Randleman’s Jake Riddle made key contributions as the Tigers advanced through two rounds of the baseball state playoffs. (Randolph Record file photo)
ASHEBORO — Two-time defending state champion Uwharrie Charter Academy pulled out a 3-2 baseball victory against 12th-seeded East Wilkes in the Class 1-A second round Friday.
Brett Smith and Logun Wilkins combined to strike out 10 batters for the fifth-seeded Eagles, who travel to fourth-seeded North Stokes in the third round.
UCA opened the playoffs with a 14-2 stomping of No. 28 seed Bessemer City. DJ Brandon, who drove in two runs, and Brody Eagle both supplied three hits. The Eagles scored seven first-inning runs. Logun Wilkins pitched three perfect innings in the five-inning game.
** No. 15 seed Eastern Randolph’s Cade McCallum and Chance Holdaway knocked in three runs apiece in an 11-2 upset of second-seeded South Stanly in the second-round game.
Bryson Marley pitched six innings for the Wildcats, who next are home vs. No. 26 seed Mountain Heritage.
In the opening round, Eastern Randolph overcame a seven-run deficit to defeat No 18 seed Cornerstone Charter 10-9 when Bryson Marley drove in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh. Lucas Smith struck out 11 batters in five innings of relief.
Class 2A
Randleman’s Jake Riddle was the winning pitcher in relief for the sixth-seeded Tigers in a 6-2 victory against No. 11 seed Madison in the second-round game.
Next will be a clash with Piedmont Athletic Conference rival Trinity at home in the third round.
Lincoln Lawson smacked a two-run home run against Madison and Braxton Walker also knocked in two runs.
Randleman had dramatics in pulling off an 8-7 victory against No. 27 seed Providence Grove in the first round in a matchup of PAC teams. The Tigers scored five runs across the last two innings to wipe out a four-run deficit. Riddle and Walker both drove in two runs in the matchup of Piedmont Athletic Conference teams. Riddle was the winning pitcher in relief.
Providence Grove’s Trevor Kirkman had three hits, but took the pitching loss in relief.
It marked the third time this season that the Tigers defeated Providence Grove (10-13).
** No. 14 seed Trinity never trailed in knocking off third-seeded West Strokes 3-2 in the second round. West Stokes ended at 23-3.
Trinity’s first game of the playoffs resulted in a 6-5 home victory against No. 19 seed Mount Pleasant as Brody Little homered and scored two runs and Ethan Willard scored two runs. Lincoln Coble was the winning pitcher.
** In the first round, Wheatmore gave up six first-inning runs in an 8-5 loss at No. 2 North Stanly. The No. 31-seeded Warriors (8-16) received two hits from Caleb Coggins.
** Also in the opening round, top-seeded Eastern Rutherford topped No. 32 seed Southwestern Randolph 11-1, with the Cougars ending with a 9-16 record.
Softball
Macie Crutchfield’s one-hitter with 13 strikeouts was enough for defending state champion Southwestern Randolph in a 1-0 victory against No. 20 seed Maiden in the second round of the Class 2A state playoffs Friday night.
Crutchfield drove in Alyssa Harris in the sixth inning for the game’s run. Harris had three hits.
The fourth-seeded Cougars face No. 5 seed West Stanly or No. 12 seed McMichael on Tuesday.
Southwestern Randolph’s first-round game ended in six innings as Crutchfield struck out 15 batters in a 10-0 trouncing of No. 29 seed Chase. Maddie Strider had three hits and three runs batted in.
** No. 15 seed Randleman strung together consecutive doubles from Kaylee Phillips, Kaylie St. John, Teanna Bostick and Lilah Covington for three six-inning runs in a 3-2 upset of second-seeded West Caldwell.
Kinzie Ivey struck out six.
Randleman was coming off a 4-2 victory vs. No. 18 seed Rutherfordton-Spindale Central behind Ivey’s complete game.
** No. 25 seed Providence Grove was done with an 8-1 loss at eighth-seeded East Rutherford despite Lara Wiseman leading off the game with a home run. The Patriots ended up 11-9.
Class 1A
Uwharrie Charter Academy defeated No. 13 seed Starmount 13-2, buoyed by 11 first-inning runs.
The fourth-seeded Eagles received four runs batted in from winning pitcher Paityn Williams.
UCA next plays home against No. 12 seed Murphy.
UCA’s first-round game was a 20-2 pointing of No. 29 seed Bradford Prep with Carly Rush homering, Katelyn West driving in three runs and Ryley Thompson scoring three runs.
** In the first round, fifth-seeded Bethany Community eliminated No. 28 seed Eastern Randolph 18-2. The Wildcats finished 2-18.
