In a tied game in the eighth inning, Catawba Ridge softball player Audrey Wilson launched a ball over the scoreboard in left center to give the Copperheads a win over 5A powerhouse Lexington Wildcats Wednesday night at the Swamp.
The solo shot gave the Copperheads a 6-5 win and improved them to 6-1 on the season. Wilson went 3-4 in the game with two RBIs in helping to lead the Catawba Ridge offense.
“This is what we need to make us better,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Michael Kidd. “We are playing up talent wise to improve us.”
The game pitted two softball powerhouses in the state in different classifications against each other. The Copperheads being defending 4A state champions and Lexington being two years removed from a 5A state championship appearance.
Catawba Ridge didn’t waste any time establishing home dominance as they scored three runs on three hits in the first inning highlighted by a three-run home run by Kendra Murray scoring Wilson and Braylon Lawrence, who both reached on singles. Murray would go 2-3 in the game with three RBIs.
The Copperheads’ Jordan Hulan led the inning off with a double in the second inning, but she was left stranded at third.
Lexington threatened with a leadoff double, but a poor bunt got the lead runner out for the second out of the inning. The Wildcats then plated a run on a single up the middle. Wilson and starting pitcher Chloe Burger then got another Lexington runner picked off third to get out of the inning as Catawba Ridge took a 3-1 lead to the bottom of the third inning.
Catawba Ridge got the leadoff runner on for the second straight inning in the third, but again never was able to get a run in.
Lexington added a run in the fourth inning which was helped with an error earlier in the inning by the Copperheads. They threatened in the fifth inning, but Burger was able to work out of the jam.
The bottom of the fifth was good to Catawba Ridge as they scored two runs on four hits. Alani Hogan started the inning off with a single and Jaidyn Harris drove her in. Wilson then drove in Lawrence to give the Copperheads some insurance.
That insurance was short lived as the Wildcats rallied with a two-run home run to tie the game at 5-5 with two outs in the top half of the seventh.
“They are a talented team and did what I expected them to do,” Kidd said.
Burger refocused in the eighth inning and didn’t allow a run. Burger would finish the game allowing four hits, while walking two and striking out 11.
March 13 Roundup
The Catawba Ridge baseball team improved to 7-0 on the season winning 10-1 over South Pointe on the road Wednesday. Peyton Dhein pitched a one hitter and struck out 15. Sam Schwamb, Jackson Mullen and Ben Wilson all had two hits. Caden Glauber hit a two-run home run in the win. The Copperheads are 2-0 in Region 3-4A.
The Fort Mill baseball team evened their series with Blythewood with a 7-0 three hit shutout win. Josh Patterson went 1-2 with three RBIs to help lead Fort Mill, and Alex Carreiro went six innings allowing just one hit, while walking two and striking out three. Fort Mill is now 4-2 overall and 1-1 in Region 3-5A.
The Nation Ford baseball team lost 5-4 to Clover on the road to drop to 3-4 overall and 0-2 in Region 3-5A play. Jacob Petit and Simon Fernandez each went 2-3 for Nation Ford at the plate.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
