Harnett Central guaranteed itself at least a share of the Tri-County Six 3-A Conference softball championship with a 10-0 win over visiting county rival Western Harnett on Wednesday.

“We do a good job of coming out in the first inning strong and then we get a little comfortable and it’s like we slack off a little bit,” said Harnett Central softball coach Chelsey Cabe. “And then we’ll kind of get on them and then they get on the right page again.”

“It wasn’t a bad game, but it wasn’t their best game,” added Harnett Central softball assistant Ashlee Crewe. “Our hitters have got a lot more in their bats than that, but it wasn’t a bad game.”

Western Harnett coach Stephen Hales, who played baseball at Harnett Central, said a lack of consistency has plagued the Eagles.

“That’s been our season,” Hales said. “It’s been where we’ll pitch it well one night and then we can’t make a play in the field. And then we’ll hit it well one night and we can’t pitch it well. It just hasn’t turned around for us where we’re doing both at the same times. It’s a tough one, but the girls played well and didn’t give up.”

Senior starter Ansley Lee pitched four shutout innings to take the win for the Trojans (8-5, 8-1 TCSC), giving up no runs on one hit, with five strikeouts. Junior Emily White pitched one inning, yielding no runs on one hit.

Junior Laurie Blackwell had two hits, including a double, one RBI and two runs scored and senior Amaya Bell had two hits, one RBI and one run scored to lead Central at the plate.

Lyndsey Brewer had one hit, one RBI and two runs scored. Jessie Dillon had a double and a run scored. Shelbie Gill had one hit and one run scored. Lee and Mikaela Goss had one hit apiece. Kylee Frailey had one RBI. Marcayla Jones had two runs scored. Fallon Wimberly scored once.

Senior Madison Farmer and sophomore Laniyah Bethea had one hit apiece for the Eagles (0-13, 0-9).

“The first couple of bats were fantastic at-bats,” Hales said. “I think Shelby (Duty) had an 11-pitch at-bat and then Madison gets up there and hits a backside single. As far as making contact, we did fantastic, but we just hit it right at somebody.”

Central sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning, plating four runs on four hits, three walks and one error.

Central added another run in the third when Brewer singled, advanced on a passed ball and a wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch.

In the fourth, Lee reached on a fielder’s choice and Dillon doubled. Lee scored on a ground ball from Brewer and Dillon scored on a wild pitch.

Bell and Gill led off the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back base hits and Blackwell doubled to score Bell. Gill scored on a wild pitch and Blackwell scored on a ground ball from Frailey to end the game on the 10-run rule.

Union Pines wins baseball, 9-3

Harnett Central fell 9-3 to visiting conference foe Union Pines on the baseball field.

“There isn’t much you can say other than tip your cap,” said Harnett Central baseball coach Lance Honeycutt. “Played a good baseball game and we made mistakes and they capitalized on them. That’s just the way the game’s played. The ABC’s of baseball are hitting, pitching and fielding. If you don’t do one of the three, you’re going to lose nine times out of 10. You’ve got to do all three to win. Unfortunately, I thought we did all three of them at about 60 percent.

“These guys go out there and they want to play to win, but the chips don’t fall our way sometimes and it’s hard to get your feet about you when stuff like that happens. It’s frustrating, but these guys are going to continue to work.”

Senior Jared Raynor had two hits, including a home run, two RBIs and one run scored to lead the Trojans (3-12, 2-7).

Justin Perkins had a double and a run scored. Matthew Bailey and Ryder Carroll had one hit apiece.

Sophomore Bryson Horney had three hits, one RBI and one run scored and sophomore Jack Lange had three hits and three runs scored to lead the Vikings (11-9, 4-4).

Harnett Central’s softball team travels to county and conference rival Triton (11-4, 6-2) on Thursday for the Hawks’ senior night. The Trojans can claim the regular season championship outright with a win.

“We have got to grab the momentum early,” Crewe said. “The game the other night (Central beat visiting Triton 6-1 Tuesday), that’s not normal Triton. Normally, you punch them, they punch you back. So, we’re going to have to fight in this next game. It’s really about who wants it more.”

“And if by chance, we get behind first, we’re going to have to have the drive to overcome that,” Cabe added. “And not get down on ourselves.”

Harnett Central’s baseball team is at home against Western Harnett on Thursday and hosts Triton for Senior Night on Friday.

Western Harnett is at conference foe Lee County on Friday.