NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
STATE 4-A SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS—DAY ONE
DAVID BUTLER MOVES INTO CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
RALEIGH— Constance Orr picked up a pair of pitching victories as defending state champion Matthews David Butler moved into the championship game of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 4-A softball championships at Walnut Creek Softball Complex on Friday night.
Unbeaten Butler, now 27-0, had to rally from a 2-0 deficit in its opener against North Davidson before rallying to win 5-2 and then blanked Durham Riverside 1-0. Orr struck out 12 and allowed just two hits against Riverside while fanning 16 and pitching a two-hitter against North Davidson.
Jessica Bowen had three hits, including a pair of doubles, for Butler against North while Chelsea Ingersoll had three runs batted in. Melinda Collins collected three hits in three trips for Butler in the win over Riverside, but the big blow was a run scoring double by Chelsea Stamey that scored Jessica Rappe with the only run of the game.
Riverside had advanced with a 2-1 victory over Apex Middle Creek, scoring two runs in the seventh to rally to win. Jenn Ladd, with 14 strikeouts, was the winning pitcher while Beth Anne Kleekamp got the loss.
Kleekamp was also the tough-luck loser in a 2-1 loss to North Davidson in the elimination game. Middle Creek ended the year with a 22-4 mark.
North Davidson (26-4) takes on Riverside (21-3) at 11 am Saturday and the winner will advance to take on David Butler for the championship. If a team from the loser’s bracket wins that game, then another will follow at 4 p.m. to decide the title.
The Raleigh Sports Consortium and the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau are among the host city sponsors for the championships.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
2008 STATE 4-A SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
WALNUT CREEK SOFTBALL COMPLEX, RALEIGH
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
STATE SEMIFINALS
Matthews David Butler 5, North Davidson 2
Durham Riverside 2, Apex Middle Creek 1
WINNER’S BRACKET FINAL
David Butler 1, Riverside 0
ELIMINATION GAME
North Davidson 2, Middle Creek 1
LOSER’S BRACKET FINAL
North Davidson (26-4) vs. Riverside (21-3), Saturday at 11 am
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
David Butler (27-0) vs. North Davidson-Riverside winner, 1:30 p.m.
If team from loser’s bracket wins, another game will follow at 4 p.m.
STATE 3-A SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS—DAY ONE
SOUTH CENTRAL WINS IN DRAMATIC FASHION
RALEIGH – Winterville South Central rallied from a 6-0 deficit against defending state champion Southwestern Randolph and won a 9-8 thriller Friday night to advance to the championship game of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 3-A softball championships at Walnut Creek Softball Complex.
South Central had opened play with a 6-3 victory over Erwin Triton to advance to play Southwestern. Caitlin Wainwright got the win in both of the Falcons’ victories. Shakemia Edwards had two hits for the winners in their first game, and then Carly Hobbs was the big hitter in the second contest with a three for four night including a home run.
Holly Berry was three for four with a homer for Southwestern Randolph. The Lady Cougars had to battle to win a 1-0, nine-inning game in their opener over Enka, as Anna Maness hurled a complete game victory.
In the elimination game, Triton ousted Enka 1-0 in nine innings on a run-scoring double by Brittany Tyndall. Jordan West was the losing pitcher for Enka, which finished the year 20-5.
Southwestern (23-3) will face Triton (22-6) Saturday morning at eleven o’clock in the loser’s bracket finals, with the survivor facing South Central (24-2) for the title. If a team from the loser’s bracket wins, the decisive game will follow at 4 p.m.
The Raleigh Sports Consortium and the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau are among the host city sponsors for the championships.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
2008 STATE 3-A SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
WALNUT CREEK SOFTBALL COMPLEX, RALEIGH
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
STATE SEMIFINALS
Southwestern Randolph 1, Enka 0 (9 innings)
Winterville South Central 6, Erwin Triton 3
WINNER’S BRACKET FINAL
South Central 9, Southwestern Randolph 8
ELIMINATION GAME
Triton 1, Enka 0 (9 innings)
LOSER’S BRACKET FINAL
Southwestern Randolph (23-3) vs. Triton (22-6), Saturday at 11 am
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
South Central (24-2) vs.Southwestern Randolph-Triton winner, 1:30 pm
If a team from the loser’s bracket wins, the decisive game will follow at 4 p.m.
