Kennedy propels HPCA past Ledford
Michael Lindsay | HPE
WALLBURG -The High Point Christian and the Ledford softball teams have not seen the field much early this season because of the poor weather. But still, as good teams often do, they made plays at critical times.
The Panthers rallied from two runs down in the top of the seventh to take the lead. Then, the Cougars answered with the tying and game-winning runs in the bottom half to edge Ledford 5-4 on a cloudless Saturday afternoon at Wallburg Baptist Church.
"It shows a little maturity," HPCA coach Jeremy Cecil said. "Maturity's starting to come with some of the younger players, and it's getting contagious. It's going to be fun to see how our growth continues throughout the season, but we're taking it one game at a time. We have a tough schedule ahead, so we'll know where we are in a month or so.
"It was the same approach," he said of his team's approach the final half inning. "Just have good swings on balls that we could drive through and wait for something positive. We have a team of good hitters, and they just feed off each other. If one doesn't get it done, the next player up will take care of it."
After the Panthers (0-1) scored three runs in the top of the seventh to lead 4-3, the Cougars (2-0) moved runners to second and third with one out. Grace Young singled into shallow center field to score Maddie Faulkner from third and tie the game.
Then, Ashlyn Kennedy followed with a hard single through the right side of the infield to score Raegan Thompson from third and win the game on a walk-off. Kennedy also earned the complete-game win in the circle - striking out 10 - to improve to 2-0.
"I was just trying to get that one for the team," said Kennedy, a sophomore. "I knew they had my back in the field and I wanted to have their backs at the plate. We were a little upset (after losing the lead), but we knew as a team that we could come back.
"We were encouraging each other, and we were mentally ready for it. So, it's a really good feeling. I got a little upset after they came back and scored those runs. But then coming back and getting those runs, it's just a really good feeling."
Ledford, too, made big plays in the seventh to put itself in position to win. Trailing 3-1 into the top of the inning, Grace Holland ripped a one-out double to center field to score Destiny DeBerry and Mackenzie Cranford to tie the game.
Then, two batters later and with two outs, Megan Hayworth blooped a single into shallow right-center field just between the converging outfielders and second baseman to score Holland from third and give the Panthers a 4-3 lead.
Freshman pitcher Alyssa McNeil, paired with freshman catcher Katie Torres, took the loss despite three solid innings for Ledford, which led 1-0 in the first inning before HPCA scored single runs in the second, third and fifth innings to lead 3-1.
"High Point Christian is an excellent team," Panthers coach Charlie Brown said. "I was just happy to get out here and play. I think we've only had five practices, and we haven't taken a round of infield yet. So, I was very proud of how they played. They haven't practiced much and haven't been on the field.
"And I was really proud at the end of the game. That was a freshman pitcher and a freshman catcher in that situation. That was a huge situation for them to be in in their very first high school game. I hadn't been able to see who could do what yet, and I had liked what I saw. So, I was very proud of them, and I was proud of how we came back."
Kirsten Hart went 3 for 4 with two RBIs to lead the Cougars, who reached last year's NCISAA 3A championship game, while Thompson added two hits, including a double, and three runs, and Young also had two hits, including a double, and an RBI.
DeBerry, a North Carolina signee, went 2 for 3 with two runs and a stolen base for Ledford, which reached the third round of last year's NCHSAA 3A playoffs, while Bayleigh Griffith and Brinley Irvin each added a double.
Michael Lindsay | HPE
WALLBURG -The High Point Christian and the Ledford softball teams have not seen the field much early this season because of the poor weather. But still, as good teams often do, they made plays at critical times.
The Panthers rallied from two runs down in the top of the seventh to take the lead. Then, the Cougars answered with the tying and game-winning runs in the bottom half to edge Ledford 5-4 on a cloudless Saturday afternoon at Wallburg Baptist Church.
"It shows a little maturity," HPCA coach Jeremy Cecil said. "Maturity's starting to come with some of the younger players, and it's getting contagious. It's going to be fun to see how our growth continues throughout the season, but we're taking it one game at a time. We have a tough schedule ahead, so we'll know where we are in a month or so.
"It was the same approach," he said of his team's approach the final half inning. "Just have good swings on balls that we could drive through and wait for something positive. We have a team of good hitters, and they just feed off each other. If one doesn't get it done, the next player up will take care of it."
After the Panthers (0-1) scored three runs in the top of the seventh to lead 4-3, the Cougars (2-0) moved runners to second and third with one out. Grace Young singled into shallow center field to score Maddie Faulkner from third and tie the game.
Then, Ashlyn Kennedy followed with a hard single through the right side of the infield to score Raegan Thompson from third and win the game on a walk-off. Kennedy also earned the complete-game win in the circle - striking out 10 - to improve to 2-0.
"I was just trying to get that one for the team," said Kennedy, a sophomore. "I knew they had my back in the field and I wanted to have their backs at the plate. We were a little upset (after losing the lead), but we knew as a team that we could come back.
"We were encouraging each other, and we were mentally ready for it. So, it's a really good feeling. I got a little upset after they came back and scored those runs. But then coming back and getting those runs, it's just a really good feeling."
Ledford, too, made big plays in the seventh to put itself in position to win. Trailing 3-1 into the top of the inning, Grace Holland ripped a one-out double to center field to score Destiny DeBerry and Mackenzie Cranford to tie the game.
Then, two batters later and with two outs, Megan Hayworth blooped a single into shallow right-center field just between the converging outfielders and second baseman to score Holland from third and give the Panthers a 4-3 lead.
Freshman pitcher Alyssa McNeil, paired with freshman catcher Katie Torres, took the loss despite three solid innings for Ledford, which led 1-0 in the first inning before HPCA scored single runs in the second, third and fifth innings to lead 3-1.
"High Point Christian is an excellent team," Panthers coach Charlie Brown said. "I was just happy to get out here and play. I think we've only had five practices, and we haven't taken a round of infield yet. So, I was very proud of how they played. They haven't practiced much and haven't been on the field.
"And I was really proud at the end of the game. That was a freshman pitcher and a freshman catcher in that situation. That was a huge situation for them to be in in their very first high school game. I hadn't been able to see who could do what yet, and I had liked what I saw. So, I was very proud of them, and I was proud of how we came back."
Kirsten Hart went 3 for 4 with two RBIs to lead the Cougars, who reached last year's NCISAA 3A championship game, while Thompson added two hits, including a double, and three runs, and Young also had two hits, including a double, and an RBI.
DeBerry, a North Carolina signee, went 2 for 3 with two runs and a stolen base for Ledford, which reached the third round of last year's NCHSAA 3A playoffs, while Bayleigh Griffith and Brinley Irvin each added a double.
