Hawk softball disappointing in Spring Break defeat at Central

by John Lucas | Apr 4, 2018 | Triton

Leanna Whaley connects for a double to drive in Triton’s lone run.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Triton struggled through a 12-1 loss to Princeton on the second day of the Harnett Central Spring Break Softball Tournament on Wednesday.

“No effort at all whatsoever,” said Triton coach Mark Whitman. “Our pitching was OK for the most part. We weren’t getting the corners, but that’s how it goes sometimes. We didn’t hit. One hit the whole game. But no effort whatsoever. Worst display of softball I’ve seen in a long time, to be totally honest. We’ll just come back, regroup on Monday and go from there.

“I’m just disappointed in the effort more than anything. Nobody really seemed to want to be here. I know it’s Easter break. I gave the girls the option if they wanted to play in this or not. And it hurts not having your shortstop (Alexis Howard) here and you’re missing a key player in your batting lineup. But that’s irrelevant. There’s no reason we shouldn’t have been able to hit.”

Princeton finished 2-1 in the event, picking up wins over Charles B. Aycock and Triton, but falling to host Harnett Central. The game against Princeton was Triton’s lone contest in the two-day series of matchups.

Senior Leanna Whaley had a double and one RBI and sophomore Brittany Ireland scored once for the Hawks (10-2).

Senior Casey Mitchell pitched a complete game win for the Bulldogs (8-3), yielding one earned run on one hit, three walks and one hit batter, with three strikeouts. She was the pitcher of record in all three of Princeton’s games in the tournament, including a pair of complete game wins.

Hailey Woodall was 4-for-4, including a double, with two RBIs and four runs scored, Mitchell had three hits, including two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored, Meredith Wooten had three hits, including a double, three RBIs and two runs scored and Reanna Braswell had three hits, two RBIs and one run scored to lead Princeton.

Princeton scored one run apiece in the first, third and sixth innings, seven in the fourth and two in the seventh.

Triton’s lone run came in the bottom of the third inning when Ireland and Kathryn Elliott each drew walks and Ireland scored on Whaley’s double to tie the score. Mitchell rallied with a pair of strikeouts to end the inning.

Triton returns to Tri-County Six 3-A Conference play at home against Southern Lee (0-9) on Tuesday.

“Hopefully we’ll battle back and they’ll come ready to work on Monday,” Whitman said. “There’ll be some changes made and we’ll go from there and see what happens.”