Wayne Christian softball falls to Cape Fear

By Staff Reports
Published in Sports on May 11, 2009 1:46 PM

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WILSON -- Unbeaten Cape Fear Christian erupted for nine third-inning runs and rolled past Wayne Christian 10-0 in the Carolina Christian 1-A Conference softball tournament championship game.

The middle-inning outburst induced the 10-run mercy rule after the second-seeded Eagles completed their fifth at-bat as a team.

"(We) played our hearts out, trying to make adjustments to offset our weaknesses," said Wayne Christian coach Roger Longwell.

Cape Fear led 1-0 before the floodgates opened.

Wayne Christian hurler Kayla Kennedy was touched for nine runs on five hits and surrendered three walks during the decisive inning.

Longwell's team advanced to the tournament final with a 10-4 conquest of Crossroads Christian. Carly Hightower batted 3-for-4. Reagan Hinton and Courtney Barrow provided two hits apiece.

Allyson Newsome emerged the winning pitcher.

Wayne Christian drew the No. 7 seed for the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association playoffs, which begin Tuesday. The Eagles travel to second-seeded Kerr-Vance, an at-large team which has suffered just one loss this season.

The Spartans defeated the Eagles nearly two months ago.

"We matched up well from the third inning to the seventh, but the damage was done in the opening two innings," said Longwell of the previous meeting.

Cape Fear is the No. 1 seed in the eight-team tournament, which becomes a double-elimination event once the quarterfinals are completed.

Wayne Christian (6-6 overall) is the two-time defending state champion.