Strong pitching and timely hitting pushed the Nation Ford softball team to the District II championship.
Nation Ford tore through the Riverside Warriors 11-1 in six innings to set up a rematch with Woodmont.
“Pitching was great today,” said Nation Ford head coach Craig Brown. “Kailey Alston pitched phenomenal. They put the ball in play we made plays behind them. We swung the bats. Now we have to go to Woodmont and win two. They are tough. We saved our pitching. Kailey did exactly what we needed today.”
The Falcons’ Tori Baldino led the inning off with a single in the top of the first but we left stranded on third. Nation Ford kept things going in the second with a single by Alaina Holifield. Rachel Studer moved Holifield over with a single. Baldino then drove them both in with a two-run double to give the Falcons the early 2-0 lead.
Riverside got their first base runners on with a walk and single in the top of the third. Alston regrouped and was able to get out of the inning without allowing a run.
The Falcons’ Abigail Loser led the bottom of the third off with a single. Makayla Bess drove in Loser with a double to extend the Falcons lead. Bess would steal second and then score on a passed ball. Holifield walked and Jill Hennessy singled scoring her. Bess would score on a passed ball putting Nation Ford up 5-0.
In the fifth inning, Paizlei Ross led off with a solo home run. Two batters later Holifield homered giving the Falcons a 7-0 lead.
Riverside rallied some with a run off two hits in the sixth inning, but it wasn’t enough that shook up the Falcons.
Nation Ford got the run back with a triple by Loser after Brooke Ressler walked to score her. A walk to Ross set up a three-run home run by Jackie Knol to end the game on the 10-run mercy rule.
At the plate, Baldino, Loser and Holifield each had two hits of the 11-hit game by Nation Ford. Baldino had two RBIs and Knol had three RBIs in going 1-4 at the plate. In the circle, Alston went six innings allowing one run on five hits, while walking one and striking out seven.
May 14 Roundup
The Catawba Ridge boys’ soccer team beat Greenville 2-0 in the third round of the 5A Division II state playoffs and will host Riverside in the Upper State championship on Saturday, May 17. Catawba Ridge is now 16-4 on the season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
