SOFTBALL
OK, so this time she wasn't perfect--just near perfect. Leah Correll walked six Hibriten batters and struck out just four; but she gave up only one hit and held the Panthers to a single run; and that was all she needed to do for East Lincoln's softball team to secure its 24th win without a loss. The Mustangs took a 1-0 lead in their half of the first inning; Hibriten tied the score in the second; then East got another run in the fourth to win 2-1 and advance to the fourth round of the NCHSAA 2A playoffs.
Sophomore Madison Currence had two of the Mustangs four hits driving in one of their runs; freshman Hailey McFadden drove in the other with a hit in one of her plate appearances; she went 1 for 1, walking one time.
East will try for win #25 against Central Davidson on Friday (May 20th) at Denver. The Spartans made it to the 4th round with a 1-0 win over Central Cabarrus.
In 2A play, the season ended for Bandys as the Anson Bearcats downed the Trojans 5-4.
In 1A play, Cherryville's season ended with a 13-1 loss to South Stanly.
In a game involving another area team, Crest won its 3A playoff game with North Davidson 3-1. The Chargers will host North Buncombe on Friday.
BASEBALL
Both North Lincoln and East Lincoln won third round games on Tuesday. Both will play away games on Friday.
North Lincoln beat West Henderson 4-3 Tuesday to advance to the fourth round of the 3A baseball playoffs. Landon Reeves got the win on the mound, striking out 10, giving up just four walks and 7 hits over six-and-a-third innings. Matt Heavner homered in one of his two at-bats driving in two runs.
The next game for North will be at South Rowan, the #1 seed in the West Region, on Friday. The Raiders advanced winning 8-3 over East Rowan.
East Lincoln also won its third round game 4-2 over Carson.
The Mustangs didn't get any home runs, but Garrett Michel hit two doubles. Graham Smiley had a double and a triple, and Evan Matile and Nathan Borchardt also doubled. Isaac Armstrong didn't have a hit, but he reached on an error and drove in two runs. He got the win on the mound, giving up five hits while striking out 9 battters.
East will play at St. Stephens on Friday. The Indians won Tuesday 10-0 over Ledford. The two Western Foothills teams played twice during the regular season. St. Stephens won the first game 6-5 in March; the Mustangs won 6-1 in late April. In the conference tournament, St. Stephens won 9-6.
In 2A play, Lincoln Charter's season ended with a 15-8 loss to Community School of Davidson. The visitors pound Eagles' pitching for 10 runs over the first two innings, and took a 13-3 lead halfway through the fourth. Lincoln Charter fought back. After giving up two more runs in the top of the 7th, they scored three in the bottom, but the rally fell short.
Tyler Steele had a home run and a triple and drove in three runs for the Eagles, whose season ends with a 20-5 record.
Cherryville advanced to the fourth round of the 1A playoffs wih a 4-3 win over East Wilkes. Trailing 3-1, the Ironmen scored three runs in the bottom of the 7th inning for the win.
Cherryville with play Uwharrie Charter on Friday at Rudisill Stadium. The Eagles won their Tuesday game 4-2 over Eastern Randolph.
