Sawyer Suttton delivers for Midway in a 7-1 playoff win on Tuesday.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Midway’s varsity baseball and softball teams advanced to the second round of the NCHSAA 2-A state playoffs with a softball win over visiting J.F. Webb and the baseball team winning over visiting SouthWest Edgecombe on Tuesday.
Fifth-seeded Midway held off a late rally to beat No. 28 J.F. Webb 9-5 on the softball field.
“We’ve just got to play like we did against Goldsboro the other night (a 12-0 road win on Thursday),” said Midway softball coach Leigh Ann Smith. “But we just had to make it interesting.”
Sophomore Miranda Holmes pitched the complete game win for the Raiders (14-6), giving up one earned run on five hits and two walks, with four strikeouts.
Senior J.J. Sankey and sophomore Jega Dapuyen each had three hits and two runs scored, with Sankey also driving in a run, and freshman Rylie Williams had two hits, including a triple, four RBIs and two runs scored to lead Midway at the plate.
Alyssa Wrench had one hit, two RBIs and one run scored. Caitlyn Holland had one hit and one run scored. Holmes had one hit. Bella Bryant had one RBI. Natalie McPhail scored once.
“Rylie Williams is helping us as a freshman,” Smith said. “She’s really helping us right now. Alyssa Wrench is a better hitter than she showed tonight, but she’s really been helping us. And J.J. leading off and Jega Dapuyen, she’s tough to keep off the bases.”
Junior Jordan Englebright had two hits, including a double, and one RBI to lead the Warriors (9-10).
After Webb scored once in the top of the first, Midway scored two runs apiece in the first and second innings and five in the fourth to take a 9-1 lead.
Webb rallied with two out in the bottom of the seventh, scoring four runs to cut the lead to four. But a pop-up to Williams, at second base, ended the game.
Top-seeded Midway took the lead early and never looked back in a 7-1 baseball win over No. 32 SouthWest Edgecombe.
“Sawyer (Sutton) pitched a great ball game and it was a nice start (to the playoffs),” said Midway baseball coach Jason Fussell. “We swung the bat well tonight and it got us through to some timely base running. It was a good game all-in-all to get started.”
Sophomore Sawyer Sutton went the distance on the mound to take the win for the Raiders (22-1), yielding one earned run on two hits and four walks, with 10 strikeouts.
Senior Carson Calcutt had three hits, including a double, and two runs scored, junior Eli Culbreth had two hits, including a double, and two RBIs and senior Brayden Coats had two hits, including a double, and two runs scored to lead Midway offensively.
Cal Tyndall had one hit, two RBIs and one run scored. Chandler Williford had one hit and one run scored. Drew Matthews had one hit. Cameron Calcutt scored once.
Sophomore Kameron Wright had two hits and junior Joseph Roach scored once for the Cougars (8-14).
“We played solid in the field,” Fussell said. “Had a few miscues in the seventh and gave them one run. You can’t fall asleep there. But other than that, it was a great game.”
Midway scored three runs in the first inning and one apiece in the second, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. SouthWest scored once in the top of the seventh.
Midway will host No. 21 Providence Grove (15-5), which upset No. 12 Randleman 4-2 on Tuesday, in the second round of the softball playoffs on Friday.
“We’ve definitely got to clean up our errors like we had tonight,” Smith said. “And we’ve definitely got to hit our spots pitching and we’ve definitely got to hit the ball. That’s what’s kept us in these games where we’ve made errors: We’ve hit the ball and hit the ball well. So, that’s what we’ve got to do to stay in it.”
Midway will host No. 16 East Bladen (17-6), which topped No. 17 First Flight 12-2 on Tuesday, in the second round of the baseball playoffs on Friday.
“Being home’s important, especially if we’ve got to play East Bladen,” Fussell said. “We played them in the Easter tournament (Midway won 5-4 in a tournament at Terry Sanford on April 23) and they’ve got a solid ball club. They’ve got some arms on the hill that can challenge anybody.”
Midway’s Alyssa Wrench throws to first for an out.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Rylie Williams of Midway connects for a hit in the first round.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Jega Dapuyen gets a hit for the Raiders against Webb.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Karlee Martin makes a catch in left field for the Raiders.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Campbell signee Chandler Williford throws from third for Midway.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Cal Tyndall drives in a run for the Raiders.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Carson Calcutt slides home with a run for the Raiders on Tuesday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Midway softball seniors are, from left, Alyssa Wrench, Karlee Martin, J.J. Sankey, Alexis Jackson and Erin Barefoot.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Midway’s baseball seniors are, from left, Brayden Coats, Henry Happel, Chandler Williford, Carson Calcutt and Jaron Register.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
