Daily Roundup: May 12, 2023

BASEBALL

No. 8 South Brunswick 6, No. 9 Carrboro 5

Second round NCHSAA 3A playoffs

***Click here to view a gallery of 25 photos from the action***

The Cougars’ hopes of returning to the state championship series for a second straight season remained alive with a nerve-wracking win.

After building a 6-1 lead, South Brunswick (14-9) had to hold off a late rally from the visiting Jaguars.

Dow Pender took over on the mound in the top of the seventh inning with the home team clinging to a one-run lead and runners on first and second bases.

The senior righty got a fielder’s choice for the second out and a strikeout to end the game.

“Dow has been absolutely amazing for us the second half of the season,” South Brunswick first-year coach Chris Sotfiffer said. “I have nothing but confidence in him coming in.”

Carrboro (16-7) elected to intentionally walk superstar Walker Jenkins in each of his first two plate appearances. It backfired, as Jenkins came around to score both times. 

He singled in the fourth inning, advanced all the way to third base on an error on a pickoff attempt, and scored on a single to right field from Banks Hartman.

“My goal is to help the team win no matter what,” Jenkins said. “I’m going to give it 100 percent whether I’m hitting, in the outfield or on the bases. I try to take as many bases as I can and get in scoring position for the guys behind me.”

Hartman collected two of the Cougars’ five hits and scored once. Will Lamiman and Luke Dilgard also crossed the plate.

Jaden Marvin got the start and allowed only one earned run with nine strikeouts in six innings before being lifted at 84 pitches.

Things got interesting in the top of the seventh as Sotriffer had to use three pitchers to get the final three outs.

Now, South Brunswick will travel to Greenville on Tuesday evening to take on top-seeded Rose. The game time will be announced this weekend or Monday. 

No. 1 New Hanover 5,  No. 17 Jordan 0

Second round NCHSAA 4A playoffs

Seniors Bromley Thornton and Luke Nixon combined on a four-hit shutout with six strikeouts.

The victory sent New Hanover (23-2) back to the third round for the sixth time in the past seven postseasons. 

Thornton got the start and needed only 75 pitches to get through his six innings. Nixon recorded a pair of strikeouts in his lone inning.

The Wildcats jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead after the first inning. Nixon reached on an error and scored on the second error of the inning.

Caleb Robles drove in Conner Marren with a ground out. The final run came on a two-out single to left field from Sean Smith.

Smith walked to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning and eventually scored on a wild pitch to increase the lead to 4-0. 

Another leadoff walk, this time to Robles in the sixth inning, led to the final run. Tanner Lachman doubled the junior home with two outs.

Next up is a home game against No. 25 Southern Alamance on Tuesday at a time to be announced. The Patriots advanced with an 11-1 win over No. 24 Rolesville.

No. 11 Topsail 9, No. 6 Chapel Hill 1

Second round NCHSAA 4A playoffs

After being held scoreless for the first four innings, the Pirates exploded for nine unanswered runs to secure a road win.

Christian Davis had a big performance at the plate by going 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Fellow seniors Tatum Hayden and Alex Smith each had a pair of hits.

Topsail (16-8) tied the score at 1-all on an RBI single from Davis in the top of the fifth inning. Ryder Willcox scored what turned out to be the winning run later in the frame on an error.

Willcox started a two-out rally in the sixth with a base hit. An error allowed Walker Dixon to reach base and bring up Davis, who hit a two-run double to center field to increase the lead to 4-1.

The Pirates sent eight batters to the plate in a five-run seventh that put the game out of reach.

Freshman Rhett Britt got the victory in his first postseason start. The Wake Forest commit allowed one run on two hits with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. 

Willcox struck out a pair in his 1 1/3 innings.

Topsail will return home to take on No. 14 Garner on Tuesday evening at a time to be announced. The Trojans picked up a 1-0 win over No. 30 Heritage.

No. 12 Hoggard 8, No. 5 Middle Creek 2

Second round NCHSAA 4A playoffs

A six-run top of the third inning that featured six singles and a walk gave the Vikings a comfortable win on the road.

Josiah Gillespie got things started with a base hit to center field. Logan Ponnett followed with a single of his own. 

Freshman Preston Smith’s two-out single plated a pair of runs to put Hoggard (17-8) on top. John Mason, Damian Bounds and Chase Buscher followed with RBI hits of their own.

That was more than enough run support for Buscher and Tucker Bowyer, who combined to strike out eight batters.

Buscher scattered three hits with four strikeouts in his 5 1/3 innings. Four of the five outs recorded by Bowyer came via strikeout.

Buscher, Mason and Smith all had two hits and two RBI. Smith crossed the plate twice.

The Vikings travel to No. 4 Wake Forest on Tuesday at a time to be announced.

Wilmington Christian Academy 13, Bethel Christian Academy 5

Semifinals NCCSA 2A playoffs at Wilson Christian Academy

The Patriots jumped out to a 9-0 lead after three innings and were never threatened in the victory that sent the back to the championship game for the first time since 2019.

Trey Pierce worked four walks and scored three runs. WCA (15-8) drew 12 walks and stole four bases.

