Jayla Ferguson scores for Uwharrie Charter Academy in a softball victory against North Stokes in the third round of the Class 1-A state playoffs. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record)
All in one night, the dreams of state championships for three Randolph County softball teams were dashed.
They all had reached West Regional semifinals, but then Southwestern Randolph, Eastern Randolph and Uwharrie Charter Academy went down Friday night.
Class 2-A
At Asheboro, West Wilkes knocked off host Southwestern Randolph 2-1 in 10 innings.
Leah Greene’s sacrifice fly in the 10th inning for third-seeded West Wilkes was the difference.
Second-seeded Southwestern Randolph (22-2) scored first when Madison Varner drove in a third-inning run. West Wilkes (22-0) pulled even in the next inning on pitcher Lily Profit’s home run.
From the circle, Profit delivered a three-hitter. Macie Crutchfield pitched a complete game with 17 strikeouts for Southwestern Randolph.
The Cougars’ only other loss this year came to Hickory Ridge, which has advanced to the Class 4-A West Regional finals.
Class 1-A
Fourth-seeded Eastern Randolph came up short in a 3-1 loss at top-seeded South Stokes.
Lanie McDaniel had three hits for Eastern Randolph (18-6). She scored the only run on Ayanna Mears’ single in the second inning.
Wildcats pitcher Addie Flinchum struck out 10 batters, but issued six walks and allowed five hits.
Eastern Randolph was in its first road game of this postseason. South Stokes improved to 24-1.
** Uwharrie Charter Academy lost 12-2 at No. 11 seed Union Academy.
Logan Zephir had two hits and Emory Johnson and Molly Bulla drove in runs for the 15th-seeded Eagles (15-4), who had allowed only one run across their first three playoff games combined.
Union Academy moved on with a 22-4 record.
