Erwin, Western play for district titles in 10-U, 12-U softball

by John Lucas | Jul 11, 2018 | Articles, Erwin, News & Features

Angier 12-U third baseman Sondra Berry steps on the bag for an out. Western Harnett had a triple play Tuesday night that ended with an out at third.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Western Harnett brought hot bats to day two of the Tar Heel Leagues District IV 12-and-under softball tournament at Al Woodall Municipal Park in Erwin on Tuesday, beating Angier in an elimination game and topping Erwin to force tonight’s “if necessary” game.

Ten runs in the third and fourth innings powered Western to a 15-9 win over Erwin in the second game.

Western turned a triple play in the bottom of the fifth inning to halt an Erwin threat.

Kaylee Cox had two hits and three runs scored and Lillian Heath had two hits and two runs scored to lead Western.

Kylie Harrington had two hits and one run scored. Liz LeRouge had one hit and three runs scored. Gianna McDonald had one hit and two runs scored. Aliyonna Bethea had one hit and one run scored. Madelyn Helms had one hit. Dakota Hanna scored twice. Riley Church scored once.

Reese Penny and McKenna Moore each had two hits and three runs scored, Lexi Davis had one hit and Camryn Conway, Jenna Underwood and Whitni Royal scored one run apiece for Erwin.

Erwin’s Ashari Watlington, who was injured early in Erwin’s game against Western Monday, was unable to play, but was in the dugout in uniform in support of her team.

Western Harnett and Erwin will meet again tonight (Wednesday, July 11) at 6 p.m. for the district championship.

Western Harnett’s Dakota Hanna scores on a wild pitch on Field One.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Kylie Harrington of the Western 12-U team drives in a pair of runs.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

McKenna Moore gets a hit for the Erwin 12-U team on Tuesday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

10-and-under

After dropping an extra innings game to open the Tar Heel Leagues District IV 10-under softball tournament at Al Woodall Municipal Park in Erwin on Monday, host Erwin battled back Tuesday, edging Angier in an extra-inning elimination game to advance to the championship series and rallying late against Western Harnett to force a decisive game tonight (Wednesday, June 11) at 6.

Two runs in the top of the seventh inning lifted Erwin to a 9-7 win over Angier in an elimination game to start the evening.

For Erwin, Shelby McLamb had three hits and a run scored. Madelin Hair and Anslee Putnam each had two hits and two runs scored. Kyndall Faircloth had a triple and three runs scored. Addison Tart and Kayleigh Merritt had one hit apiece. Bailey Johnson scored once.

Molly Champion and Julianne Belcher each had one hit and two runs scored for Angier. Makayla Benton had one hit and one run scored. Haley Denton had one hit. Charleigh Jarriel and Olivia Gonzalez scored one run apiece.

Angier had a walk-off opportunity in the bottom of the sixth when Denton reached on an error and advanced all the way to third with no outs. But Erwin’s defense stood tall, getting a pop-up to first, a pop-up to third and a 1-6-3 ground out to leave the runner stranded.

In the top of the seventh, Hair scored on a triple from Faircloth, who scored on a base hit from McLamb to give the hosts a two-run lead. Erwin then retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.

In the game two, Western Harnett, which needed just one win to claim the championship, held a late 4-2 lead, but Erwin rallied with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to win 6-4 and force the “if necessary” game.

Johnson had two hits. Hair had one hit and two runs scored. McLamb and Tart each had one hit and one run scored. Putnam had a double. Faircloth and Mackenzy Coley each had one hit. Bryleigh Smith and Gracie Lanfair scored one run apiece.

Aubrey Black had two hits and one run scored, Madison Wear and Grace Bancroft each had one hit and one run scored, Micah Wolvington had one hit and Jessika Constant scored once for Western.

After Coley drove in Tart with a base hit and Smith drove in Lanfair, courtesy runner for Coley, to tie the game, Putnam doubled to score Smith and Hair to give Erwin a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Morgan McAuley was hit by a pitch to give Western a base runner with two out in the top of the sixth, but a strikeout by Putnam, who replaced Merriit in the circle for the final frame, ended the game.

Western Harnett and Erwin will meet again for the District IV title. The teams are 1-1 against each other in the tournament, with each game decided by two runs or less.

Anslee Putnam collects an RBI with a hit for Erwin. Putnam’s two-run double decided Tuesday night’s second game on Field Two.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)