North Duplin’s softball players traveled to Raleigh and sought a victory in game one of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1A playoffs Friday evening. They fell 13-3 to Union Academy and must win two games Saturday to claim the program’s second state title. (Submitted photo)
RALEIGH — North Duplin finds itself in familiar territory.
The Rebels rebounded from a series-opening loss to claim the eastern 1A regional title.
They face the same challenge Saturday.
Union Academy swatted two home runs and coasted 13-3 in game one of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1A softball playoffs Friday evening.
Game two starts at 11 a.m. inside Dail Softball Stadium on the NC State campus. A third game, if necessary, follows at 2 p.m.
Nerves and adrenaline flowed through both teams in the early innings.
Gabriella Gama connected on a solo home run in the first and the Rebels answered on Kasey Jones’ RBI single to left.
The Cardinals scored again in the second.
North Duplin tied it at 2-2 on Addy Higginbotham’s base knock.
Union Academy (25-4 overall) found its groove and showcased its offensive power against Rebels right-hander Lilly Fulghum over the next three innings.
Gama lofted a three-RBI triple down the right-field line in the third. Teammate Riley Griffin crushed a two-run homer in the fifth, which sparked a six-run outburst.
North Duplin also lost a player.
Freshman right fielder Iala Overton and center fielder M’chelle Jaco each attempted to track down a ball in the right-center field gap. Overton ran into the wall and had to leave the game. She walked back to the dugout under her own power.
The Rebels (23-4) competed the final inning with just eight players on the field. Head coach Jaime Kylis didn’t have any subs available due to season injuries that depleted the team’s roster.
Jones provided the Rebels’ third run in the third. The senior catcher popped up in shallow left field and the ball rolled back into fair territory after it deflected off the right fielder’s glove.
A throwing error on the same play allowed Jones to score.
Gama also shined inside the circle. The senior right-hander settled down and retired nine of the final 10 batters she faced.
