.citizen-times.com/story/sports/high-school/hshuddle/2018/05/24/franklin-forces-game-3-2-regional-championship-series/643130002/

BASEBALL

Ledford 2, North Lincoln 0

The Panthers won at home on Friday night, closing out a best-of-3 series for the West 2A title by beating the Knights (25-4).

Luke Whitaker, an N.C. State signee, threw a three-hitter and retired North Lincoln in order in five of seven innings. He struck out nine and threw only 87 pitches.

Ledford advances to a best-of-3 state 2A title series on June 1-2 against No. 2 North Lenoir or No. 1 Whiteville.

Whiteville won the opening game of the East series 4-2 on Wednesday night in Whiteville. Game 2 is Friday night at 7 p.m. at North Lenoir. If a third game is needed, it’s scheduled Saturday at 6 p.m. at Whiteville.

MORE COVERAGE: http://www.the-dispatch.com/sports/20180524/whitaker-hurls-ledford-to-2-0-victory

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