Dramatic rally falls short for WCA in loss to Union Grove
game Saturday at Wilson Christian.
By Paul Durham
paul@wilsontimes.com | 265-7808
For a program that had made a home in the North Carolina Christian School Association softball championship over the past decade or so, Wilson Christian players and coaches weren’t sure they’d’ make it back to the final game this season.
After all, the COVID-19 pandemic that ended last season right after it began hampered 2021 scheduling opportunities for the Lady Chargers, who had won six straight NCCSA titles before losing to Union Grove Christian of Lexington in the 2019 championship game. But there they were Saturday at WCA’s Turnage Athletic Complex, battling the Lady Patriots for the fifth straight time in the championship game. However, the Lady Chargers, with no seniors, came up short — 60 feet short, to be exact — in an improbable seventh-inning rally before succumbing 8-7 to Union Grove, which now has back-to-back titles, including 2019.
“It felt good to actually get here,” said Jennifer Edmondson, WCA’s only junior. “We started from the bottom. We had three or four girls who actually hadn’t played before their whole lives. So, for us to actually be here just says a lot. And then we brought the game we did. We gave them a run for it.”
Wilson Christian, which finished with a 5-9 record, trailed 6-2 entering the sixth inning but scored two that inning and three in the seventh before Union Grove senior pitcher Faith Hauser ended the game with her 14th strikeout with the bases loaded. The Lady Patriots had already swept a doubleheader from WCA less than a month ago in Lexington, but Saturday’s game was a nailbiter the whole way.
“I don’t think anybody thought we were goinig to be in a close game like that with Union Grove,” said Holland Miller, one of just two sophomores on WCA’s roster. “If you saw us at the beginning of the season, we have grown so far. Every player on this team, I’m so proud of all of them. It was a really good season, really fun.”
Miller led WCA at the plate, collecting three of its eight hits, including a three-run home run in the top of the seventh, while Edmondson doubled and tripled in two at-bats.
“To be honest I don’t think I’ve seen such an improvement in a team before that I’ve coached,” Lady Chargers head coach Carrie Reynell said. “In the beginning of the season, we were very young and inexperienced, very green about the gills and most of them were still developing. And so we were just trying to be very fundamental. I’ve seen so much growth through that younger group and we’re just so proud of them.”
Wilson Christian, the top East Region seed in the five-team tournament, took the early lead when Edmondson’s one-out triple scored lead-off batter Alivia Hurteau, who had walked. Edmondson then came in on Miller’s fielder’s choice groundout to Hauser. But the Lady Patriots (10-7) answered with single runs in the bottom of the first and second innings and then added two more in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to lead 8-4 entering the final frame.
WCA’s two runs in the sixth came on an RBI single by Miller and a subsequent error that allowed her to score. Hurteau’s one-out double in the seventh sparked the final rally for the Lady Chargers. However, she was called out at the plate trying to score on Edmondson’s double two batters later, a decision that didn’t sit well with WCA supporters. Miller’s three-blast to center field smoothed those hurt feelings temporarily but that left the bases empty and the Lady Chargers still needing a run.
But then freshman Emma Mercer reached first on a dropped third strike that would have ended the game and seventh grader Emma Jobe. All of a sudden the bases were loaded when eighth grader Savannah Manning was safe at first on an infield dribbler.
But Hauser ended her Union Grove career with a flourish with her 14th strikeout, setting off the Lady Patriots’ celebration. There were some tears on the Lady Chargers’ side but mostly an appreciation for an unlikely season.
“It’s just good to be back good to be able to play,” Reynell said. “It’s been a fun group, and they’ve just had such a great receptive attitude and willing to take extra time and cuts and grounders and put in the extra time, the extra work,and it shows and we’re really proud of their development and just their growth.”
There’s no reason to think that Wilson Christian and Union Grove Christian won’t see one another again in 2022. While the Lady Patriots are losing Hauser along with top hitters Hannah Hendricks and Katelyn Rackard to graduation, they have a solid returning cast. Meanwhile, the Lady Chargers will have everyone back.
“That’s what I said — they’re losing players, we’re not losing anybody,” Miller said. “We’re just going to grow off this year and keep going.”
Score by innings:
Wilson Chr. 200 002 3 — 7
Union Grove Chr. 110 222 x — 8
WP-Faith Hauser 7 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 14 SO. LP-Jennifer Edmondson 6 IP, 11 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO.
LEADING HITTERS — Wilson Christian: Holland Miller 3-4, HR, 2 R, 5 RBIs; Jennifer Edmondson 2-2, 2B, 3B, 3 R, RBI; Alivia Hurteau 1-3, 2B. Union Grove Christian: Hannah Hendricks 2-4, 3B, 2 RBIs; Katelyn Rackard 2-2, 3 R; Ansley Holt 2-4, 2B, RBI; Raigen Wykes 1-2, 2B, RBI.
game Saturday at Wilson Christian.
