Panthers pound Lejeune in league opener

PINETOWN — Lejeune opened the scoring in Friday’s 1-A Coastal Plains Conference opener at Northside, but the Panthers notched the next 11 runs to win, 11-1, and improve to 6-0 on the season.

James Barrow led the way by going 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and another two batted in. Tanner Alligood, Grant Talbot and Parker Boyd each had a hit, too.

Five Panthers scored a pair of runs each. After Lejeune drew first blood, Northside responded with three runs in the bottom of the first. The home side went on to add six more in the second stanza, taking a 9-1 lead early. The game was sealed with a run in each of the final two frames.

Zach Woolard started the game on the mound. He and Reg Bishop split pitching duties, each throwing three innings apiece. They gave up one run, four walks and combined to fan seven Devil Pup batters.

Northside puts its undefeated start on the line at East Carteret on Tuesday.

 

Lady Seahawks recover to beat South Creek

ROBERSONVILLE — On a night when both teams combined for 24 hits, Southside’s offense was able to outscore South Creek, 13-7, to earn its fifth win in as many tries to open the campaign.

The hosting Lady Cougars jumped on spotty defense from Southside. The Lady Seahawks had three errors in the game, and South Creek made them pay quickly with six runs in the first inning.

The Lady Seahawks chipped away at the early deficit. They scored a pair of runs in the second and third frames before claiming the lead with three in the fourth. Alyssa McLawhorn, Maggie Craig and Taylor Langley led the way with three hits each. Hannah Paramore and Symone Ruffin had two apiece, also.

Southside’s defense buckled down from there. After the six-run first inning, it only conceded one tally in the seventh — after the offense had produced a 13-6 lead. While McLawhorn gave up 10 hits, she limited walks and fanned six batters.

Southside looks to extend its undefeated streak to six Tuesday at Lejeune.

 

Lady Panthers make short work of Lejeune

PINETOWN — After Lejeune scored twice in the first, Northside poured on eight runs in each of the first two innings en route to a 17-2 win on Friday. It served as a bounce-back win after being blanked by Washington a day prior.

Rachel Lang had three hits, including a home run, in the offensive explosion. Tiffany Oliver and Savannah Slade had a pair of hits each. Abby Mooring, who was starting for the first time this season, hit an RBI triple on her first at bat. Eight other Northside batters had a hit, too.

Freshman Madison Braddy handled pitching duties for the four-inning affair. She gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits, walked none and struck out five.

The Lady Panthers travel to a 3-0 East Carteret club on Tuesday.

 

Southside suffers first loss

ROBERSONVILLE — Southside’s undefeated start came to an end Friday at South Creek. The Cougars picked up a narrow win, 6-5, after getting hammered in Chocowinity a week prior.

The Seahawks were held without a run for the first five innings. South Creek built a 4-0 run in the meantime. The visitors finally broke through with three runs in the sixth, making it a one-run game, but the Cougars got two back in the bottom of the stanza.

Southside scored twice in the seventh, but couldn’t get one more to force extra innings.

Brantley Cutler and Will Warren had two hits each to lead the near comeback. Hunter Sparks, Josh Toler, Dahlton O’Neal and Paul Radford each had a hit, too.

Cutler and O’Neal each pitched three innings. While the two only gave up three hits, there were also eight walks between the two of them and seven errors in the field.

Southside will look to get back on track Tuesday at Lejeune in its 1-A Coastal Plains Conference opener.