Washington decimates First Flight

Strong batting throughout the lineup and an all-star outing by pitcher Hailey Harris carried Washington to a 17-0 rout of First Flight in the first round of the 2-A softball playoffs. After playing a scoreless game through two frames, the Lady Pack scored seven in the third and added 10 more in the fifth to bring about an early conclusion.

Eight girls had a hit for Washington. Of those eight, six had multiple. Junior Megan Moore led the charge by batting in a team-best four runs. Style McKissick, Chrissy McKissick and Harris each scored three runs apiece in the lopsided win.

Harris worked the Lady Nighthawk batters for five innings. She played a nearly perfect game in that span, allowing just one hit, no walks and hitting one batter. She struck out 11 of the 16 batters she faced in the game.

Washington now advances to face the winner of No. 5 Currituck County vs. No. 28 Northside-Jacksonville. That game is tentatively scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m.

Lady Panthers exploit errors

PINETOWN — Northside hosted Tarboro in a first-round playoff softball game on Tuesday evening. The Lady Panthers had their bats going early and often while pitcher Rachel Lang effectively negated the opposition’s offense in the 15-1 win.

The two teams were scoreless after the first stanza, but the Lady Panthers quickly got on the board with four runs in the second. The visiting Lady Vikings answered with a run of their own in the top of the third. Northside scored four more in the bottom of the frame and exploded for seven more in the fourth. The massive advantage was enough to force an early conclusion.

In all, the home side notched 11 hits. Northside was also aided by eight errors by Tarboro. The Lady Panthers committed a pair of errors themselves, which is likely something coach Riley Youmans would like to clean up ahead of their second-round game.

No. 14 Northside is slated to travel to No. 3 South Creek on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Lady Panthers are 2-0 against South Creek this season. They won both ends of the home-and-home series back in early March.

Knights win first-ever playoff game

PANTEGO — Terra Ceia scored four runs in the first inning of Tuesday’s first-round playoff game and staved off Hickory Christian’s comeback attempt to win its first playoff game in school history, 5-4.

After Hickory rallied to tie it in the top of the sixth, Dawson Cox drew a walk and moved to third thanks to an error. Tyler Hendrix plated him for the game-winning run late in the game.

Quentin Van Essendelft, Cox, Alex Van Staalduinen, Johnannes Van Essendelft and Hendrix each collected hits in the win. Patience at the plate also yielded eight walks for the Knights. In all, Hickory committed half a dozen errors.

Austin Roscoe pitched a complete game. He conceded four runs (two earned) on nine hits and one walk. He fanned seven batters.

Terra Ceia committed three errors itself.

 

Raiders’ season comes to an end

BELHAVEN — Pungo’s season came to an end Tuesday afternoon after a 4-2 loss to Northwood Temple Academy. Pitchers Chance Chavis and Bradley Wilson kept the Raiders’ batters off balance, combining for 15 strikeouts and just three hits.

Will Respess did the same thing to the opposing Eagles. He threw a full seven innings, scattering five hits for four runs (three earned). He issued just two walks and struck out 14 batters.

Pungo drew first blood with a run in the bottom of the first. Northwood Temple got on the board with two in the third and the Raiders tied it in the bottom of the frame. The Eagles took the lead with a run in the fifth and added an insurance run in the top of the seventh.

Landon Woolard had three of Pungo’s four hits in the game.