1A SOFTBALL: Princeton shuts out North Duplin

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on May 25, 2016 1:46 PM

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bdavis@newsargus.com

PRINCETON -- Oh, how the ending could have been different.

But Taylor Carroll stood between second and third base - four times - to change the script.

The Princeton senior shortstop made impressive defensive plays to lift her team over rival North Duplin, 1-0, during the first game of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A best-of-three eastern regional championship series Tuesday evening.

Game 2 is Thursday in Calypso. First pitch is 6:30 p.m.

Carroll caught the ball for the second out and threw it to first base for the third at the top of the first inning. She prevented the Rebels from scoring early, but it was North Duplin's time to show its defense.

Junior pitcher Rylee Pate threw two strikeouts -- adding to her to game-high of eight. Junior Brooke Cottle caught a right-field foul ball to cap the third out of the inning.

Princeton's hitters had learned their lesson.

Sophomore Casey Mitchell launched the ball to center field and brought in senior Hailey Wood.

Wood threw eight strikeouts in the game and fired two in the fourth inning, but the Rebels managed to load the bases. North Duplin freshman Natalie Ramirez popped up a ball in foul territory, however. Carroll ran toward it, arm extended and clamped the ball with her glove for a third-out play.

"I thought I was going to hit the wall with my face," Carroll laughed. "It's a great feeling, it's a good, reassuring feeling that we got those outs."

Two more outs hid around the corner for Carroll.

Pate and Wood continued to exchange strikeouts with each other in the fifth inning, but by the sixth, the Rebels were ready to score. Junior Haley Brogden doubled to left field, but Alyssa Santos hit a grounder to Carroll, who threw her out at first base.

The Rebels had one more chance to take the lead and avoid Carroll's defense. Wood caught a pop fly and threw to first base for the first and second outs.

Pinch-hitter Taylor Jones walked to the plate with confidence. She swung, but the ball soared to Carroll for the third and final out of the game.

"Hopefully, it's only one more," Carroll said. "But we're good, just keep practicing hard, stay humble, play like we know how."

"We're going back to work tomorrow," Rebels head coach Ricky Edwards said. "And come back out and play again on Thursday. There's no changing anything now.

"Rylee and Hailey both pitched well on the mound today. We just weren't able to piece hits together. I thought we hit the ball at times, but just couldn't get the runners across."