The Catawba Ridge softball team used two big innings to pull away from the Lancaster Bruins in their first Region 3-4A game of the season.
Catawba Ridge won 11-1 in five innings, but getting there wasn’t easy. The Copperheads improved to 4-1 on the season with the win.
“The same rhythm is going to be there, we just have to get there,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Michael Kidd. “We had to settle in and make adjustments at the plate.”
Catawba Ridge was strong defensively through the first two innings as pitcher Chloe Burger struck out six through the first two innings.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Copperheads scored one run on one hit as Jordan Hulan led off the inning with a double. She would eventually score on a sacrifice fly by Jaidyn Harris to get Catawba Ridge on the board.
Lancaster’s Trinity Taylor led off the third inning with a single, but Burger was able to regroup without allowing anyone passed second base to get out of the inning.
Catawba Ridge added a much needed run in the third inning as Audrey Wilson walked and stole two bases before Kendra Murray sacrificed her in.
The Copperheads took a 2-0 lead to the top of the fourth inning where Kasyah Stover doubled to lead off the inning and then scored on a Morgan Dudley single.
Catawba Ridge started to play small ball in the bottom of the fourth to get the bats going and ended up scoring five runs on five hits.
A speedy Alani Hogan singled and was followed by a walk to Harris and single by Braylon Lawrence to load the bases.
Sarah Rocheleau then drove in a run on a sacrifice fly and Wilson ripped a double clearing the bases. Murray and Mia Kovacs would both get hits to keep the scoring going before Lancaster was able to get out of the inning trailing 7-1.
Burger returned to form in the fifth inning and despite a leadoff walk to start the inning was able to get out of the inning without allowing a hit.
Lawrence had a big hit in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run homer to make it 10-1. An error by Lancaster allowed another base runner and Wilson would then drive in Rocheleau to enforce the mercy rule.
Burger would pitch a complete game allowing just one run on three hits while striking out 10 and walking two.
Lawrence went 2-2 with three RBIs and Wilson went 1-3 with three RBIs. Murray added two RBIs in going 1-3 as well.
March 5 Roundup
The Catawba Ridge boys golf team improved to 2-0 with a 153-183 win over Northwestern at the Fort Mill Golf Club. OT Mitchell led the Copperheads with a five under 31. He was followed by an even par from Hunter Warren and a 42 from Drew White. Niam Sethi finished with a 44.
The Nation Ford boys golf team shot a 310 at the Byrnes Invitational. They were led by a 73 from Carter Smith, 74 from Ben Wakefield and a 79 from Justin Wosje. Harrison Lapointe finished with an 84.
The Nation Ford boys’ tennis team beat Clover 5-1 to improve to 2-0 on the season and 1-0 in Region 3-5A play.
The Nation Ford boys’ soccer team lost 2-0 to Lexington to drop to 9-2-1 on the season and the Nation Ford girls soccer team fell to River Bluff 2-1 on the road.
The Nation Ford girls’ lacrosse team beat Ardrey Kell on the road 18-9 to improve to 3-1 on the season.
The Nation Ford baseball team fell to Marvin Ridge on the road 8-7 to fall to 3-2 on the season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
