Pikeville Insurance Invite: Princeton claims crown

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on April 9, 2013 1:47 PM

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PRINCETON -- Tori Paul earned Most Valuable Player honors and helped Princeton capture the Pikeville Insurance Invitational softball championship with a 5-4 triumph over perennial 3-A power South Johnston.

Paul and Hailey Wood drove in two runs apiece for the Bulldogs, who extended their win streak to five games. Paul emerged the winning pitcher, striking out six in a six-inning stint.

Wood earned the save.

All-tournament selection Charley Cox walked twice and contributed one hit.

Princeton led 5-1 after three innings. South tallied single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. The Trojans advanced to the title contest with a mercy-rule win over Spring Creek in opening-round play.

The Bulldogs reached the finals with a 6-4 win over Union.

Kelsey Peedin cranked out two hits for Princeton. Paul, Taylor Carroll and Savanna Massengill contributed one hit apiece.

Kasey Johnson worked 61/3 innings inside the pitcher's circle and fanned five Spartan batters on the day.

Princeton capitalized on three Union errors and built a 6-1 advantage through three innings. The Spartans pushed across a single run in the fourth inning and pulled to within the final margin with a two-run seventh.

Union defeated Spring Creek 10-1 in the third-place game. Megan Smith represented the Spartans on the all-tournament team and was joined by the Gators' Rachel McCollum.

The Bulldogs (7-2 overall) entertain Carolina 1-A Conference foe Goldsboro today.