Princeton softball faces tough challenge with Whiteville

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on May 28, 2014 1:48 PM

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PRINCETON -- The seniors on the Princeton softball team remember what it was like to play in the final four in 2011.

Those seniors have been passing on the wisdom they learned from that experience to the younger girls on the team all year.

"They've told all of the girls how good of an experience it was," Bulldogs head coach Terry Braswell said. "And they've been motivating the rest of the girls to repeat it. They need to come (together) and repeat it this time."

Princeton (19-4 overall) looks to put that wisdom to use when it begins its best-of-three series with Whiteville (23-6) in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A eastern regional softball finals tonight. First pitch is 6 p.m.

Game two is Friday at Whiteville and game three, if necessary, is Saturday at Princeton.

The Wolfpack has the advantage in nearly every statistical category. But Braswell knows the outcome is decided by a piece of paper.

"We don't really care about what the other team does," Braswell said. "We play by the philosophy 'I'll put my best on the field and you put your best on the field and let's see what happens.'"

The Bulldogs' offense will rely on seniors Savanna Massengill and Tori Paul, and sophomore Taylor Carroll to get on base. Each hitter has a batting average above .400.

That trio will set the table for the big bats of Hailey Wood, Charley Cox and freshman Beth Braswell. They three have combined for all nine of Princeton's home runs this season.

"If the bats are hot, you put a lot of pressure on the defense to make plays, so it's really important these bats stay hot," Braswell said.

Tori Paul has carried much of the load in the circle this season. The senior right-hander has thrown 84 innings in 21 appearances and accumulated a 1.75 earned run average.

If Princeton is going to be successful, it must execute defensively and get out the younger hitters in Whiteville's lineup.

Wolfpack freshman Sarah McLelland is hitting .522 and has eight home runs. Sophomore Eden Brown isn't far behind with seven home runs and is hitting a .485 clip.

Sophomore Malerie Leviner has been nearly unhittable, giving up just 14 earned runs in 102 innings and amassing 136 strikeouts.

"(We've got at least two games) so if something don't work the first time we'll make some changes and correct it, or at least improve on that problem," Braswell said.