HobbsDailyReport.com
MOORESVILLE – A four-run fifth inning propelled West Iredell past Alexander Central and into the title game of the North Piedmont 3A-4A softball tournament.
Fourth-seeded West Iredell nipped the top-seeded Cougars at Lake Norman High, setting up an all-Iredell County championship game on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Lake Norman.
No. 2 seed Mooresville (16-3) played No. 3 Lake Norman (19-4) in the other Wednesday semifinal (no report).
Talon McClair went 4-for-4 and Leanna Sherrill had two hits and drove in three runs as West Iredell collected 11 hits an overcame four errors to beat the Cougars.
Emma Banks threw a complete game for the Warriors, allowing six hits, four runs (two earned) while walking two and striking out one.
Alexander Central (23-3) was up 1-0 through two innings. After the Warriors scored a run in the top of the third, the Cougars had a run in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead.
In the top of the fifth, West Iredell scored four runs to lead 5-2.
Alexander Central had two runs in the bottom of the seventh to get within a run.
Caroline Maltba had two RBIs for the Cougars and Julie Gast drove in the other run.
Kendra Mayes (14-2) took the pitching loss after throwing a complete game. She allowed 11 hits, five runs (four earned) with two walks and five strikeouts.
Alexander Central and Mooresville, both 4A schools, shared the NPC 3A-4A regular-season title (12-2 each).
— Reported by Jonathan Watts, Alexander Central Sports Information