Southside upends unbeaten Bear Grass

WILLIAMSTON — When Bear Grass and Southside met in Chocowinity, it took extra innings for the Bears to escape with a win. This time around, Hunter Sparks’ two-RBI double in the top of the seventh completed a furious comeback and gave the Seahawks an 8-7 win.

The loss was Bear Grass’ first in the 1-A Coastal Plains Conference. The Bears jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one frame, and built a 5-0 advantage after three. Southside finally broke through with a run in the top of the fourth, but Bear Grass answered with another of its own to carry a 6-1 lead into the fifth.

The Seahawks scored two runs in the fifth and another two in the sixth before striking thrice in the seventh. Brantley Cutler led the offensive effort with a 4-for-5 night at the dish, scoring once and batting in a pair of runs. Sparks finished with four RBI on two hits. Demetrius Ebron and Josh Toler each had a pair of hits, too, and four other Seahawks had one.

Cutler and Cody Modlin handled the pitching duties. Cutler was tagged for seven runs (five earned) on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings of work. Modlin came in and pitched 2 2/3 innings of shutout ball in which he gave up just one hit. He only faced nine batters to get his eight outs.

 

Lady Seahawks let one get away

WILLIAMSTON — Southside thought it had disposed of Bear Grass when it scored five runs in the top of the seventh to take a 9-4 lead. However, the Lady Bears stormed back to tie the game in the bottom of the stanza before walking off in the eighth, 10-9.

The Lady Seahawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Bear Grass tied the affair at three apiece in the fourth, then took the lead by pushing one across in the fifth. Southside answered to knot the game again, but couldn’t hold on in the extra inning.

Hannah Paramore owned the plate. She was a perfect 5-for-5 with a home run and a triple. She batted in five runs and scored three. Maggie Craig, Symone Ruffin and Gracie Warren each had three hits. Alyssa McLawhorn and Rachel Buck each had a pair of knocks, too.

The hosting Lady Bears got 16 hits off of McLawhorn.

Washington decimates conference on way out

For the third year in a row and the last time before realigning leagues next season, Washington claimed the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference championship. The Pam Pack ran away with the title by over 200 strokes.

Riley Vanstaalduinen was named player of the year. Tony Lovenberg finished second on the team. He and Blake Parker earned all-conference honors.

The team now sets its sights toward the regional championship at Cutter Creek on May 1. Coach Jim Kozuch and his teams have dominated eastern North Carolina for years now, but they’re still trying to get over the championship hump in the postseason.