The area’s softball strength continued to flex its muscles this summer as the Region 1 softball team earned its highest finish in years as it placed fifth amongst the eight regions at the 2013 Powerade State games.
The Region 1 team’s success comes on the heals of one of the area’s most impressive softball seasons in memory as South Creek advanced to the NCHSAA 1-A state title game, while Washington, Southside, Northside and Riverside all had tremendous playoff runs.
The Region 1 team garnered its fifth-placed finish with a 2-2 record and coach Jacke Beirne was impressed with his team’s outing.
“I was extremely happy with our performance,” said Beirne, who also coaches Northside High School softball. “The girls really came together. We had limited practice time because of the rain and some travel ball tournaments but the girls really came together and played as well as any team there. When we looked at our level of play we were right there with the bigger regions.”
Region 1 opened up the games with a 9-2 loss to Region 6 (Charlotte area), which would go on to take the silver. Region 1 bounced back in its next game as it topped the Raleigh area region 8-4.
Region 1 returned to action later that day and took on Region 2 for the right to play for the bronze medal. After battling Region 2 for eight innings Region 1 fell 6-3. However, the team finished on a high note as it topped Region 4 5-2 in a game that was called after 5 ½ innings because of lightning.
Beirne said he was pleased to see his team compete at the same level with some of the more populated regions.
“We played a lot of girls that are on 4-A schools from Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro and we were able to compete with them and beat some of them,” Beirne said. “It really made me feel good. Four years ago Region 1 didn’t win a game. We’re getting better. Last year we won one game and this year we came out and won two games and one of the games we lost went to eight innings.”
Helping power Region 1 where area players Kendall Alligood and Mackensi Swain of Northside, Southside’s Tia Hardy, Washington’s Haley Hutchins and South Creek’s Tori Pelt.
Beirne said each player gave strong performances throughout the course of the week.
“Haley Hutchins did an excellent job, she picked up the win against the Raleigh team. She pitched an exceptional game for us and also had a three-run home run that turned out to be the game-winner against the last team we played,” Beirne said. “Tori Pelt from South Creek was a late addition but she came on and was just a little fireball. She hit over .500 for the week and was great. She gave a 100 percent effort and was always hustling.
“Our (Northside) girls did well. Kendall did a great job behind the plate. Mackensi, we moved her around a lot and she played some outfield positions and played a little third base. Her ability to play a lot of positions was a great asset.
“Tia Hardy at first base, my God, she was just a force over there. I was impressed with how well she could move and stretch. She has a great glove, if you throw it anywhere near that first base area she’s going to catch it. She also had some big hits for us. I was glad to coach her and all these girls.”