MAIDEN — West Stokes’ season ended when the school’s softball team fell 4-3 against No. 3 seed Maiden Blue Devils in the third round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 2A State softball playoffs.
The game was moved two previous times because of inclement weather before the teams finally met on Thursday, May 16.
Maiden struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Averie Waddell singled, scoring the run.
The No. 6 Wildcats bounced back in the top of the third inning and knotted the game at one after senior Olivia Goforth hit a sacrifice fly to center field. West Stokes had runners on second and third with no one out and could only get one run across.
In the bottom of the third, Maiden broke the tie when Ella Bryan drew a walk scoring a run, and then a single by Olivia Wray made it 3-1.
The home team tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by Averie Waddell, which proved to be the difference in the contest.
The Lady Wildcats drew within one run in the top of the sixth when Sydney Holder singled with two outs. Pinch runner Sophie Wilhelm moved to second on Ashlynn Cox’s infield single. Baylee Tilley doubled on a line drive to left field bringing home both Wilhelm and Cox, but pinch hitter, Kaylee Stoltz, flew out to deep center field ending the threat.
Raegan Rembert earned the win for Maiden. She surrendered five hits and three runs over seven innings of work, striking out five and walking no one. Holder took the loss for the Wildcats. She went six innings, allowing four runs, one earned, seven hits, three strike outs, and four walks.
Cox, Holder, Tilley, Halo Akers, and Alyssa Sparks each collected one hit for West Stokes. Tilley led the Wildcats with two RBIs. She was 1-for-3 on the day with a double.
West Stokes finished their season at 19-5 overall, while Maiden ended at 17-5 after its’ 4-1 loss to North Stanly in the fourth round. The Wildcats look to reload next season as they only lose three of its’ 17 players to graduation.
Maiden 4, West Stokes 3
West Stokes 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 — 3 5 2
Maiden 1 0 2 1 0 0 x — 4 7 2
2B: Baylee Tilley (WS); 3B Madison Herms (M); HBP: Maidson Herms (M), Olivia Wray (M); SF: Averie Waddell (M), Olivia Goforth (WS); SB: Maidson Herms (M), Ella Bryan (M); Errors: Kyley Callahan (M), Macy Michael (M); Ashlynn Cox (WS), Haley Yates (WS)
West Stokes Pitching: Sydney Holder (L) 6IP, 7H, 4R, 1ER, 3K, 4BB
Maiden Pitching: Raegan Rembert (W) 7IP, 5H, 3R, 2ER, 5K, 0BB
Records: West Stokes 19-5, Maiden 17-5
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