Cardinals complete comeback, take decisive game 9-3
Game results will be posted here. When available, click on the game text to expand and view results.
Game 1 – Northside – Pinetown 3, East Wilkes 0
DURHAM – The Northside – Pinetown Panthers won Game 1 of the 1A Championship Series 3-0 against the East Wilkes at the Duke Softball Stadium on Friday evening.
The Panthers broke the scoreless tie at the top of the fifth inning as Megan Hopkins hit a lead-off double. Taylor Willard walked to set the stage for Emaleigh Cherry’s three-run home run, her first of the year.
That was all the offense Northside needed as Jaden Clark worked a complete game in the circle and allowed just four hits while striking out two batters and issuing just two walks to earn the win.
For the Cardinals, Chloe Andrews was saddled with the loss despite a strong five innings in which she allowed the three-run homer and just six other hits and one walk while striking out six batters.
The NCHSAA is committed to promoting and highlighting outstanding sportsmanship and has partnered with North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance to recognize one athlete from each team who has displayed the ideals of sportsmanship throughout the year. The 2024 NC Farm Bureau Sportsmanship Award winners for the 1A Softball Championships were Jaylee Nicholson-Byrd from East Wilkes and Taylor Willard from Northside- Pinetown.
Game 2 – East Wilkes 7, Northside – Pinetown 5
DURHAM – The East Wilkes Cardinals bounced back in the second game of the NCHSAA 1A Championship Series with a 7-5 win to force a decisive Game 3 with the Northside – Pinetown Panthers at Duke Softball Stadium
The Cardinals led 3-1 heading into the top of the sixth inning before Kali Cook hit an RBI single to center, Jayden Hutchinson hit a two-RBI single to left, and Zoe Cheek singled home another run to take a 7-1 lead.
The Panthers rallied in the bottom of the seventh as Megan Hopkins hit a three-run homer to pull within two runs, but Cheek, working in relief of Chloe Andrews, retired the next three batters in order and on eight pitches, earned the save.
Andrews picked up the win for working six innings and allowing five runs on six hits while recording a pair of strikeouts.
Game 3 – East Wilkes 9, Northside – Pinetown 3
DURHAM — The East Wilkes Cardinals used a seven-run fourth inning to work past the Northside – Pinetown Panthers 9-3 in the decisive Game 3 of the NCHSAA 1A Championship Series at Duke Softball Stadium on Saturday.
The win is the first Softball State Championships for the Cardinals, who finished the season 29-4. The Game 1 loss ended a 10-game winning streak for East Wilkes, but the Cardinals responded by taking Game 2 7-5 and overcoming an early deficit in Game 3.
The Panthers were leading 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning when the Cardinals’ bats got warm. East Wilkes loaded up the bases with a pair of walks and a single, and then Chloe Andrews pushed two runs across with a single to left field. Jaylee Nicholson Byrd tied the score with an RBI fielder’s choice, and the Cardinals took the lead in the next at-bat when Kyleigh Lane singled home Andrews and Kyleigh Price.
Jayden Hutchinson, who was named Most Valuable Player of the series, hit a three-run home run over the left field fence in the next at-bat to push the Cardinals’ lead to 8-3. Hutchinson also homered in the bottom of the sixth for the final run of the 2024 NCHSAA Softball season.
For the Panthers, who finished the year 22-6, Jorden Clark went 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Londyn Keech and Jaden Clark each added an RBI.
While it was the first championship, and first finals appearance for the Cardinals, it is the sixth time Head Coach Derrick Hill has won an NCHSAA softball title as he won five with the East Surry Cardinals from 2005-2011.
Southwestern Randolph walks off to 2A State Championship
Game results will be posted here. When available, click on the game text to expand and view results.
Game 1 – Southwestern Randolph 13, Midway 0
GREENSBORO – The Southwestern Randolph Cougars used an eight-run fourth inning to roll to a 13-0 win against the Midway Raiders in the first game of the 2A Championship Series at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
The Cougars took a 2-0 lead into the top of the fourth inning and then drew three straight walks to load the bases. Madelyn Smith doubled to plate the first two runs of the rally. Kami Dunn singled home Lillian Payne in the next at-bat, and after Smith scored when Dunn stole second, Alyssa Harris doubled to score Dunn.
Maddie Strider, who finished the game 3-for-5 with five RBIs, singled to left to plate two more runs, and Hayleigh Thompson capped the rally with an RBI single up the middle to score Strider.
The Cougars added three more runs in the fifth before the 10-run rule ended the game after five innings.
Macie Crutchfield earned the win in the circle for working five innings and allowing just one hit, one walk, and striking out nine batters.
The NCHSAA is committed to promoting and highlighting outstanding sportsmanship and has partnered with North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance to recognize one athlete from each team who has displayed the ideals of sportsmanship throughout the year. The 2024 NC Farm Bureau Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2A Softball Championships were Payne from Southwestern Randolph and Peyton Herring from Midway.
Game 2 – Southwestern Randolph 3, Midway 2
GREENSBORO – The Southwestern Randolph Cougars grabbed a 3-2 walk-off win in Game 2 of the 2A Championship Series to sweep Midway and earn the program’s fifth NCHSAA Softball Championship at the UNCG Softball Stadium on Saturday.
The Cougars were trailing 2-1 heading into the final frame, but Hayleigh Thompson reached base with a one-out single to put the tying run aboard. After a strikeout, Madelyn Smith singled to move Sara-Kate Marion, the pinch runner, over to second.
