Bulldogs chase Titans from playoffs
By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on May 23, 2010 1:50 AM
PRINCETON -- Traci Bridgers has watched her teammates grow and mature from a third-round loss in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A state playoffs a year ago.
The junior right-hander is doing everything she can to make sure they get another opportunity to erase those memories.
Bridgers tossed her second consecutive two-hitter and Princeton defeated Heide Trask 8-0 on Friday night in the second round of the state playoffs.
The Bulldogs entertain N.C. School of Science and Math on Tuesday.
Princeton (15-7) took a 1-0 lead as Hannah Wood scored on an error in the home half of the first inning. The Titans made two errors in the bottom of the first and finished with five.
Megan Gerrell's RBI groundout in the bottom of the second scored Jessica Smith and increased the lead to 2-0.
Katlyn Peedin struckout with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of third but a Trask error led to a pair of runs. Catcher Marie Rivenbark bobbled the pitch and rather than stepping on home to end the inning, she opted to throw to first base. Rivenbark's throw got away from first baseman Jackie Winters allowing Rebecca Harlan and Tylan George to score.
"We like to run as much as we can," said Bulldogs head coach Terry Braswell. "They're a good team and I wasn't quite expecting the score to be like that but we'll take it."
Hannah Wood added an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth and Harlan tacked on an RBI single. Wood (RBI), Harlan (RBI) and Bridgers each collected two hits.
Hannah Woodard's two-run single in the bottom of the sixth capped Princeton's scoring.
After surrendering a single to start the ballgame Bridgers set down 14 batters in a row before issuing a two-out walk in the top of the fifth inning. She recorded eight strikeouts and allowed just one walk.
Trask put just five runners on base and the Bulldogs held an opponent scoreless for the sixth time this season.
"I love when our offense scores runs because it takes so much pressure off of me and our defense," said Bridgers. "I think last year we knew what to expect but I just think we're a lot more serious this year. We're more ready to play this year."