RALEIGH- As usual, pitching and defense should be featured
as the top fast-pitch softball teams in the state prepare for the North
Carolina High School Athletic Association state championships this
weekend. But there are also a number of players with spectacular
offensive statistics in the eight-team field.
For the
first time in many years in fast pitch, the Eastern and Western
champions in each classification will face off in a best of three
championship series at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex. All four of
the championships are scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
This will mark the 18th annual fast pitch championships and the 38th
year for NCHSAA softball. The Raleigh Sports Consortium and the Greater
Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau are among the host city sponsors.
Here is a look at each of the four championships:
Class 4-A: Indian Trail Porter Ridge (31-1) is enjoying its
best season ever in its short history and will face Holly Springs (24-3)
for the 4-A championship.
Porter Ridge knocked off
perennial power North Davidson two games to one in the Western Regional
championship series. The Pirates are led by Lexi Davis, who has been the
Southern Carolina Conference Player of the Year four years in a row.
This year she has all the pitching decisions for Porter Ridge (31-1)
and has a microscopic earned run average of 0.25, but she is also one of
the top hitters in the finals with a .511 average, eight homers and 43
runs batted in.
Holly Springs will counter with a
standout of its own, Erica Nunn, who is 22-3 on the mokund with an 0.55
ERA and is also hitting .635 with three homers and 36 RBI.
Class 3-A: Pikeville Charles B. Aycock (29-2) has established
itself as one of the state's stronger softball programs and will take on
Fred T. Foard (25-4) of Catawba County for the 3-A crown. Aycock is
making the trip to Walnut Creek for the eighth time in the last 13 years
for the finals, although the Golden Falcons have not won a state
title during that run.
Meredith Burroughs swings a tremendous bat for Aycock, with a .525 batting average, 17 homers and 42 RBI.
Fred T. Foard, which won the 1998 championship, is led by
Lexi Shubert, who is 25-4 overall on the mound with an 0.28 ERA and 358
strikeouts.
Class 2-A: Wilson Beddingfield
(26-4) takes on Madison (23-3) for the 2-A championship, with both teams
making their first trip to the NCHSAA softball championships.
Madison, a fairly young team, is paced by Makayla Drewnoski, who
has slammed 16 homers and driven home 44 runs to go with a .526 average.
Beddingfield has set a school record for wins this
season, and leading the way offensively are freshman Caroline Smith
and sophomore Nickie Womble. Inside the circle, junior Jenna Pate and
sophomore Brooke Jones have carried the Lady Bruins.
Class 1-A: Camden (16-11) is probably one of the surprise teams in
the finals after starting the season 1-5, and the Bruins will face South
Stanly (25-6).
Rachel Gillikin is the top Camden
pitcher (16-10, 1.69 ERA) and Lindsay Russell is batting .438 with eight
homers. The Rowdy Rebel Bulls of South Stanly will counter with Emily
Poplin, who is batting .478, while Emily Hearne has
pitched exceptionally well in postseason play for South.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
2012 STATE FAST PITCH SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Walnut Creek Softball Complex, Raleigh
All series are best of three
CLASS 4-A: Indian Trail Porter Ridge (31-1) vs. Holly Springs (24-3), Field 1
Friday, June 1: Game 1, 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 2: Game 2, 11 a.m.
Saturday, June 2: Game 3, if necessary, 2:30 p.m.
CLASS 3-A: Pikeville Charles B. Aycock (29-2) vs. Newton Fred T. Foard (25-4), Field 5
Friday, June 1: Game 1, 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 2: Game 2, 11 a.m.
Saturday, June 2: Game 3, if necessary, 2:30 p.m.
CLASS 2-A: Madison (23-3) vs. Wilson Beddingfield (26-4), Field 2
Friday, June 1: Game 1, 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 2: Game 2, 11 a.m.
Saturday, June 2: Game 3, if necessary, 2:30 p.m.
CLASS 1-A: Camden (16-11) vs. South Stanly (25-6), Field 3
Friday, June 1: Game 1, 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 2: Game 2, 11 a.m.
Saturday, June 2: Game 3, if necessary, 2:30 p.m.
NCHSAA Softball Championship Breakdown and Schedules
12:12 PM
Brian Barnes
