Local high school baseball and softball teams went a collective 9-for-11 in Tuesday’s opening round of the NCHSAA playoffs.
All six baseball teams and three softball teams advanced to Friday night’s second round, where five of those teams will be at home once again.
Also cashing in a postseason win on Tuesday and remaining home for the second round was the John Paul II baseball team in the opening round of the NCISAA playoffs.
The Saints (15-9) took on Coastal Christian at home on Thursday.
Following are capsules for Friday night’s matchups:
BASEBALL
4A
Heritage at D.H. Conley
The No. 3 seed Vikings (20-3) showed some grit in the first round to advance over Cary, 3-1, and enter the second round winners of 11 in their last 12.
Heritage (15-11), the No. 14 seed, won a tight 2-1 game over Apex in the first round.
The Huskies have not won more than two straight games since early April.
3A
North Brunswick at J.H. Rose
The No. 1 seed Rampants (22-2) won a five-inning mercy rule shutout on Tuesday night that was typical of the team’s results all season.
Now they face the No. 17 Scorpions (15-9), who dispatched First Flight in the opening round, 6-1.
The Scorpions finished the regular season strong and have now won five of their last six.
South Central at Cape Fear
The No. 14 Falcons (19-4) enter the second round on the heels of an impressive shutout of Person, but things promise to get much tougher.
No. 3 Cape Fear (24-4) handled Western Alamance in a 12-4 rout in the first round and remain on home turf.
The Colts ride a 14-game winning streak into the game.
2A
South Lenoir at Greene Central
The top-seeded Rams (22-0) remained undefeated after a five-inning, 18-0 shutout of Goldsboro in the first round.
No. 16 South Lenoir (15-6) travels to Snow Hill after eliminating Clinton in a 7-2 first-round victory.
The Blue Devils are winners of six of their last seven.
Farmville Central at Midway
The No. 13 Jaguars (14-7) rode great pitching to a close 5-3 win over South Columbus at home in the first round, but now they must hit the road.
No. 4 Midway (18-5) authored a 5-0 shutout over Jordan-Matthews in the first round.
The Raiders have won seven straight, including three consecutive shutouts.
Ayden-Grifton at North Lenoir
The No. 14 Chargers (16-9) also hit the road for a tough matchup following a comfortable 9-2 decision over Roanoke Rapids in their playoff opener.
No. 3 North Lenoir (19-4) rolled past East Duplin, 7-1, in the first round.
The Hawks have won two straight after a rivalry loss to South Lenoir.
SOFTBALL
4A
Corinth Holders at D.H. Conley
The No. 3 Vikings (18-4) won their fifth in a row on Tuesday night in an 8-0 shutout over Enloe.
No. 14 Corinth Holders (12-9) eliminated Leesville Road in a convincing 14-4 blowout in the first round.
It was the second win in a row in a topsy-turvy season for the Pirates.
3A
Western Harnett at South Central
The No. 6 Falcons (15-5) got their usual blend of power and pitching in a 4-1 win over North Brunswick on Tuesday night.
No. 22 Western Harnett (16-7) scored a big upset in the first round by taking out No. 11 Vance County, 8-7.
The Eagles have won three of their last four.
2A
Ayden-Grifton at Camden County
The No. 17 Chargers (11-9) sent home Holmes in the first round in a 10-7, eight-inning thriller but now must make an even tougher road trip.
No. 1 Camden County (18-2) shut out James Kenan in the first round, 9-0.
That was part of a seven-game winning streak for the Bruins.
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