By the numbers, the Eastern Plains Conference was the most competitive 2-A table in North Carolina, shattering the stereotype that western softball reigns supreme. This year, some of the best softball was played right here in Beaufort County — every game a must-win, every out a triumph, every pitch calculated.

Because when you play in a conference consisting of five teams with winning records — five quality, playoff-eligible softball squads — a coach must develop unconventional ways to manufacture runs.

“That’s probably a first since I’ve been coaching,” said head coach Doug Whitehead. “I don’t think we’ve ever had three or four teams make the playoffs. This was a very balanced conference and we didn’t have a night off, that’s the thing about it. It was quite a challenge.”

“We lost some offense from last year, a couple players who were big sticks for us. Power wise, batting average wise, Catie (Dority) came in and did a good job, but we did have to generate a little more this year as far as small ball. We had the big sticks in place where they needed to be and we utilized both.”

Poised defensive play gave the Pam Pack a distinct advantage throughout the season. With consistent hitting one through six and power sprinkled throughout the lineup, along with senior Haley Hutchins’ natural ability within the pitcher’s circle, Washington finished with a 16-5 record, tied for second place with North Johnston in the conference.

For his efforts navigating the Pam Pack to a strong season in a tough table, Whitehead has been named the 2015 Washington Daily News Baseball Coach of the Year.

“When you have to face pitchers, especially Beddingfield, North Pitt and North Johnston, the girls couldn’t let up,” Whitehead said. “I probably got more girls thrown out at the plate this year than I ever have in my career because I’ve basically been one to try to generate, but according to what a lineup is like, sometimes you have to take chances.”

The team’s success began early with nonconference victories over Northern Nash (10-6) and South Central (20-5), a team that reached the fourth round of the 3-A state playoffs. The Pam Pack beat the Falcons early in the season, 2-1, and later on May 7, 3-0.

Come postseason play, No. 15-seeded Washington faced one of its most significant and crippling pieces of adversity all season, losing Chrissy McKissick, the team’s leader in RBIs, to a foot injury that sidelined her for two rounds.

Despite the loss in the field and at the plate, the Pam Pack routed No. 18-seeded West Bladen at home, 11-1, in Round 1. But in Round 2, the Pam Pack met an old rival, one that eliminated the team from the playoffs last season. In a game that came down to the wire, No. 2-seeded Bunn defeated Washington, 1-0, as the Pam Pack left the tying run on third.

Bunn went on to the regional round of the playoffs, where the Wildcats were defeated by No. 9-seeded South Granville (23-2). In all, of Washington’s five losses this season — D.H. Conley, Beddingfield, Bunn and North Johnston twice — each one of those four teams went on to at least the fourth round of the 2-A state tournament. Currently, D.H. Conley (25-2) finds itself competing for a 3-A state championship this weekend.

“We played in a great conference and ended up getting a No. 15 seed,” Whitehead said. “Therefore, you’re going to get a good team early and that’s who we faced in the second round. We faced some good competition in all this season.”