Caitlyn Holland gets a hit for Midway’s softball team on Friday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Midway suffered a pair of heartbreaking losses at home in the second round of the NCHSAA 2-A state playoffs on Friday night, with Providence Grove rallying past the softball team and the baseball team falling to East Bladen in extra innings.
A three-run rally in the top of the seventh inning lifted No. 21 Providence Grove to a 6-4 win over No. 5 Midway in the softball game.
“We led the whole ball game and lose it in the seventh,” said Midway softball coach Leigh Ann Smith. “Timely hits. We had some errors on some bunts that they had. An error in the first inning with a pitcher, an error right here at third base, that’s two runs they wouldn’t have had. It’s just ball. I mean, I’m disappointed, but we’ve had a heck of a season (Midway went 14-7, including an 11-1 conference record for its second straight East Central 2-A Conference title).”
The win was the second upset win in the playoffs for the Patriots (16-5), who topped No. 12 Randleman 4-2 in the first round.
Senior Erin Barefoot had two hits, including a double, one RBI and one run scored to lead the Raiders (14-7).
“I’m so proud of Erin tonight,” coach Smith said. “Erin was clutch tonight. She was focused tonight. She was really focused tonight.”
Alyssa Wrench had a double, one RBI and one run scored. Rylie Williams had one hit and one run scored. Caitlyn Holland and Chloe Baggett had one hit apiece. Jega Dapuyen had one run scored.
Senior Sam Welch had two hits, including a triple, one RBI and two runs scored, senior Alli Young had two hits, one RBI and two runs scored and senior Tatum Smith had a double, three RBIs and a run scored to lead the Patriots.
After Providence took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, Midway answered with a run in the bottom of the inning to tie it. Midway added two runs in the third and one in the fourth to lead 4-1.
Providence cut the lead to one with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning and rallied with three runs in the seventh to take a 6-4 lead.
Feeding off of the momentum from the rally in the top of the inning, the Patriots retired the Raiders in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.
The loss ends the high school softball careers of five Midway seniors: Karlee Martin, Sanajae “J.J.” Sankey, Alexis Jackson, Alyssa Wrench and Erin Barefoot. Sankey and Wrench have both been starters on the varsity team since their freshman year.
Outside of its seniors, Midway was mostly a young team this season, with three juniors, six sophomores and one freshman on the roster. With the majority of the team returning, the Raiders will look to build on this season’s successes.
“We’re coming back,” coach Smith said. “We’ll be back.”
After No. 1 Midway rallied to tie the game and send it to extra innings, No. 16 East Bladen scored a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning to win the baseball game 4-2.
“We just got snake bit every time,” said Midway baseball coach Jason Fussell. “Our seniors did a great job. There’s nothing to hang their heads on. That’s the game. We’ve benefited from people making the same mistakes we made late in the game and it all happened to us in two innings. It is what it is. Our seniors did a great job. We were 21-2, nothing to hang your head on.”
Senior Chandler Williford was the pitcher of record for the Raiders (21-2), yielding one earned run on eight hits and one walk, with seven strikeouts across seven and two-thirds innings. Junior Eli Culbreth struck out the lone batter he faced.
Senior Pierce Melvin was the winning pitcher for the Eagles (18-6), giving up no runs on three hits and one walk, with one strikeout, across two innings of relief.
Senior Brayden Coats had two hits and one RBI and Williford had two hits to lead Midway at the plate.
Jaron Register and Cameron Barefoot each had one hit and one run scored. Carson Calcutt and Cameron Calcutt had one hit apiece.
“We were able to get people on,” Fussell said. “We just couldn’t do anything with the runners in scoring position or get them there.”
Senior Greyson Heustess had three doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored to lead East Bladen.
After three scoreless innings, the Eagles plated two runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead. But Midway scored one run apiece in the fifth and sixth innings.
In the extra frame, the Eagles scored a pair of runs, both with two outs on the board, to take the lead and the win.
The loss sees the end of the high school baseball careers of five Midway seniors: Carson Calcutt, Brayden Coats, Jaron Register, Henry Happel and Chandler Williford.
“They’ve done a lot,” Fussell said. “Three of them have been on varsity three or four years. They started off 13 wins in their first year and ballooned up to 21 wins this year. They’ve done a great job leading the team and they’ve been very valuable components for the last three or four years. They’re going to be sorely missed.”
Midway will look to continue its successful ways next season, bringing back a strong group of players.
“We’ve got a good nucleus coming back next year,” Fussell said. “So, I think we’ll be fine.”
Campbell signee Chandler Williford delivers for Midway.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Erin Barefoot of Midway connects for a run-scoring double.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Alyssa Wrench drives in a run for Midway with a double.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Midway third baseman Jega Dapuyen makes a catch.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Cameron Calcutt gets a hit for the Raiders against East Bladen.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
