Wheatmore’s Ellie Garrison takes a shot and scores a goal against East Davidson during a second-round victory in the Class 2-A state playoffs last Thursday. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL
CLIMAX — Providence Grove’s magical softball season came to a close with Friday night’s 1-0 home loss to West Stokes in the fourth round of the Class 2-A state playoffs.
The Patriots, who were the top seed in the West Region, were doomed by a lead-off home run in the fourth inning. Fifth-seeded West Stokes advanced to the regional finals.
Providence Grove finished with a 24-1 record.
Emma Mazzarone struck out 11 batters and walked three in the two-hitter. Providence Groves hits came from Edi Austin, Maddie Flinchum and Makayla McClain.
Earlier last week, Providence Grove upended eighth-seeded Mount Pleasant 8-0 with Mazzarone striking out 15 and issuing two walks during a one-hitter. Mailey Way had three hits, while Mazzone slugged a two-run homer, Makalyla McCalin tripled and scored twice and Reann Saunders had two hits.
Girls’ soccer
Three Randolph County teams entered the week still alive in the state playoffs. All three had third-round games postponed Monday night, meaning they were then slated to try again Tuesday night.
In Class 2-A, unbeaten Wheatmore, the second-seeded team in the West Region, was matched up against seventh-seeded Hendersonville.
Wheatmore won in the second round with a 5-1 victory against No. 18 seed East Davidson.
In Class 3-A, No. 12 seed Asheboro had a road encounter with No. 4 seed East Lincoln.
Asheboro won a second-round game with a 1-0 outcome at fifth-seeded Hibriten, with Tess Moody scoring with two minutes left off an assist from Natalie Flores. Goalkeeper Sarah Allred made eight saves.
In Class 1-A, seventh-seeded Uwharrie Charter Academy was slated for third-round game at second-seeded Bishop McGuinness in Kernersville. UCA won in last week’s second round with a 3-1 home decision against 10th-seeded Mount Airy.
Baseball
Trinity’s strong showing in the state playoffs ended with a dramatic defeat in the Class 2-A fourth round Friday. Still, the Bulldogs finished the season with a 20-10 record.
No. 19 seed Trinity won three road games in the state playoffs, knocking off the Nos. 14, 3 and 6 seeds. Last Tuesday’s 7-6 victory against sixth-seeded West Stokes put them a victory away from the regional final.
That was shaping up well for the Bulldogs, who led 5-2 before Community School of Davidson rallied in the bottom of the seventh for a 6-5 decision at Hough High School in Cornelius.
Trinity won eight of its last 10 games.
In Class 1-A, Uwharrie Charter Academy made it to the fourth round before losing 7-5 at third-seeded Cherryville.
No. 18 seed UCA (10-15) advanced last week with a third-round 4-2 home victory against No. 23 seed Eastern Randolph.
Grant Little’s complete-game pitching lifted UCA past the Wildcats (9-17). The teams had split regular-season meetings in the Piedmont Athletic Conference.
