Unexpected? Maybe. But East Lincoln softball's pursuit of perfection in NCHSAA rolls on
DENVER — Roger Wilson wouldn’t exactly call the success of East Lincoln softball team “a revelation.” Yet for one who marvels daily at the Mustangs’ collection of talent, it remains tough for the high school program's coach to fathom exactly what the club is pursuing.
“It’s been fun and surprising at the same time,” Wilson said. “We’ve done a lot of great things, but in the end it’s not what we want. We have to play every inning, every play, every out like it’s the last one. Not doing so will end up getting you beat.”
No one’s been able to crack the riddle thus far, however, East Lincoln pushing through the 3A West playoffs’ opening round with its perfect record intact.
In a 15-0 victory over West Charlotte to open the NCHSAA softball playoffs, pitchers Leah Correll and Madison Currence combined to strike out 10 en route to a no-hitter. Correll followed in the second round with a one-hitter in a 4-0 win over East Rowan.
East Lincoln hosts Hibriten at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the third round of the North Carolina high school softball state tournament.
Correll, a junior, is now 22-0 with 206 strikeouts in 126 innings pitched. She has a 0.50 ERA, allowing a total of 11 runs this spring (nine earned).
“I believe (in Western Foothills 3A play) she gave up a total of five runs, with three of them earned. She’s been dominant and pitching well for us all season,” Wilson said.
Wilson had no doubts about the East Lincoln offense, though, several key contributors returning to a lineup that batted .358 and hit 17 home runs last spring. The group has upped the ante in 2022, hitting .431 as a team with 101 extra-base hits — 31 going for home runs.
Taliyah Thomas is one of the hitting headliners, batting .547 with a team-high 13 home runs. Just as she prepares to depart, sister Taniyah is already following in her footsteps. The freshman is hitting .550 with two home runs, six triples and five doubles.
The siblings have combined for 29 stolen bases in 31 attempts.
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“When they are on base, whether it be walk, single, double, whatever. If she gets on, she’s scoring nine times out of 10. They are an automatic steal almost every time," Wilson added.
Batsy Eatmon brings the muscle, leading the team in hitting (.623), RBIs (45) and on-base percentage (.630). Her 11 home runs are second on the team.
“Trying to work around Taniyah, Taliyah and Betsy at the top of the lineup is tough for any team,” Wilson said. “They really set the tone for everyone else in the lineup.”
East Lincoln ran through Western Foothills 3A, and has followed suit through two rounds of the 3A state playoffs. Though wanting his team to play with confidence, Rogers has asked players to adopt a sense of urgency that comes with playing in the postseason.
“At this time of year, we’re going to play some teams that are strong top to bottom in the lineup, and have great pitching. We’re going to need to focus, execute and keep moving,” he said.
You can reach Joe Hughes at 704-914-8138, email jhughes@gastongazette.com and follow on Twitter @JoeLHughesII.