Michael Lindsey--HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE
HIGH POINT — Wesleyan Christian didn’t waste any time taking it to Forsyth Country Dayand continued to position itselfwell for the playoffs.
The Trojans scored the first eight runs of the game — including five in the first two innings — and held off the Furies’ late rally to win 8-6 in a meeting of PACIS 2A/3A softball powers Friday at Wesleyan.
“It was huge to jump on them early,” Wesleyan coach Donald Brewer said. “The whole team really hit the ball well, but the top of our lineup really smoked it. And that’s a Division I pitcher. Our girls really went in there and attacked it. So, I was really proud of the way they did that.”
Kayla Brewer went 3 for 3 with three doubles and an RBI for the Trojans (14-0 overall, 2-0 PACIS), who won the NCISAA 3A state title in 2014. Geena Autry went 2 for 3 with a home run, a triple and three RBIs, while Peyton Day (who also doubled)and Anna Robichaud each chipped in two hits and an RBI.
Wesleyan jumpedahead 5-1 through two innings on back-to-back extra-base hits by Autry, who tripled, and Brewer,
who doubled, in the fi rst to lead 2-0 and then a double by Day and tworun home run by Autry— again back-to-back — to lead 5-1 in the second.
“That was definitely really good for us,” Autry said. “That got our spirits up. After that, we just kept on hitting. We’ve just been working on adjusting to the pitcher. So, we did a good job with that. I think if we just keep playing our game the rest of the season, then we should end up on top.”
Robichaud (12-0) earned the completegame win for the Trojans, who added two runs in the fifth on a single by Reagan Neal and one in the sixth on a single by Robichaud. She allowed no earned runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out six and escaped jams in the fourth (two on, no outs) and fifth (bases loaded, no outs) unscathed.
Kylie Bouplon took the loss for Forsyth, which beat Wesleyan en route to winning the 3A state title last year. She allowed 11 hits and four walks while striking out seven in seven innings. Riley Didier went 3 for 4 with a three-run home run, while Chloe Wall had two doubles and an RBI.
Following a couple defensive miscues in the seventh, the Furies scored four runs with two outs — three on a home
run and one on a double— and brought the tying run to the plate. But the Trojans got the final out and, combined with several other wins against top opponents, positioned themselves well for the playoffs.
“This was huge,” coach Brewer said. “I’mproud of the girls. I told them this was our biggest game yet. All the other games matter too, but this one was one we’ve been looking forward to. Last time we played them was the playoffs last year, and they squeaked by us. So, we had to protect our home field.
“And we’re going to be fighting for 1 and 2 in the state. So, I think this game today will go a long way in helping us, considering some of the other teams we’ve already beaten. It’s in our court now. We just have to keep working to get better. It puts us on top, but we have to continue to work.”
HIGH POINT — Wesleyan Christian didn’t waste any time taking it to Forsyth Country Dayand continued to position itselfwell for the playoffs.
The Trojans scored the first eight runs of the game — including five in the first two innings — and held off the Furies’ late rally to win 8-6 in a meeting of PACIS 2A/3A softball powers Friday at Wesleyan.
“It was huge to jump on them early,” Wesleyan coach Donald Brewer said. “The whole team really hit the ball well, but the top of our lineup really smoked it. And that’s a Division I pitcher. Our girls really went in there and attacked it. So, I was really proud of the way they did that.”
Kayla Brewer went 3 for 3 with three doubles and an RBI for the Trojans (14-0 overall, 2-0 PACIS), who won the NCISAA 3A state title in 2014. Geena Autry went 2 for 3 with a home run, a triple and three RBIs, while Peyton Day (who also doubled)and Anna Robichaud each chipped in two hits and an RBI.
Wesleyan jumpedahead 5-1 through two innings on back-to-back extra-base hits by Autry, who tripled, and Brewer,
who doubled, in the fi rst to lead 2-0 and then a double by Day and tworun home run by Autry— again back-to-back — to lead 5-1 in the second.
“That was definitely really good for us,” Autry said. “That got our spirits up. After that, we just kept on hitting. We’ve just been working on adjusting to the pitcher. So, we did a good job with that. I think if we just keep playing our game the rest of the season, then we should end up on top.”
Robichaud (12-0) earned the completegame win for the Trojans, who added two runs in the fifth on a single by Reagan Neal and one in the sixth on a single by Robichaud. She allowed no earned runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out six and escaped jams in the fourth (two on, no outs) and fifth (bases loaded, no outs) unscathed.
Kylie Bouplon took the loss for Forsyth, which beat Wesleyan en route to winning the 3A state title last year. She allowed 11 hits and four walks while striking out seven in seven innings. Riley Didier went 3 for 4 with a three-run home run, while Chloe Wall had two doubles and an RBI.
Following a couple defensive miscues in the seventh, the Furies scored four runs with two outs — three on a home
run and one on a double— and brought the tying run to the plate. But the Trojans got the final out and, combined with several other wins against top opponents, positioned themselves well for the playoffs.
“This was huge,” coach Brewer said. “I’mproud of the girls. I told them this was our biggest game yet. All the other games matter too, but this one was one we’ve been looking forward to. Last time we played them was the playoffs last year, and they squeaked by us. So, we had to protect our home field.
“And we’re going to be fighting for 1 and 2 in the state. So, I think this game today will go a long way in helping us, considering some of the other teams we’ve already beaten. It’s in our court now. We just have to keep working to get better. It puts us on top, but we have to continue to work.”
