North Dupline softball edges Perquimans

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 23, 2015 10:35 PM

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From staff reports

HERTFORD -- A nearly four-decade wait is over.

North Duplin is playing for an eastern regional championship in softball.

Rylee Pate yielded two hits, walked two and retired 14 Perquimans batters on strikeouts during a 1-0, fourth-round victory in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A playoffs Friday evening. The 11th-seeded Rebels oppose unbeaten and top-seeded Pinetown Northside (23-0 overall) in the eastern regional championship series.

Dates and game times have not been announced.

Pate, who is 4-0 in the postseason, has recorded an eye-popping 55 strikeouts in 26 innings inside the circle. The Rebels' defense has allowed just one run and posted three shutouts behind the right-hander.

"She pitched extremely well," ND head coach Ricky Edwards said. "They led off the game with a double and then she settled down after that. We didn't have a scouting report or know anything about them. (Pate) keeps hitters off balance (and) we made the plays behind her, too.

"Haley (Brogden) had two line drives hit to her at third base."

North Duplin (16-3-1) scored its lone run in the top of the third inning.

Mary Barwick singled and advanced to second base. With two outs, Mikayla Koch hit a fly ball behind second base that was misplayed by the Pirates. Barwick scored on the play.

Pate, Brogden, Alyssa Santos, Brooke Cottle and Barwick each a hit for the Rebels.

"We left some runners on base and I thought that might hurt us down the stretch," Edwards said. "We have had five or six strikeouts, which is a little unusual and five hits. It was a good game. We were mighty fortunate, but we'll take it any way we can get it."

The Rebels haven't reached the eastern finals since 1989 when they eventually lost to Murphy in their slow-pitch 1-A championship series.