Preps digest: Southern Wayne advances in 3-A softball playoffs

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 18, 2008 2:03 AM

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SHALLOTTE -- Alyssa Bradshaw's two-run home run highlighted a five-run, fifth-inning uprising as Southern Wayne topped West Brunswick 5-2 in their second-round, N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A softball playoff contest Friday.

Locked in a scoreless tie, Lauren Darden started the Saints' fifth inning with a lead-off double to right field. Kayla Gracyk drove in Darden with a single. Brianna Lofton, who has committed to UNC Wilmington, and Tara Hirsch each reached on an error.

Bradshaw's home run capped the surge.

West Brunswick (19-7 overall) avoided the shutout with a two-run homer in the sixth off Darden. A right-hander, Darden scattered five hits and logged 14 strikeouts in a complete-game effort.

Offensively, Lofton and catcher Lindsey Pearsall each contributed a hit for the Saints.

Southern Wayne (21-5) visits South Central on Tuesday.

Hawks move on

LaGRANGE -- Aaryn Deal threw a complete-game three-hitter and North Lenoir upended Hillsborough Orange 7-1 in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2-A playoffs.

Deal posted five strikeouts and one walk in the scorebook.

Kristen Davenport and Kayla Sutton cranked out two hits apiece for the Hawks. Nicole Howard (two RBI) and Timon Jones (RBI) contributed to the offense.

North Lenoir (18-6 overall) is the guest of West Stokes on Tuesday.

Rams eliminated

PITTSBORO -- Shanna Parker tripled and finished with two hits in Greene Central's season-ending, 10-2 loss at Northwood in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2-A playoffs.

Chelsa Tyndall added a triple.

The Rams, the Eastern Plains 2-A Conference co-champions, concluded the year 17-6 overall.

Baseball

N. Lenoir advances

MAYODAN -- John Alphin tossed a complete-game, three-hit shutout as North Lenoir dumped Dalton McMichael 6-0 in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2-A playoffs on Friday evening.

Alphin recorded four strikeouts and didn't allow a walk. Offensively, he slugged a solo home run in four official plate appearances. Stephen Pridgen, Mike Wetherington, Cory Johnson (two RBI) and Carter Capps each contributed a hit.

Dejuan Gray collected three RBI.

The Hawks (21-1 overall) posted their second postseason shutout and oppose either Hillsborough Orange or West Stokes on Tuesday.