North Duplin’s M’chelle Jaco (13) survives a tag by Eastern Wayne shortstop Anna Gray after she dropped the ball on contact during sixth-inning action Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin first baseman Ady Spence reels in a throw from fellow infielder Riley Hatch. Spence finished with five putouts, while Hatch recorded three assists and one putout at third base against Eastern Wayne on Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin head coach Jaime Kylis, left, talks with senior catcher Kasey Jones after the first inning against Eastern Wayne on Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin pitcher Lilly Fulghum, with ball, threw a four-hitter and collected 12 strikeouts inside the circle. She was backed up by infielders Ady Spence (8), Riley Hatch (behind Fulghum), shortstop Reece Outlaw (second from right) and second baseman Addy Higginbotham (right). The Rebels did not commit an error in their 3-0 win over Eastern Wayne on Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Iala Overton, right, manages to hold off continuing her swing through the strike zone while Eastern Wayne catcher Hannah Lee reels in a high pitch Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — A pitching duel also turned into an opportunistic outing — and victory — for North Duplin on the softball diamond Monday evening.
Despite a season-high 15 strikeouts, the Rebels capitalized on three errors and triumphed 3-0 over Eastern Wayne during the 2023 Fellowship of Christian Athletes Crossover Invitational.
“It was good for us,” Rebels head coach Jaime Kylis said. “We needed to see that [a good pitcher] because it helps us get better and prepare for the state tournament.”
Warrior right-hander Mallory Reed, a freshman, allowed just five base runners. She gave up two hits to Reece Outlaw, issued a walk to Addy Higginbotham and hit outfielder M’chelle Jaco.
Lilly Fulghum reached on an error.
Reed consistently mixed her speeds, worked the corners and coaxed North Duplin into swinging at pitches either high or low in an accordion-like strike zone.
“We just don’t see someone with that kind of velocity,” Kylis said. “In the circle, she’s kind of intimidating if you don’t know her. She’s got that big pitcher’s body, good control in the zone.
“We need to see more of that. I don’t want to go into the state tournament, see someone like that and be shell-shocked.”
Meanwhile, EW couldn’t solve Fulghum.
The right-hander scattered four hits, walked three and posted 12 strikeouts in the scorebooks. The Warriors put seven runners aboard and stranded four in scoring position.
North Duplin played flawless defense.
“I wish there was a magic potion to figure out how to consistently hit the ball,” Warriors head coach Michael Gurganus said. “We’ve had games where we’ve looked good at the plate and didn’t have many issues. And then, we’ve had other games where we’ve just really struggled at the plate.
“We’re working with combos … different lineups. We’re working on it every day at practice and [are] just inconsistent at the moment. That starts with me.”
North Duplin notched the eventual game-winning run during its first at-bat. Higginbotham drew a one-out walk. Outlaw followed with a hard-hit infield grounder that led to a throwing error, and allowed Higginbotham to score from second base.
Outlaw’s lead-off triple in the fourth sparked a two-run surge. She scored when Fulghum reached on an error. Fulghum trotted home on another miscue that gave her all the cushion she needed on the mound.
Reed plunked Jaco with two outs and ended the inning with a strikeout.
“You can’t make those errors against teams like North Duplin and expect to come out on top,” Gurganus said.
Both teams return to action Apr. 18.
The Rebels (10-2) continue defense of their Carolina 1A crown at Lakewood. A top-tier team in the Neuse Six 2A, the Warriors (9-3) visit county rival Goldsboro.
