The Catawba Ridge softball team picked up in the second round of the 5A Division II playoffs where they left off last year in getting a win.
After a first-round bye, the Copperheads rolled through the Greenville Red Raiders 12-3 in the second round of the District I playoffs. The win pushed Catawba Ridge’s record to 18-8 overall on the season.
“BG (Yates) started off and held them down,” said Catawba Ridge head softball coach Mike Mayak. “She set the tone. The girls are stepping up at the right time. We have to put our best version out there. We can’t bring anything less than our A game.”
Catawba Ridge starter BG Yates faced the minimum in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the inning, Jaidyn Harris and Yates walked to start things off for the Copperheads. An erroneous throw later in the inning allowed Harris to score putting Catawba Ridge up 1-0.
In the bottom of the second inning, Peyton Batot singled and stole second. She would reach third on a wild pitch, before a walk to Ella Gaither put runners on the corners for the Copperheads. A double by Taylan Sistare scored two runs. Sistare would be driven in by a fielder’s choice by Harris. A walk to Mia Kovacs and Camryn Bird led to scores from them both on passed balls as Catawba Ridge went up 6-0.
The bottom of the third inning had the Copperheads score another run off two walks and a single by Sistare.
Greenville threatened in the fourth inning after a couple walks and then a two-run single, but got nothing. The Red Raiders picked up a run in the top of the fifth off a couple of hits.
Catawba Ridge threatened in both the fourth and fifth innings getting runners on base, but struggled to get them in.
Kovacs singled to open the bottom of the sixth inning for the Copperheads. Walks to Bird and Charli Burney loaded the bases, leading to a sacrifice bunt by Lexi Hiller scoring Kovacs. Batot drove in Bird and a single by Gaither led to Burney scoring. Sistare singled and Harris doubled scoring Gaither and Sistare to put a five-spot on the board in the inning to go up 12-3.
Yates finished the game in the seventh inning allowing three runs on four hits, while walking two and striking out 13. Sistare led at the plate going 4-4 with two RBI. Harris had three RBI in going 1-3.
Catawba Ridge will play the winner of Nation Ford and TL Hanna, which was postponed until Thursday, May 7.
May 6 Roundup
The Nation Ford boys’ soccer team lost to Eastside 2-1 in the opening round of the 5A Division II playoffs and finished their season at 7-14 overall.
The Fort Mill softball game at Woodmont was postponed to Thursday, May 7 because of weather.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
