Crest softball, baseball pass stern NCHSAA playoff tests. Here's how
Nothing comes easy in the NCHSAA state playoffs. Crest's softball and baseball teams received a subtle reminder May 8 in their 5A West playoff openers.
BOILING SPRINGS — Crest softball coach Greg Earl warned his team that nothing comes easy in the postseason. Knocked on their heels early in their NCHSAA 5A West second round matchup with Northwest Cabarrus, the Chargers awakened to take a 9-5 win May 8 in Boiling Springs. “These girls don’t quit, even when they are down; they just fight,” Earl said.
“They support each other, and against a good opponent with strong pitching and a solid lineup, we just kept battling. I applaud them for not giving in when things got difficult. ” STATE PLAYOFF SCORES, SCHEDULE: NCHSAA, NCISAA softball playoff scores, brackets for Gastonia, Shelby teams THEIR TIME TO SHINE: Teams, players to watch as NCHSAA, NCISAA softball playoffs begin Before Crest could settle in, the Chargers found themselves in a 3-0 hole.
Following a strikeout to start the game, Northwest Cabarrus earned three hits in a row, capped by a Haylee Ellis home run. Crest bats awakened in the third, starting a run in which the Chargers scored in each of their last four at bats. Maddie Bowen led by going 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs, while Allie Summers (RBI, two runs), Madison Crocker (two RBIs, run) and Cooper Lancaster (double, run) added two hits apiece.
Nevertheless, Crest had to rev things up a notch in its final at bat to advance. After an Ella Webb two-run homer drew Northwest Cabarrus even at 5-all, the Chargers answered with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the game away. Lily Pruett led things off with a walk, with Allie Summers reaching by way of an error following an infield pop-fly for the inning’s first out.