By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
YEATESVILLE — It was a good day for area teams at the first Washington Daily News/Northside Easter Softball Invitational.
Casey Alligood ripped her first career home run, one of four hits she had on a sunny, warm Friday, to lead the Northside Panthers to a 12-3 win over West Craven in a first-round game.
Six different players scored for Southside in a 6-2 nod over Edenton in a game that began at 10 a.m.
Lily Ann Arnold and Charity Watson combined on a one-hitter, while the Pam Pack offense finally broke through in the sixth in Washington’s 2-0 victory over Manteo.
Currituck, riding the strong arm of pitcher Erin Buchan, posted a 5-2 nod over Farmville Central.
Southside and Currituck will meet this afternoon in one semi-final game, while Washington will battle Northside in the other semi-final. The two losers will play in the consolation game, followed by the winners competing for the championship.
Southside 6, Edenton 2
Gabby Cilluffo limited the Edenton Aces to two hits and the Seahawk offense woke up in a hurry.
Southside scored three runs in the fourth to take command. DeeDee Stanley ripped an RBI double off Edenton pitcher Kelli Patrick, while Mandy Harding had an RBI single and Emily Smith’s groundout scored another runner.
Sydney Harding walked with one out to start another rally in the fifth. She stole second and then went to third on Cilluffo’s single. Chelsi Chandler’s groundout scored Sydney Harding, while Resla Penn’s hit plated another run to make it 5-0.
Sydney Harding’s single in the sixth scored Kelli Hardison, who had doubled, for a 6-0 advantage.
Edenton scored twice in the bottom of the sixth. Ashley Byrum ripped an RBI triple and then scored on a sac fly by Morgan Cooke.
Hardison had two of Southside’s eight hits, while Sydney Harding, Mandy Harding, Cilluffo, Penn, Stanley and Chesli Chandler also had hits.
The Seahawks aren’t satisfied just yet.
Currituck 5, Farmville Central 2
The Currituck Knights took advantage of some sloppy defense by the Farmville Central Jaguars to win their first-round game.
Currituck took the early lead and star pitcher Erin Buchan made sure the Knights wouldn’t lose it. Though she was happy with the win, Buchan would like to see more offense.
Currituck took a 1-0 lead in the first and then added three more runs off four hits in the fifth to make it 4-0. The Knights tacked on an insurance run in the seventh.
The Jaguars scored twice in the bottom half, but the rally fell short.
Washington 2, Manteo 0
After squandering a chance to score in the fifth, Lauren Allen made sure that wouldn’t happen again in the sixth.
With the bases loaded for the second straight inning, the Pam Pack leadoff hitter bounced into a fielder’s choice. It was good enough to score Kayla Spain from third to give Washington (5-0) a 1-0 lead. Kristy Wood added an RBI single in the inning.
That’s all Washington would need. Lily Ann Arnold started on the mound for Washington. She fanned three and allowed just an infield single to Bree Tillot in the third.
Charity Watson, who earned the victory, came on and threw four innings of no-hit ball. She struck out eight and walked three.
Arnold likes how the Pam Pack pitching system is working.
Washington collected eight hits in the game, but finally got the important ones in the sixth.
Spain led the Pack with a pair of hits. Allen, Wood, Marissa Fucito, Arnold, Amber Alligood and Stacey Mayer also had hits.
Northside 12, West Craven 3
With Northside clinging to a 3-2 lead after three innings, Casey Alligood drilled a shot into left field to lead off the fourth. Despite an injured knee, suffered earlier in the game, Alligood flew around the bases for the first home run of her prep career. It also ignited a five-run inning for the Panthers (4-2), and they never looked back.
The Panthers spanked 12 hits in the game. Alligood’s four hits, which also included a double, led the way.
Whitney Lewis, who played a superior game at third base, and Lauren Rodriguez added two hits apiece.
That was more than enough offense for pitcher Amanda Beirne. The junior gave up three runs on six hits, with half of those hits coming in the seventh with the game already decided.
Amanda Beirne and Lewis scored off wild pitches to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead in the first. Tiffany Jackson’s perfect execution of a squeeze play scored Lauren Rodriguez in the third to make it 3-1.
Casey Alligood homered, while Lewis, Rodriguez and Lalee Alligood all scored on wild pitches in the fourth to give Northside an 8-2 cushion. Northside added another run in the fifth and three more in the seventh.
Chelsea Marine hit a home run in the seventh for the Eagles, while Marisa Adams banged out two hits.
Besides the loss, West Craven also lost catcher Holly White and center fielder Alix Stytle to hand injuries.
Southside 000 321 0 — 6 8 3
Edenton 000 002 0 — 2 2 3
WP: Gabby Cilluffo; LP: Kelli Patrick
Hitters: SS — Kelli Hardison 2-3 (2B), Chesli Chandler 1-2 (RBI), Sydney Harding 1-3 (RBI), Mandy Harding 1-3 (RBI), DeeDee Stanley 1-4 (2B, RBI), Resla Penn 1-4 (RBI), Gabby Cilluffo 1-4; E — Ashley Byrum 1-3 (3B, RBI), Kelli Patrick 1-3.
Currituck 100 030 1 — 5
Farmville 000 000 2 — 2
WP: Erin Buchan; Stephanie Moore
Manteo 000 000 0 — 0 1 1
Washington 000 002 x — 2 8 1
WP: Charity Watson; LP: Schae Grimball
Hitters: M — Bree Tillot 1-3; W — Kayla Spain 2-3, Kristy Wood 1-2 (RBI), Stacey Mayer 1-2, Marissa Fucito 1-2, Lauren Allen 1-3 (RBI), Amber Alligood 1-3, Lily Ann Arnold 1-3.
Northside 201 510 3 — 12 12 1
W. Craven 011 000 1 — 3 6 5
WP: Amanda Beirne; LP: Holly Harrison
Hitters: N — Casey Alligood 4-5 (HR, RBI), Whitney Lewis 2-3, Lauren Rodriguez 2-5 (RBI), Amanda Beirne 1-3 (2 RBI), Tiffany Jackson 1-3 (RBI), Heather Ussery 1-2, Amanda Daw 1-5; WC — Marisa Adams 2-2 (RBI), Melinda Spillers 1-2, Kelsey McMillen 1-3 (RBI), Tiamber Garris 1-3 (3B), Chelsea Marine 1-4 (HR, RBI).