Relaxed Rebels enjoying stellar softball season

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on June 3, 2015 1:50 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

CALYPSO -- A No. 11 seed playing for a state title? North Duplin didn't see why it couldn't happen.

The Rebels never considered themselves an underdog during the postseason and backed up their statement in dominating fashion. They shut out five of six playoff opponents and allowed a mind-boggling one run along the way.

"We just took it one game at a time and really didn't worry about where the teams are seeded," first-year ND head coach Ricky Edwards said. "We're just mighty pleased to still be playing."

And Edwards' club is not done.

North Duplin (18-3-1 overall) opposes Western champ Hiwassee Dam (24-3) in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A state championship series, which begins Friday at the UNC Greensboro Softball Complex.

Game 1 is 8 p.m.

The Rebels are the first-ever Carolina 1-A Conference team to appear the new best-of-three format adopted by the Association in 2012. Before then, just two Carolina teams -- Princeton and North Johnston -- had advanced to the final four, which was a double-elimination style tournament. The county archrivals combined to post a 7-10 record and win two East regional crowns in five attempts.

North Johnston finished state runner-up in 2005 and 2009.

"It's overwhelming and very exciting," ND sophomore pitcher Rylee Pate said of the program's first appearance in the state finals since 1989, when Association schools played slow-pitch.

"From the very beginning, we said we were never the underdog and now we're not the underdog. (These wins) give us a lot of confidence and has helped prepare us by playing good teams."

North Duplin's strength has been its defense.

In 22 games, the Rebels have permitted 21 runs -- an average of 0.95 runs a game. Just six teams have scratched out a run. Jacksonville Northside and Spring Creek each put up four runs on the scoreboard.

Pate, along with bullpen mates Haley Brogden and Alyssa Santos, have combined to record a microscopic 0.61 earned run average (ERA) inside the pitcher's circle. The trio has recorded 249 strikeouts, yielded 25 walks and held opposing teams to a .107 batting average in 137 innings of work.

"(Rylee) is a great pitcher and pitches excellent," ND outfielder Courtney Brock said. "If the ball comes to us, we're going to make sure that we get there, catch the ball to make the play and get the out like we're supposed to.

"We're there for her."