Ansley Lee pitched well for Central but the Trojans struggled offensively.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
One day after falling 10-6 in a slugfest to Charles B. Aycock, Harnett Central was topped again by the Golden Falcons, this time in a 1-0 pitchers’ duel in the last game of the Harnett Central Spring Break Softball Tournament on Wednesday.
“Pitching did well,” said Central coach Lauren Taylor. “We were able to hold them to one run. Defense played well behind her. We just couldn’t make adjustments hitting.”
Aycock went 2-1 in the tournament, picking up two wins over Central and losing once to Princeton. Central went 1-2, beating Princeton but falling twice to Aycock.
Junior Ansley Lee went the distance in the circle for the Trojans (7-6), yielding one earned run on six hits, no walks and one hit batter, with four strikeouts. Lee is the granddaughter of former Terry Sanford football coach John Daskal.
“She stayed focused, she was able to hit her spots and just learned from one game to the next,” Taylor said. “She improved and gave up one run versus however many yesterday.”
Freshman Shawna Williams pitched a one-hit shutout for the Falcons (11-3), giving up no runs on one hit and one walk, with two strikeouts.
Amaya Bell was the lone Central player to reach base, drawing one walk and delivering the lone base hit.
The injury suffered by Central senior Alexis Carroll to her hand while scoring the winning run against Princeton on Tuesday was not as severe as first believed. Her hand was not broken, as was an initial concern, and she was able to play Wednesday.
Abigail Lancaster had two hits for Aycock. Hannah Carter had one hit and one RBI. Hannah Vinson had one hit and one run scored.
The defense of shortstop Cassandra Lassiter was a major factor for Aycock, recording nine assists and one putout in the contest.
“She was a good shortstop, but that’s just not making adjustments from one at-bat to the next,” Taylor said.
The game’s lone run came in the second inning when Vinson singled, stole second and scored on a base hit from Carter.
Bell narrowly beat the throw to first on a bunt in the sixth inning to provide Central’s only hit.
“She was able to lay down a bunt and use her speed to get on base,” Taylor said.
Harnett Central is at home against Tri-County Six 3-A Conference and county rival Western Harnett (2-8) on Tuesday.
“We’re going to take some time and let them enjoy spring break and hit practice hard again the beginning of next week,” Taylor said.
Amaya Bell bunted for Central’s lone hit on Wednesday.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Alexis Carroll, making a catch in right field, was able to play after a hand injury on Tuesday. (Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
