Gators overcome shaky defensive start, knock off Rebels

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 9, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

CALYPSO -- Errors and slow starts have haunted Spring Creek's softball team throughout the season.

Thursday was almost the same ... almost.

The Gators overcame four first-inning defensive miscues and upended North Duplin, 7-4, in the Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season finale for both teams. The victory created a three-way tie for second place in the league between the Gators, Rebels and Rosewood.

North Duplin (9-7 overall, 8-4 CC) drew the No. 2 seed and an opening-round game in the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs, which begin either next Tuesday or Wednesday. The Eagles drew the third seed and the Gators -- first-time playoff participants -- drew the fourth seed.

"No matter what, we finish in second place because it's a tie, but I wish we could have gotten a better seed," said Boltinhouse, whose team broke program records for regular-season wins (11), conference wins (8), conference finish (tied 2nd) and regular-season win percentage (.688) -- just to name a few.

The rivals -- separated by a county line -- appeared headed for a series split. Three wild throws on routine plays allowed the Rebels to erase a one-run deficit and build a 2-1 advantage.

But the Gators refused to submit to their frustration.

Spring Creek (11-5, 8-4) coerced the North Duplin defense into a trio of third-inning defensive miscues. Ashley Marriner (3-for-4) tied the game at 2-2 on a wild pitch by North Duplin right-hander Kylee Pate.

Three off-target throws led to the Gators' second run and a 3-2 lead.

"We started off really slow," SC pitcher Rachel McCollum said. "(Then) we changed our minds, came out more intense. Once you get behind, it's a different ballgame. As soon as we got down 2-1, we decided we were not going to play catch up (all night), but get ahead and stay ahead."

The Gators did.

Ashley Marriner scored Spring Creek's fourth run when McCollum singled up the middle and scored on yet another wild throw. McCollum crossed the plate when Sarah Ford induced the Rebels into back-to-back errors on a routine infield ground ball.

Ford trotted home on Alanna Price's sacrifice fly to right field.

"I don't know if it's an aura that we have with Spring Creek or what, but the last game we started off good and kind of broke down," said ND head coach Todd Slater, whose team committed a season-high 10 errors.

"We just need to focus and we lost that focus ... never got it back."

McCollum made sure it didn't happen. The right-hander retired eight consecutive batters during two-plus innings, yielded two hits and logged eight strikeouts inside the circle.

North Duplin had just two runners reach base after the second inning. Spring Creek freshman right-hander Ashley Marriner relieved McCollum and surrendered two seventh-inning runs on Rylee Pate's double into the power alley for the 7-4 finale.

"I was just trying to get ground balls," McCollum said. "I was mixing the ball in and out, trying to change speeds to keep them off their feet. I felt like I needed to do that because they've seen me many times. I didn't want to be repetitive and keep throwing fastballs."