With two-out and two-on, Kami Dunn singled to left field and that allowed Marion to score and Smith also scored on the play after an error at the plate. The play sealed the win and the sweep after the Cougars took Game 1 on Friday night 13-0.
Macie Crutchfield pitched another complete game for the Cougars, this time striking out 10, to give her 19 Ks for the two games. She was named Most Valuable Player for her efforts in the series.
The Cougars finished the season 23-7, while the Raiders ended 2024 at 21-5 and finished as NCHSAA 2A Runner up for the second year in a row. Southwestern Randolph was making its seventh appearance in the finals, having previously won titles in 2001, 2007, 2009 and 2010.
South Brunswick slides past Kings Mountain for sweep in 3A Series
Game results will be posted here. When available, click on the game text to expand and view results.
Game 1 – South Brunswick 2, Kings Mountain 0
DURHAM – The South Brunswick Cougars took the first game of the 2A Championship Series 2-0 against the Kings Mountain Mountaineers on Friday night at Duke Softball Stadium.
The Cougars took the lead in the top of the third inning as Kina Davis helped her own cause with a solo home run to center field. South Brunswick doubled the lead in the sixth when Tyianna Cummings, who went 2-for-3, added a solo shot of her own.
That was all the offense that Davis needed as she tossed a complete-game, four-hit shutout. She allowed just one walk and struck out 12 Mountaineers. She finished the game with 101 pitches, 71 of them for strikes.
For the Mountaineers, Kali Weaver went 2-for-3 at the plate and Madeline Huffman threw a complete game in the loss but only allowed four hits and struck out 10 batters.
The NCHSAA is committed to promoting and highlighting outstanding sportsmanship and has partnered with North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance to recognize one athlete from each team who has displayed the ideals of sportsmanship throughout the year. The 2024 NC Farm Bureau Sportsmanship Award winners for the 3A Softball Championships were Kaydance Whitaker from Kings Mountain and Temperance Bryant from South Brunswick.
Game 2 – South Brunswick 2, Kings Mountain 1
DURHAM – The South Brunswick Cougars walked off on the Kings Mountain Mountaineers 2-1 in Game 2 of the 3A Championship Series on Saturday afternoon at Duke Softball Stadium to sweep the series and claim the program’s first NCHSAA Softball title.
Kings Mountain struck first as Madeline Huffman hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning. But the Cougars tied the score in the bottom of the sixth as Carly Clewis doubled to right to allow Temperance Bryant to score.
In the bottom of the seventh, Kendra Goodwin hit a lead-off single, and two outs later, Tabatha Martin hit a line drive to center to plate Goodwin for the game-winning run.
Kina Davis went the distance in the circle for the Cougars, and she allowed just three hits while striking out 15 batters. She struck out 12 batters in game one to finish with 27 Ks in the series and was named Most Valuable Player for her performance in the series.
The Mountaineers ended the season 24-3 and runner-up for the first time in program history. They had two NCHSAA Softball Championships in 2005 and 2006. The Cougars finished the year 27-4 and made their second appearance in the finals, finishing runner-up in 2007.
Garner earns sweep in 4A Championship Series
Game results will be posted here. When available, click on the game text to expand and view results.
Game 1 – Garner 3, Weddington 1
GREENSBORO – The Garner Trojans took the first game of the 4A Championship Series with a 3-1 win against the Weddington Warriors on Friday afternoon at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
The Warriors took the lead in the top of the second thanks to a solo home run from Jadyn Howell but the Trojans tied things up in the bottom of the inning as Leigh Carter scored after a base hit from Claire Herman. In the third, Raleigh Stewart scored when Brittany Stephens reached on error to give Garner the lead.
The Trojans added one more in the sixth as Lili Keefer homered to left field.
Gabriella Czuczuk earned the win in the circle as she went five innings and allowed just the one run on three hits while striking out one. Stewart worked the final two innings for a six-out save.
The NCHSAA is committed to promoting and highlighting outstanding sportsmanship and has partnered with North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance to recognize one athlete from each team who has displayed the ideals of sportsmanship throughout the year. The 2024 NC Farm Bureau Sportsmanship Award winners for the 4A Softball Championships were Ella Siemiaczko from Garner and Ciara Blakney from Weddington.
Game 2 – Garner 12, Weddington 1 (5 Innings)
GREENSBORO – The Garner Trojans won their first NCHSAA Softball Championship on Saturday at UNCG Softball Stadium as they topped Weddington 12-1 in the second game of the Series to earn the sweep.
Both the Trojans and the Warriors were making their Softball Championship Series debut this weekend.
In Game 2, Garner came out hot and took a 4-0 lead by the end of the second frame. They added a six-run rally in the fourth to push the game out of reach. In the fourth, Gabriela Czuczuk and Brittany Stephens each had two-RBI base hits, and Lily Keefer hit a two-run home run.
Stephens finished the game 3-for-3 with four RBIs, and Keefer went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Paired with her home run last night, Keefer was named Most Valuable Player for the Series.
For the Warriors, Lane Arthur went 2-for-2 with her team’s lone RBI in game two.
The Warriors finished the season 21-5 while the Trojans went 28-2 in 2024, losing only to Wake Forest in Game 1 of the 4A Eastern Regional Championship Series and to Willow Spring back on April 5.
