Southern Wayne head coach softball coach Andy Sullivan (white shirt) and assistant coach Danny Merritt watch action from the dugout during a game earlier this season. The Saints fell to South Central, 12-1, during their first-round contest in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3A softball playoffs Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
WINTERVILLE — Southern Wayne’s journey in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3A softball playoffs ended Wednesday evening.
Perennial powerhouse South Central claimed a 12-1 victory in opening-round action. The seventh-seeded Falcons (16-5 overall) entertain 10th-seeded Currituck County on Friday.
The Saints concluded the year 10-11.
“This season has been a great first year for Coach [Danny] Merritt and myself,” said first-year SW head coach Andy Sullivan. “Out of all the teams I’ve ever coached, this team fought harder for every pitch, every out, every inning. There really wasn’t any quit in these young ladies.”
Mckenzie Strickland and Jocelin Aguilar recorded one hit apiece against Falcon right-hander Somer Davenport. The sophomore allowed an unearned run, issued four walks and collected six strikeouts in the five-inning affair.
Reagan Stribble endured the mound loss.
The freshman right-hander permitted 12 hits, walked three and retired three Falcons on strikeouts in a complete-game performance.
Freshman Maddie Zobre (three RBI) and senior Jadyn Smith (two RBI) cranked out three hits apiece for the Falcons. Sophomore Haven Roebuck ended up 2-for-3 with an RBI.
“At the end of the day, I’ve reminded our girls of how young we are,” said Sullivan, who did not have a senior on the roster. “After the game, I told our girls to remember that this was not the end. This is actually the beginning of creating something special and we really believe that we’re working our way towards being a very serious softball team.”
Seeded 26th in the 32-team east bracket, the Saints dropped their seventh consecutive playoff opener since 2009. They endured a third-round, season-ending shutout loss to South Central in 2008 with then-head coach Michael Wiggs.
According to NCHSAA records, Southern Wayne is 26-21 in 22 slow- and fast-pitch playoff appearances combined since 1987.
The Saints’ fellow Quad County 3A foes compiled a 1-3 record in first-round play. Two-time QCC champ South Johnston eased past Jacksonville, 5-2. Roxboro Person upset West Johnston, 2-1. Charles B. Aycock and Wilson Hunt each endured a five-inning loss.
