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BOILING SPRINGS — With other Crest softball players occupied with their customary postgame duties, coach Gregory Earl called seniors Aidan Ledbetter, Ella Shope and Abby Edwards over for a final chat.
“It’s been an incredible, fun ride,” Earl said. “You know, going 13 innings in the fourth round of their first playoff run against a Tennessee signee and a future SEC standout (in Katlyn Pickens) to this year and making it to Round 5, they’ve had a great career. I hate to see it end. I’m going to miss them immensely.”
A four-year journey which saw the Charger standouts lift the program back among the state’s elite was suddenly over.
TRUE GRIT: Here's how Crest softball, North Lincoln baseball continued their NCHSAA title pursuits
BLAST FROM THE PAST: Freshman Aidan Ledbetter pitches Crest softball to deepest NCHSAA playoff run since 2011
A seventh-inning rally by Crest fell just short Thursday evening, the No. 5 Chargers losing 9-6 to second-ranked Rockingham County in Game 2 of their regional championship series. With two runs already in, the bases loaded and the winning run at the plate with one out, Rockingham County’s Ava Grace Pruitt struck out her last two batters to preserve the win and a spot in next week’s 3A state final.
“I’m super proud of these girls; they didn’t quit, they didn’t say die,” Earl said. “We came out and did something really no one else has (to Pruitt). We hit the ball, we hit it solid and it was just a strong senior leadership. that helped us and the girls did not give up.”
A calamitous fifth inning proved Crest’s undoing. Tied 4-all, three Chargers errors led to five Rockingham County runs. “We just didn’t perform at that moment like we needed to,” the Crest skipper said.
Nevertheless, Earl was pleased with Ledbetter’s effort in her two games against a vaunted Rockingham County lineup. She allowed nine runs (four earned) on 10 hits with 11 strikeouts in her final game.
I thought Aidan did a great job pitching. She got the ground balls, she kept (Rockingham County) off balance,” Earl said. “I think, you know, she made one mistake that really wasn't her mistake. It was mine for calling that pitch (a home run by Rockingham County’s Pruitt in the third), but you know, it is what it is. It just hurts (to lose).”
Maddie Bowen led the Crest by going 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Ledbetter was 2-for-4 with a double. Sage McCurry also hit a two-run homer in the fourth, at the time knotting the game at 4.
Kennedy Kiry, Presley Rothe, Macey Hardy and Pruitt had two hits apiece for Rockingham County.
Crest’s season ends with a 24-5 record.
This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: NCHSAA softball: Crest's magical season ends in 3A West final
Continue reading...
“It’s been an incredible, fun ride,” Earl said. “You know, going 13 innings in the fourth round of their first playoff run against a Tennessee signee and a future SEC standout (in Katlyn Pickens) to this year and making it to Round 5, they’ve had a great career. I hate to see it end. I’m going to miss them immensely.”
A four-year journey which saw the Charger standouts lift the program back among the state’s elite was suddenly over.
TRUE GRIT: Here's how Crest softball, North Lincoln baseball continued their NCHSAA title pursuits
BLAST FROM THE PAST: Freshman Aidan Ledbetter pitches Crest softball to deepest NCHSAA playoff run since 2011
A seventh-inning rally by Crest fell just short Thursday evening, the No. 5 Chargers losing 9-6 to second-ranked Rockingham County in Game 2 of their regional championship series. With two runs already in, the bases loaded and the winning run at the plate with one out, Rockingham County’s Ava Grace Pruitt struck out her last two batters to preserve the win and a spot in next week’s 3A state final.
“I’m super proud of these girls; they didn’t quit, they didn’t say die,” Earl said. “We came out and did something really no one else has (to Pruitt). We hit the ball, we hit it solid and it was just a strong senior leadership. that helped us and the girls did not give up.”
A calamitous fifth inning proved Crest’s undoing. Tied 4-all, three Chargers errors led to five Rockingham County runs. “We just didn’t perform at that moment like we needed to,” the Crest skipper said.
Nevertheless, Earl was pleased with Ledbetter’s effort in her two games against a vaunted Rockingham County lineup. She allowed nine runs (four earned) on 10 hits with 11 strikeouts in her final game.
I thought Aidan did a great job pitching. She got the ground balls, she kept (Rockingham County) off balance,” Earl said. “I think, you know, she made one mistake that really wasn't her mistake. It was mine for calling that pitch (a home run by Rockingham County’s Pruitt in the third), but you know, it is what it is. It just hurts (to lose).”
Maddie Bowen led the Crest by going 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Ledbetter was 2-for-4 with a double. Sage McCurry also hit a two-run homer in the fourth, at the time knotting the game at 4.
Kennedy Kiry, Presley Rothe, Macey Hardy and Pruitt had two hits apiece for Rockingham County.
Crest’s season ends with a 24-5 record.
This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: NCHSAA softball: Crest's magical season ends in 3A West final
Continue reading...
