Sterling Holmes and Claire Parker won the SAC’s top individual honors.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Barbara Myatt)
Cape Fear Christian Academy’s varsity softball team completed a season of dominance in the Sandhills Athletic Conference with a 10-0 win in five innings over visiting Fayetteville Christian on Friday for the league tournament championship.
The Eagles went 6-0 against conference competition. A 13-4 win over Freedom Christian on April 15 was the only league encounter that was not decided on the 10-run mercy rule. Five runs in the bottom of the fourth set up an early closeout on Friday as Claire Parker pitched a one-hit shutout with five strikeouts.
CFCA advanced to the final because Village Christian could not play in the semifinals because of an extensive quarantine that sidelined half its team.
Fayetteville Christian (4-7) was the No. 3 seed for the Sandhills tournament and advanced to the final with a 6-3 win at second-seeded Freedom Christian on Thursday.
Seventh-grader Kristina Kennedy went 2-for-2 on Friday with three RBIs. Getting two hits and two RBIs each for CFCA on Friday were Mariah Bell and Kim Bordeaux. Cailee Ray had two hits and an RBI. Rhyleigh Horne was 2-for-3. Bekah Ennis, Parker and McKenzie Burris each had a hit.
The regular-season and tournament titles were the first league crowns for CFCA since the school played in the Carolina Christian 1-A Conference.
CFCA is the only 1-A school in the SAC. Fayetteville Christian is 3-A. The remainder of the league is comprised by 2-A programs.
Sterling Holmes of CFCA was named Sandhills Coach of the Year and Parker was accorded Player of the Year honors.
“The reason I won this was because of you,” Holmes told his team.
Receiving all-conference recognition from the Eagles were senior Anslee McLamb, Ray, Bordeaux, Horne, Bell, Ennis and Parker.
CFCA won the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association 1-A softball tournament in 2019, the last time the event was played. Seedings and the bracket for this year’s state tournament are scheduled to be announced on Sunday.
CFCA will have Senior Day on Monday at 5:15 p.m. with a nonconference home game against Mintz Academy. That game, weather permitting, will follow a middle school contest with Mintz at 4 p.m.
The Eagles are projected to receive a first-round bye in the NCISAA tournament and play at home in the second round on Friday in conjunction with CFCA’s Homecoming.
The CFCA softball team is shown after winning the SAC Tournament. On the front row from left are coach Sterling Holmes, Kristina Kennedy, Rhyleigh Horne, Trinity Olive, Anslee McLamb, McKenzie Burris, Kailynn Cumbie and assistant Craig Autry. On the back row are assistant Michael Bell, Claire Parker, Cailee Ray, Mariah Bell, Bekah Ennis, Aarin Marlow and Kim Bordeaux.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Barbara Myatt)
Cailee Ray of CFCA makes a tag at third base on Friday.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Barbara Myatt)
Kristina Kennedy lays off a high pitch in the league final.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Barbara Myatt)
Kimberly Bordeaux beats a throw to first in a 10-0 win.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Barbara Myatt)
Claire Parker pitched a one-hit shutout in the SAC championship.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Barbara Myatt)
Mariah Bell of Cape Fear Christian is safe at third base
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Barbara Myatt)
Senior Anslee McLamb (center) is scheduled to be recognized Monday.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Barbara Myatt)
Third baseman Cailee Ray sets for a throw to first.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Barbara Myatt)
Kim Bordeaux makes a put-out at first for Cape Fear Christian.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Barbara Myatt)
Bekah Ennis threw out two runners trying to steal.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Barbara Myatt)
Mariah Bell reaches up for a fly to left against Fayetteville Christian.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Barbara Myatt)
