1A SOFTBALL: Mitchell lifts Princeton to first-ever state championship

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on June 5, 2016 1:47 AM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

RALEIGH -- Just days before meeting North Stanly in the state championship series, Hailey Wood mentioned she'd like nothing better than to win a state title.

"It would be icing on the cake," Wood said.

Well, on this day, she won't mind sharing the sweet, mouth-watering delight -- especially with teammate Casey Mitchell.

The sophomore outfielder mashed a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning and the Bulldogs eventually claimed the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A state softball title with a 3-2 victory over the Comets on Saturday afternoon.

Mitchell, fittingly, was named MVP.

"That is honestly the best way to end the season," Mitchell said.

It's the second state crown for Wood and fellow seniors Kelsey Peedin and Taylor Carroll. The trio helped lead PHS to the 2014 state 1-A volleyball title -- the first in any girls' sport in school history.

Oh, but it seemed in doubt.

As a blistering sun bore down on a standing-room-only crowd at Dail Softball Stadium on the N.C. State campus, it was the North Stanly faithful who felt a first-ever championship was in their midst.

Comets right-hander Sam Hogan, as she had in game one, kept the Bulldogs from sinking their teeth into pitches -- particularly on the corners. Princeton mustered just four hits and trailed 2-0 through 41/2 innings of play.

"Honestly, we weren't having that much trouble with her," Mitchell said. "We were over thinking (at the plate). Once we got one run, we got calmed down and started playing our game. Once we did that, we started to get the runs."

Wood's two-out single plated Megan Bryant and closed the gap to 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Wood wiggled out of trouble in the top half of the sixth inning, and that set the table for a stirring sixth which livened the Bulldogs' fans.

Emily Ricks coaxed a lead-off walk from Hogan and Mitchell stepped into the batter's box. She dug in and worked the righty to a 3-2 count.

"It was pretty intense," Mitchell said. "I just knew I needed to hit. I had all the faith in myself and so did my team. I was hoping to put the ball in play, hoping to score one run to get the game tied."

Mitchell, instead, watched the ball drop behind the fence.

Princeton led 3-2.

"I was like 'this can't be real,'" she said. "There is no way I just hit a home run."

It was just Mitchell's second hit in 10 official plate appearances during the three-game series. And, it was her third home run of the season.

"When Casey came up, we told her she was due," Wood said. "She had lost a little confidence and we all instilled ours in her when she went to the plate. She had a great at-bat and finally extended her hands through the ball and it paid off."

Wood shut the door with a perfect seventh -- her second complete game within less than 24 hours. The right-hander yielded seven hits, struck out three and did not walk a batter.

Princeton became the 16th state champion in the Carolina 1-A Conference's 54-year history. It's the first time that two conference schools have won back-to-back championships after North Duplin's phenomenal run in the softball playoffs a year ago.

The Bulldogs forced the "if" game with an 11-hit attack that chased Hogan after 31/3 innings inside the circle. The top six -- Bryant, Brianna Myers, Taylor Carroll, Wood, Beth Braswell and Ricks combined for 10 hits, six RBI, five runs scored and just three strikeouts.

One night earlier, the same group hit 5 for 19.

They helped spark a six-run uprising that lasted three innings and all but salted away the overall outcome. Wood departed the mound after four innings and Braswell tossed three innings of three-hit, three-strikeout relief.

Myers had a two-RBI double in the third.

Ricks homered in the fourth to end an 0-for-5 skid at the plate.

"I just told her to go up there and have fun," PHS head coach Terry Braswell said.

The preseason goal of a state title remained within reach.

The dream became reality just a few hours later.

"It's the greatest feeling in the world, awesome," Mitchell said. "We're pretty happy that we gave the three seniors what they've always wanted in softball and to get the first state title (for the school) is the best feeling.

"Hopefully with the kids coming up, that will give them the drive to be as good as us and keep it going."