Prep softball: Shutouts send Southwestern Randolph Cougars to regional finals

MILLERS CREEK – Southwestern Randolph’s softball team turned in shutouts on consecutive nights in the Class 2-A state playoffs and that has put the Cougars in the West Region finals.

Pitcher Macie Crutchfield logged a pair of shutouts. Fourth-seeded Southwestern Randolph scored a seventh-inning run in Friday night’s 1-0 victory at top-seeded West Wilkes.

Southwestern Randolph (19-6) plays in the best-of-3 regional finals for the first time in 14 years against second-seeded North Stanly (20-3-1) next week. North Stanly topped the Cougars 3-0 in a non-conference game March 13.

Against West Wilkes, Madelyn Smith became the only Southwestern Randolph base runner with a lead-off triple in the seventh inning. Alyssa Harris drove her in with a sacrifice fly.

West Wilkes (21-1) recorded 15 shutouts this season.

The Cougars defeated visiting Black Mountain Owen 3-0 on Thursday night with Crutchfield posting 11 strikeouts during the three-hitter.

Smith, Harris and Crutchfield drove in runs.

The Warhorses (20-3) suffered their only shutout of the season.

The rapid-fire schedule for the Cougars came about with the third-round game postponed on back-to-back days.

Class 1-A

At Asheboro, top-seeded Uwharrie Charter Academy fell 4-3 to fourth-seeded Robbinsville in the fourth-round game in the West Region

UCA (20-4-1) trailed 4-0 going to the bottom of the seventh inning, but Jayla Hurley drove in two runs to give the Eagles a chance.

Mollie Bulla suffered her first pitching loss of the season, surrendering two home runs. She walked eight and struck out 10.

Robbinsville (24-2) meets second-seeded East Wilkes (25-3) in the best-of-3 regional final.