North Duplin freshman right-hander Lilly Fulghum fires a pitch toward the plate against Cape Hatteras on Tuesday evening. Fulghum and Ady Spence combined for a no-hitter during the Rebels’ 10-0 victory in opening-round action of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1A softball playoffs. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s M’chelle Jaco is called out at the plate after getting tagged out by Cape Hatteras catcher Casia Ensenat during the fifth inning Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Reece Outlaw reaches the bag safely while Cape Hatteras third baseman Gabby Baker can’t field a wild throw during the fifth inning Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Riley Hatch throws to teammate Addy Higginbotham at first base after fielding a fifth-inning bunt against Cape Hatteras on Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s M’chelle Jaco gets ready to run from second base during play against Cape Hatteras on Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin third baseman Riley Hatch blocks a ground ball in the third inning against Cape Hatteras on Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin junior Reece Outlaw, who has committed to East Carolina, waits for a pitch to hit during a late-inning at-bat against Cape Hatteras on Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin senior Kasey Jones waits to score from third base Tuesday afternoon. Cape Hatteras pitcher Lilian Ratliff threw a wild pitch that allowed Jones to score the Rebels’ fifth run in the first inning. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s players celebrate Lilly Fulghum’s first-inning, grand-slam home run against Cape Hatters on Tuesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — One swing of the bat knocked all of the butterflies out of Lilly Fulghum’s stomach Tuesday evening.
The North Duplin freshman crushed a first-inning, grand-slam home run and sparkled inside the circle during a 10-0, opening-round conquest of Cape Hatteras in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1A softball playoffs.
Fulghum admitted she was nervous.
In her first-ever postseason appearance on the rubber, the right-hander struggled to consistently find the strike zone against the Hurricanes. She fell behind in the count against every batter and surrendered a walk in the first inning.
“I wanted everyone to see me do well, but then I finally got into the groove,” Fulghum said.
She found that groove during her first at-bat.
Working as the clean-up hitter in the lineup, Fulghum tattooed a high, outside pitch that easily cleared the center-field fence. It was her eighth dinger of the season and boosted her RBI total to 35.
“When I hit that bomb, I knew we were up [on the board] and I just had that confidence [to pitch],” Fulghum said.
Indeed.
Fulghum was untouchable through four innings.
She held the 29th-seeded Hurricanes (8-10 overall) hitless, logged eight strikeouts in the scorebook and allowed just two base runners.
“I really give credit to Coach Jaime (Kylis),” Fulghum said. “I worked with her this Sunday, so she got to see me throw a little bit. I was working [pitches] in and out, and my change-up was on point today.”
Bullpen mate Ady Spence sealed the no-hitter with a perfect fifth and denied Cape Hatteras’ bid for its first-ever playoff win in program history.
Seeded fourth in the 32-team eastern bracket, North Duplin (18-2) seized a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Riley Hatch walked and took second on Abby Higginbotham’s single.
The two runners moved up a bag after Cape Hatteras right-hander Lilian Ratliff plunked Reece Outlaw. That set the plate for Fulghum’s bases-clearing blast — the team’s 24th round-tripper of the season.
Senior catcher Kasey Jones tallied the Rebels’ fifth run on a wild pitch.
“I think our hitters did what they’re supposed to do, the grand slam was a little bit of a bonus,” Kylis said. “That’s just the norm for us. When we get our hitting leaders on [base], we’re going to score. I thought the top of our lineup did a really good job today.”
Ratliff retired 10 of 11 batters over the next three-plus innings.
North Duplin broke its offensive silence in the fifth.
Higginbotham drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second after Outlaw legged out an infield single. Fulghum loaded the bases with a single.
The Hurricanes’ defense obliged with a couple of throwing miscues that enabled the Rebels to extend their advantage to 8-0. Higginbotham capped the mercy-rule triumph with a two-RBI, walk-off single.
“We had a little lull, low-energy part in the middle of the game, but other than that, I thought they played, saw the ball well and executed well,” Kylis said. “Lilly did great. She worked out of a tough inning, gave them a few more pitches than we wanted them to see, and then she would always come back to win the count.
“Ady Spence did a great job. Would have been nice if she could have seen a couple of more innings.”
Fulghum (five RBI) and Spence paced North Duplin’s offense with two hits apiece. Outlaw, Higginbotham, M’chelle Jaco, Sarah Tucker and Iala Overton each provided one hit.
The Rebels return home Friday to face Tar-Roanoke 1A runner-up Weldon. The 13th-seeded Chargers (13-2) defeated Southeast Halifax 16-0 for their first-ever playoff win Tuesday.
Game time is 6 p.m.