STATE 2-A SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS—DAY ONE
LEONARD LEADS CENTRAL DAVIDSON TO TITLE GAME
RALEIGH – Chelsea Leonard of Central Davidson had a pair of dominating performances to lead her to the winner’s bracket finals of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 2-A softball championships at Walnut Creek Softball Complex on Friday night.
Leonard pitched a one-hit shutout in the first game of the evening, a 2-0 victory over Canton Pisgah in which she struck out 16 and did not walk a batter, and followed with a 15-strikeout, one-hit blanking of South Lenoir to earn her 28th victory.
Central Davidson, seeking its second straight NCHSAA title, is now 31-0 and will await the winner of Pisgah and South Lenoir in the loser’s bracket final on Saturday morning at eleven o’clock. The championship game is set for 1:30 and if the team from the loser’s bracket wins, another game will follow at 4 p.m. for the title.
Nicole Perry had two hits for Central in the win over Pisgah. Taylor Willis was charged with the loss.
South Lenoir opened with a 3-2 win over West Stokes, rallying from a 2-0 deficit. Leigh Smith, Kara Tucker, Lorri Cole and Taylor Williams each had two hits for South. Kayla Cole, who struck out 10, was the winning pitcher while Chancey Stones was the loser.
In the elimination game, Robyn Burnett went three for three and Nicole Smith added two hits as Pisgah rolled to a 5-0 victory. Willis tossed a three-hitter to earn the pitching decision.
The Raleigh Sports Consortium and the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau are among the host city sponsors for the championships.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
2008 STATE 2-A SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
WALNUT CREEK SOFTBALL COMPLEX, RALEIGH
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
STATE SEMIFINALS
Central Davidson 2, Canton Pisgah 0
South Lenoir 3, West Stokes 2
WINNER’S BRACKET FINAL
Central Davidson 1, South Lenoir 0
ELIMINATION GAME
Pisgah 5, West Stokes 0
LOSER’S BRACKET FINAL
South Lenoir (20-5) vs. Pisgah (22-6), Saturday at 11 am
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Central Davidson (31-0) vs. South Lenoir-Pisgah winner, Saturday at 1:30
STATE 1-A SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS—DAY ONE
EAST SURRY WINS TWICE TO MOVE TOWARD TITLE
RALEIGH – East Surry exploded for seven runs in the third inning and rolled to an 11-1 triumph over East Carteret on Friday night in the winner’s bracket finals of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 1-A softball championships at Walnut Creek Softball Complex.
East Surry’s two victories moved the Lady Cardinals record to 29-2 and put them in the 1:30 Saturday championship.
East Surry opened with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Swain, with Hayley Shelton firing a one-hitter for the winners and striking out 16, outdueling Kristen Cook, who got her first loss of the year.
But the Lady Cards’ second game was a much easier five-inning affair, as junior catcher Paige Honeycutt drove home four runs and Courtney Simmons had four hits in four at bats. Shawn Watson was the winning pitcher in that one.
East Carteret had advanced with a 4-2, eight-inning win over Manteo, which had tied the game at 202 win a run in the seventh. Dayvee Daniels was the winning pitcher while Schae Grimball was charged with the loss.
Allison Merkley, Kristen Garner and Patricia Davis all had two hits with at least one extra-base hit for the winners
.
Manteo dropped to the losers’ bracket and was eliminated by Swain 2-1. Kelly Loftis has a home run for the Lady Maroon Devils while Manteo was led by Mitzy Minton’s three for three performance. Manteo finished with a record of 18-8.
Swain (26-3) will take on East Carteret (23-2) in the loser’s bracket final Saturday at 11 am, and the winner will advance to face East Surry. If the loser’s bracket survivor beats East Surry, a decisive game will follow at 4 p.m.
The Raleigh Sports Consortium and the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau are among the host city sponsors for the championships.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
2008 STATE 1-A SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
WALNUT CREEK SOFTBALL COMPLEX, RALEIGH
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
STATE SEMIFINALS
East Surry 1, Swain 0
East Carteret 4, Manteo 2 (8 innings)
WINNER’S BRACKET FINAL
East Surry 11, East Carteret 1 (5 innings)
ELIMINATION GAME
Swain 2, Manteo 1
LOSER’S BRACKET FINAL
Swain (26-3) vs. East Carteret (23-2),Saturday at 11 am
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
East Surry (29-2) vs. Swain-East Carteret winner, Saturday at 1:30 pm
If team from loser’s bracket wins, decisive game will follow at 4 p,.m,
