RALEIGH - Gray's Creek softball players were devastated after their loss to Purnell Swett in the first round of the United 8 Conference tournament a week ago.
NCHSAA softball playoff brackets were released Monday, and Gray's Creek squeezed in by a hair despite the loss, placing as the No. 27 seed in the 4A East.
The 4A East playoffs began Tuesday, and the Bears (11-6) hit the road to stun No. 6-seeded Cardinal Gibbons (12-6), where they needed just five innings to get to a 20-8 victory.
The bats were hot for the Bears as they got the game started with a three-run first inning. But that's not unusual for the Coach Stuart Gilmer-led team, which is known for demanding the batter's box and the bases throughout the season.
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"We earned the 27th seed because we lost a lot of close games and I told the team that we were about five innings away from being three or four wins better." Gilmer said. "But we've emphasized approach at the plate all year."
That's Gray's Creek's strong suit, and where it excelled mightily in the 4A state playoff win over Cardinal Gibbons. UNC-Pembroke junior commit Amariya Green brought in seven RBIs, going 4-for-4 with two triples and five runs scored. Freshman August Kebort added a home run in the second to go with a double, two RBIs and four runs scored, and senior outfielder Roshell Williams had three hits with an RBI and three runs scored.
But what's next for Gray's Creek softball?
"We're going to keep trucking along. I told them it's either win or move on, or win or go home it's up to you," Gilmer said.
The Bears' next opponent is Wake Forest, which sits at the No. 11 spot in the 4A East with a 14-6 record. Wake Forest scores about seven runs per game, while the Bears average 11.
Gray's Creek could reach Round 3 for the third time in four seasons if the bats stay hot throughout the second-round matchup.
"We plan to stay hot," Gilmer said. "I don't know if we have a ceiling, but if we can stay bought into our approach at the plate which is going with a two-strike approach, hitting the outside pitch, and driving the ball backside, I think good things can happen for us."
No. 27 Gray's Creek (11-8, 8-6 U8) will travel to No. 11 Wake Forest on Friday.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: 'Win or move on': What's next for Gray's Creek softball in NCHSAA playoffs
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