Wayne Christian advances to NCISAA 1-A Final Four

Published in Sports on May 17, 2006 2:21 PM

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Sophomore hurler Traci Davis tossed a one-hit shutout as the Wayne Christian Lady Eagles advanced to Friday's North Carolina Independent Schools State Championship Final Four with a 3-0 win over visiting High Point on Tuesday afternoon.

Davis, who struck out 10 Cougars and didn't allow a walk, faced the minimum 21 hitters. She also went 1-for-2 at the plate, scored two runs and drove in another as the Eagles moved on to face Cape Fear -- the only team to beat Wayne Christian (18-2) this season -- in Nashville in the semifinals.

High Point's Holland Harris also threw a one-hitter, but gave up six walks in the contest. The Cougars (9-3) advanced to play the Eagles by winning a 21-11 play-in game against Ridgecroft Academy of Ahoskie earlier in the afternoon at WCS.

"We were a little concerned after that first game," Wayne Christian coach Roger Longwell said. "High Point was ranked in the top five and have beaten some 3-A teams."

Wayne Christian scored twice in the first inning on their only hit and a couple of Cougar miscues. After one out, second baseman Charity Wright struck out but reached first safely on a third-strike passed ball.

Davis then stroked a single and the ball was misplayed in the outfield, allowing Wright to score and Davis ended up on third base. Davis came home on a fielder's choice with the final run of the inning.

The Lady Eagles set the tone defensively in the first inning. First baseman Michelle Krug fielded a ground ball which bounced off first base and made the put out unassisted.

In the second inning, Wayne Christian right fielder Danielle Pender chased down a fly ball in foul territory for the second out of the inning.

Pender, the lone senior on the Wayne Christian roster, caught two of the three balls the Cougars hit out of the infield, including the final out of the game.

"Danielle played a great game," said Davis, who improved to 13-2 with the win. "I can't do anything without my defense backing me up."

The Cougars' Rebecca Leigh started off the fifth with High Point's only hit of the game, a shot up the middle that Davis was able to knock down. Eagles catcher Brittany Sullivan then threw to Wright to catch a stealing Leigh at second.

The Lady Eagles added an insurance run in the sixth after Davis was hit by a pitch to open the inning. Davis moved to third on a wild pitch and a passed ball and scored on a ground ball.

Longwell likes his team's chances and said his team is ready for Cape Fear on Friday.

"I feel like we are on a roll now. They say you want to be at your best at the end of the year, and we have gotten ourselves to that point," Longwell said.

High Point 000 000 0 -- 0 1 1

W. Christian 200 001 x -- 3 1 0

Leading hitters -- High Point -- Rebecca Leigh 1-2; Wayne Christian -- Traci Davis 1-2, 2 runs, HBP, RBI; Charity Wright 0-3, run; Brittany Sullivan 0-3, RBI; Michelle Krug 0-2, RBI.

IP H R ER BB SO

High Point (9-3)

H. Harris (L) 6 1 3 3 6 4

Wayne Christian (18-2)

T. Davis (W, 13-2) 7 1 0 0 0 10