Softball, baseball, women’s soccer and men’s tennis teams from Columbus County all took to the diamond, pitch and court Wednesday afternoon and evening. Columbus County teams won four of the six non-conference contests in which they were involved.
SOFTBALL
ECHS 9, ASHLEY 3
East Columbus kept the offensive pressure on, scoring in every inning except the sixth, as they took a 9–3 win over the visiting 4A Screamin’ Eagles of Ashley High in Wilmington. East Columbus connected for 12 hits. Gators pitcher Ava Jacobs went the distance in the circle, allowing five hits, striking out four and more importantly walking no one.
A walk and RBI doubles by Karli Godwin and Jacobs staked the Gators to a 2–0 lead after one inning. Ashley would capitalize on an error to score once in the top of the second.
Kamora Bryant, Chynna Patrick and Kaley Mitchell all had base hits in the bottom of the second to bring home one run.
Jacobs’ base hit, an infield error and Patrick’s fielder's choice extended the Gators’ lead to 4–1 after three innings.
Three Gators scored in the bottom of the fourth. Mitchell doubled and sprinted home on Godwin’s single. Godwin stole second and scored on Jenna King’s two-bagger. Jacobs groundout plated King for a 7–1 East lead.
Bryant doubled, Kelsie Watts walked with two outs. Mitchell’s base hit scored one run. Godwin followed with a single to increase the lead to 9–1 and end the Gators’ scoring for the night.
Ashley’s Vayda Lequire cracked a two-run home run in the sixth to account for the final score of 9–3.
Godwin, Mitchell and Jacobs had three hits each for East Columbus. Godwin drove in three runs. Mitchell and Jacobs collected two RBIS apiece.Bryant contributed a double and single.
East Columbus improves to 7–0. Ashley drops to 2–5.
Chesney Cribb takes the throw at first base to put out a Lumberton batter/runner.
grant merritt
LHS 15, WHS 1
The visiting Pirates banged out 17 hits and were aided by six Wolfpack errors in the five-inning win.
Lumberton opened the scoring with four unearned runs in the top of the first. A two -out outfield error allowed the first run to score. Three consecutive hits plated three more runs.
Whiteville would threaten in the bottom of the second, but left the bases loaded without scoring.
The Pirates’ Cameron Honeycutt’s solo home run was matched by Whiteville’s Xztashya Porter’s lead homer in the bottom of the frame. That would be the Wolfpack’s last hurrah. Only Harlee Higgins’ infield single and Kloe Sellers’ misplayed ground ball put Wolfpack runners on base after Porter’s dinger.
Lumberton broke the game wide open in the top of the fourth. Nine runners touched home plate as the Pirates connected for seven hits and Whiteville committed three errors in the frame. Lumberton added a single run in the fifth inning to close out the scoring.
Porter singled in addition to her home run. Angel Smith, Madalyn Edge and Higgins had Whiteville’s other hits. Margaret Cartrette and Edge pitched for Whiteville.
GSF 9, SCHS 6
The host Trojans turned the tables on South Columbus with the victory. The Stallions had easily defeated GSF 14–1 one week previous.
Olivia Watts pitched the first three innings for South. She gave up six hits and six runs, four of which were earned. Bella Coleman occupied the circle for the final; three Trojan team at bats, allowing no hits and three unearned runs.
Brileigh Ward continued her home run binge. This time Ward went deep twice. One was a solo shot and the other came with two Stallions on base. Alexuz Barnes missed the cycle by a triple. She connected for a single, double and home run. Colemen doubled and singled.
BASEBALL
SCHS 14, GSF 6
South Columbus scored five runs in the first inning and never looked back as the Stallions defeated the Trojans for the second time in a week.
The Stallions led 10–0 entering the bottom of the fifth before GSF scored three times to extend the game. South would add two runs in each of its final two at bats. The Trojans put a three-spot on the board in the bottom of the sixth.
South’s offense was led by Daquan Cox’s two doubles, a single, two RBIs and three runs scored. John Harvey Gore’s three hits included a double. Gore scored three runs and drove in two. Weldon Gore doubled and singled twice for the Stallions.
Cox earned the mound win, pitching the first four innings. He allowed two hits, walked five and struck out five batters. Jared Caines, John Harvey Gore and Dylan Cullipher pitched one inning each.
Coach Scott Johnson’s Stallions have now won three consecutive games to improve their record to 3–2.
Ashton Hammonds delivers a pitch for Whiteville. Hammonds used an economical 72 pitches to earn the five-inning, run rule victory over Laney.
grant merritt
WHS 13, LANEY 3
As far back as the Whiteville MaxPreps baseball records go (back to the 2009 season), the Wolfpack have not lost four consecutive games. Before this season’s Wolfpack’s three consecutive losses, Whiteville’s last three-game losing streak came in 2014 when the Pack dropped games to West Columbus (7–4), Fairmont (5–4 in 8 innings) and South Robeson (2–1). Whiteville also lost three consecutive games in 2012. The Pack lost to West Brunswick (6–2), Hoggard (2–0) and North Brunswick (8–6). In both those seasons Whiteville would go on to win a state baseball championship.
Whiteville was in danger of losing four games in a row for the first time since before 2009. (I’ll try to come up with a definitive answer when I return to the office). The 4A Laney Buccaneers were the next opportunity to put the train back on the track.
The visiting Bucs came bearing gifts Wednesday evening. The Bucs pitching staff allowed only four Wolfpack hits, but walked 12 batters and the defense committed six errors in Whiteville’s 13–3 five-inning victory.
Whiteville got off to a good start with three runs in the first inning. The Wolfpack maintained that lead until the top of the fourth inning when Laney struck for all three of its runs to tie the game.
Whiteville would quickly regain control of the contest with six runs in the bottom of the fourth. Four more Wolfpack runs in the bottom of the fifth ended the game due to the 10-run rule.
Ashton Hammonds was the winning pitcher. In five innings, Hammonds allowed five hits, struck out eight and walked one batter. Fifty of his 72 pitches were strikes. Another positive for Turner Brown’s club was the Pack was not charged with an error. Misplays had played a major role in the three-game losing streak prior to Wednesday.
Hammonds also reached base four times with a single and three walks. He drove in two runs. Gabriel Priest singled, walked twice and contributed an RBI. Grayson Creech singled, walked and drove home two runners. Caleb Johnson scored three times. The Wolfpack stole 10 bases.
MEN’S TENNIS
WHS 9, ECHS 0
Coach Sally Medford’s Wolfpack tennis team showed the benefits of playing a challenging non-conference schedule by blanking an East Columbus squad taking to the courts for the first time this season.
Whiteville won all five singles matches by scores of 6–0, 6–0.
Singles winners were Maddox Soles, Trett Walker, Ben Ransom, Seth Jackson and A.J. Lesane. The Gators forfeited the No. 6 match.
Doubles winners for Whiteville were Walker and Creek Hyatt by a score of 8–2. Ransom and Leo Han won No. 2 doubles by a score of 8–0. No. 3 doubles was forfeited.
Whiteville was scheduled to play at Green Sea Floyds Thursday and at Coastal Christian Saturday.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
ECHS 6, DOUGLAS BYRD 0
Five different Gators scored goals as East Columbus claimed its second win over Douglas Byrd.
Jossie Welch had a brace of goals assisted by Harmony Somerville and Sara Akins. Somerville’s goal was assisted by Gemilia Calderon. Calderon scored with an assist from Shalonda Stanley. Hannah King scored with an assist from Calderon. Kinsley Wilson assisted on Alex Benton’s goal. Wilson recorded the win in goal for East.