By Paul Durham
paul@wilsontimes.com | 265-7808
For a program that had made a home in the North Carolina Christian School Association softball championship over the past decade or so, Wilson Christian players and coaches weren’t sure they’d’ make it back to the final game this season.
After all, the COVID-19 pandemic that ended last season right after it began hampered 2021 scheduling opportunities for the Lady Chargers, who had won six straight NCCSA titles before losing to Union Grove Christian of Lexington in the 2019 championship game. But there they were Saturday at WCA’s Turnage Athletic Complex, battling the Lady Patriots for the fifth straight time in the championship game. However, the Lady Chargers, with no seniors, came up short — 60 feet short, to be exact — in an improbable seventh-inning rally before succumbing 8-7 to Union Grove, which now has back-to-back titles, including 2019.
“It felt good to actually get here,” said Jennifer Edmondson, WCA’s only junior. “We started from the bottom. We had three or four girls who actually hadn’t played before their whole lives. So, for us to actually be here just says a lot. And then we brought the game we did. We gave them a run for it.”
Wilson Christian, which finished with a 5-9 record, trailed 6-2 entering the sixth inning but scored two that inning and three in the seventh before Union Grove senior pitcher Faith Hauser ended the game with her 14th strikeout with the bases loaded. The Lady Patriots had already swept a doubleheader from WCA less than a month ago in Lexington, but Saturday’s game was a nailbiter the whole way.
“I don’t think anybody thought we were goinig to be in a close game like that with Union Grove,” said Holland Miller, one of just two sophomores on WCA’s roster. “If you saw us at the beginning of the season, we have grown so far. Every player on this team, I’m so proud of all of them. It was a really good season, really fun.”
Miller led WCA at the plate, collecting three of its eight hits, including a three-run home run in the top of the seventh, while Edmondson doubled and tripled in two at-bats.
“To be honest I don’t think I’ve seen such an improvement in a team before that I’ve coached,” Lady Chargers head coach Carrie Reynell said. “In the beginning of the season, we were very young and inexperienced, very green about the gills and most of them were still developing. And so we were just trying to be very fundamental. I’ve seen so much growth through that younger group and we’re just so proud of them.”
Wilson Christian, the top East Region seed in the five-team tournament, took the early lead when Edmondson’s one-out triple scored lead-off batter Alivia Hurteau, who had walked. Edmondson then came in on Miller’s fielder’s choice groundout to Hauser. But the Lady Patriots (10-7) answered with single runs in the bottom of the first and second innings and then added two more in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to lead 8-4 entering the final frame.
WCA’s two runs in the sixth came on an RBI single by Miller and a subsequent error that allowed her to score. Hurteau’s one-out double in the seventh sparked the final rally for the Lady Chargers. However, she was called out at the plate trying to score on Edmondson’s double two batters later, a decision that didn’t sit well with WCA supporters. Miller’s three-blast to center field smoothed those hurt feelings temporarily but that left the bases empty and the Lady Chargers still needing a run.
But then freshman Emma Mercer reached first on a dropped third strike that would have ended the game and seventh grader Emma Jobe. All of a sudden the bases were loaded when eighth grader Savannah Manning was safe at first on an infield dribbler.
But Hauser ended her Union Grove career with a flourish with her 14th strikeout, setting off the Lady Patriots’ celebration. There were some tears on the Lady Chargers’ side but mostly an appreciation for an unlikely season.
“It’s just good to be back good to be able to play,” Reynell said. “It’s been a fun group, and they’ve just had such a great receptive attitude and willing to take extra time and cuts and grounders and put in the extra time, the extra work,and it shows and we’re really proud of their development and just their growth.”
There’s no reason to think that Wilson Christian and Union Grove Christian won’t see one another again in 2022. While the Lady Patriots are losing Hauser along with top hitters Hannah Hendricks and Katelyn Rackard to graduation, they have a solid returning cast. Meanwhile, the Lady Chargers will have everyone back.
“That’s what I said — they’re losing players, we’re not losing anybody,” Miller said. “We’re just going to grow off this year and keep going.”
Score by innings:
Wilson Chr. 200 002 3 — 7
Union Grove Chr. 110 222 x — 8
WP-Faith Hauser 7 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 14 SO. LP-Jennifer Edmondson 6 IP, 11 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO.
LEADING HITTERS — Wilson Christian: Holland Miller 3-4, HR, 2 R, 5 RBIs; Jennifer Edmondson 2-2, 2B, 3B, 3 R, RBI; Alivia Hurteau 1-3, 2B. Union Grove Christian: Hannah Hendricks 2-4, 3B, 2 RBIs; Katelyn Rackard 2-2, 3 R; Ansley Holt 2-4, 2B, RBI; Raigen Wykes 1-2, 2B, RBI.
