Bulldog sink Mariners in 1A softball playoffs

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on May 19, 2016 1:48 PM

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bdavis@newsargus.com

PRINCETON -- Princeton kept its postseason run alive.

But two innings sent stress throughout its fans.

Senior Hailey Wood threw the wildest pitch at the top of the fourth inning, and sophomore Megan Bryant made the greatest catch. The Bulldogs defeated East Carteret, 2-1, in third-round action of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A softball playoffs Wednesday evening.

The top-seeded Bulldogs took the lead early on a run-scoring hit from sophomore Emily Ricks to center field in the bottom of the second inning. Ricks brought in Wood, who protected the 1-0 lead for two innings.

Wood recorded six strikeouts before the fourth inning, but she launched a fastball over catcher Kelsey Peedin's head. The ball hit the fence.

"I started change-up, but I drilled myself in the side of the hip," Wood said. "When it hit my hip, it just flew up. I got a bruise on my hip already."

The starting pitcher remained on the mound for the fifth inning.

East Carteret junior Susanne Taylor stepped to the plate and knocked the ball to center field. Emily McGee scored for the 1-1 tie.

But the Bulldogs entered the bottom of the sixth with a stress reliever. Wood blasted the ball to center field, and senior shortstop Taylor Carroll crossed the plate to lift Princeton, 2-1, over the eighth-seeded Mariners.

At the top of the seventh, Wood pitched a strikeout, and Carroll threw an out to junior first baseman Beth Braswell. Fans anticipated a game-ending third out on the next play, but Taylor landed on first base for the Mariners.

Stress levels increased.

EC senior Hannah Nelson launched the ball to center field. The ball continued to fly above the fence, but Bryant grabbed the ball, giving fans a chance to breathe.

"I'm glad we're moving forward," said Princeton head coach Terry Braswell. "We're struggling with the bat a little bit. We put the bat on the ball, but not with good, solid hits. Other than that, we played decent."

The Bulldogs (19-1 overall) play host to fourth-seeded Perquimans on Friday. Game time is 7 p.m.