Ryder Whitacre led the team with five RBI, while Logan Lancaster completed the scoring with a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Lancaster, Ryan Donaldson, Elijah Harmon and Matthew Naylor each crossed the plate twice.

The Patriots will take on Vandalia Christian for the state title on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Wilson Christian Academy.

No. 1 Greenville Rose 4, No. 17 West Brunswick 2

Second round NCHSAA 3A playoffs

The Trojans gave the top-seeded Rampants all they could handle, but eventually came up short.

It ended a remarkable turnaround season for West Brunswick (15-11) under the guidance of first-year coach Greg Wrape. The Trojans went 4-18-1 in 2022 and 0-14 in 2021.

No individual stats were provided. 

SOFTBALL

No. 15 Topsail 5, No. 2 Southern Alamance 2

Second round NCHSAA 4A playoffs

Mount Olive signee Zoey Vincent doubled home Addie MacDougall with the winning run in the top of the seventh inning to send the Pirates into the third round.

MacDougall was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Kennedy Sloan followed Vincent and reached on an error. 

That brought Emmy Clark to the plate, and the sophomore delivered with an RBI single that brought home Vincent with an insurance run.

A sacrifice fly from shortstop Jaylyn Noble completed the scoring. 

Kennedy Sloan finished off the game with her ninth strikeout. She allowed two runs on five hits in a complete game.

Vincent and Clark both collected a pair of hits. 

Topsail (13-6) scored its other two runs in the second inning. MacDougall was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Sloan hit a two-out RBI single.

The Pirates will be at home Tuesday at 6 p.m. against No. 23 Holly Springs, which advanced with a 9-7 win at No. 7 Richmond.

No. 22 Triton 3, No. 6 South Brunswick 2

Second round NCHSAA 3A playoffs

***Click here to view a gallery of 18 photos from the action***

Kina Davis allowed only two hits and recorded 15 strikeouts, but the Cougars struggled offensively in the season-ending loss.

South Brunswick (18-5) scored in the bottom of the second inning when a sacrifice fly from Addison Woodruff plated Haley Kirby. 

A two-out throwing error allowed a pair of Triton (17-10) runs to cross the plate in the fourth inning. The visitors added a huge insurance run on a two-out single to right field from Ava Blackman in the seventh inning.

Woodruff singled with out out in the bottom of the frame and scored on a sacrifice fly from Lily Knox to get the Cougars to within one run. The tying run was at third base and winning run was at second when the game ended on a shallow fly ball to right field.

No. 14 Garner 4, No. 3 Laney 2

Second round NCHSAA 4A playoffs

The visiting Trojans scored four unanswered runs over the final four innings to avenge an earlier-season loss.

Laney (17-6) won by a score of 8-2 when the teams played a nonconference game on March 24.

Ali Bunch put the Buccaneers on top 2-0 with a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the second inning.

A bases clearing double from Alyssa Meyer in the fourth inning put Garner (17-5) on top for good. They added an insurance run in the fifth.

No. 5 Wake Forest 3, No. 12 Hoggard 0

Second round NCHSAA 4A playoffs

The Vikings didn’t manage a hit off sophomore Jilian Livengood, who proved why she is one of the best pitchers in the state.

Livengood finished with 15 strikeouts and only one walk. She is now 10-2 with a 0.56 ERA and 204 stikeouts in 87 2/3 innings. 

Wake Forest (18-3) scored all three runs in the third inning on four consecutive singles.

Macey Ciamillo pitched well Hoggard (17-8), finishing with five strikeouts and no walks in a complete game.

BOYS TENNIS

NCHSAA 4A State Championship

at Millbrook Exchange Park

New Hanover junior Augie Ballantine reached the semifinals by picking up a pair of victories.

Ballantine, who won last weekend’s 4A East Regional, opened with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Ben Powell of Page. In the quarterfinals, Ballantine took a tough opening set over Will Moon of Holly Springs by a score of 7-5. Moon retired with the score tied at 3-all in the second set.

Lake Norman’s Ellis Klanduch will be Ballantine’s semifinal opponent. Klanduch won both of his matches in straight sets, dropping only six games along the way.

GIRLS LACROSSE

No. 9 Topsail 12, No. 4 Chapel Hill 10

Fourth round NCHSAA 4A playoffs

For the first time in program history, the Pirates advanced to the East final.

After opening the playoffs with a home win over Panther Creek, Topsail (19-3) has gone on the road and secured three straight victories.

Junior Lillian Austin scored a career-high 10 goals to increase her season total to 111. Melina Toronto had the other goals.

The Pirates trailed 8-6 at halftime before rallying. 

Topsail reached the Sweet 16 in 2019 and 2021 and the Elite 8 a season ago.

Now, they will try to upset No. 2 Cardinal Gibbons and advance to the state championship. That game will be played on Tuesday at a time to be announced.

BOYS LACROSSE

Scores

No. 1 Middle Creek 19, No. 12 Topsail 2 (Fourth round NCHSAA 4A playoffs)

No. 3 Cardinal Gibbons 19, No. 10 Hoggard 6 (Fourth round NCHSAA 4A playoffs)

 

 

 

 

More Daily Roundup Posts