Purnell Swett’s Sonata Oxendine catches the ball during Tuesday’s first-round 4A state playoff game at Gray’s Creek.
Israel Anta | Cumberland Photos
Purnell Swett’s Nylah Johnson catches the ball during Tuesday’s first-round 4A state playoff game at Gray’s Creek.
Israel Anta | Cumberland Photos
Purnell Swett’s Braci Woods throws a pitch during Tuesday’s first-round 4A state playoff game at Gray’s Creek.
Israel Anta | Cumberland Photos
HOPE MILLS — Gray’s Creek defeated the Purnell Swett softball team for the fourth and final time this season with an 8-3 decision in Tuesday’s first-round 4A state playoff game.
No. 6 Gray’s Creek (21-3) scored four runs in the first inning, one in the second, two in the fourth and one in the fifth. No. 27 Purnell Swett (11-13) scored single runs in the third, fifth and seventh innings. Gray’s Creek outhit the Rams 14-10.
Lanna Haggans had three hits and two RBIs for Purnell Swett, Alexa Lowery had two hits and Nylah Johnson had one hit and one RBI. Kamryn Locklear, Shaniya Lewis and Jayla Graham each had one hit and one run and Braci Woods had one hit.
Woods and Locklear each pitched three innings. Woods allowed five runs on eight hits with two strikeouts and Locklear allowed three runs on six hits with one strikeout.
Amariya Green had three hits, two runs and an RBI and August Kebort had two hits including a grand slam and four RBIs for the Bears. Imani Pierce, Kayleigh Brown and Hannah Welsh also had two hits each, with Welsh driving in two runs.
Welsh allowed three runs on 10 hits with 11 strikeouts in the circle for the Bears.
Gray’s Creek will host No. 11 Wakefield in the second round on Friday.
Rams no-hit by Corinth Holders in playoff loss
Four Corinth Holders pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter as the Pirates beat the Purnell Swett baseball team 9-0 in the first round of the 4A state playoffs Tuesday in Wendell.
LSU commit Briggs McKenzie started for No. 4 Corinth Holders (22-3) before Eli Cash, Bryden Driver and Reese File each contributed on the mound. The foursome combined for 15 strikeouts.
Jordan Locklear reached on an error for the only baserunner for No. 29 Purnell Swett (14-12).
The no-hitter marks the second straight year a Purnell Swett first-round playoff game featured a no-hitter, as the Rams’ Jacob Chavis threw one against Richmond in 2024.
Corinth Holders hosts No. 13 Leesville Road in the second round on Friday.
Lady Pirates no-hit by Hudacky, Cleveland
Cleveland’s Karsyn Hudacky threw a five-inning no-hitter as the Lumberton softball team lost 10-0 to the Rams in the first round of the 4A state playoffs Tuesday.
Hudacky struck out nine batters in her five innings for No. 3 Cleveland (17-4). The only baserunner she allowed came on a strikeout with a wild pitch and a throwing error on the play.
Jazz Linares and Maddie Murphy each had two hits with a triple and two RBIs for the Rams, who scored two runs each in the second and third innings and six in the fourth.
Norah Johnson pitched four innings for No. 30 Lumberton (11-15), allowing two earned runs.
Cleveland eliminated Lumberton after the Pirates won a second-round game over the Rams last season.
No. 19 Topsail will travel to Cleveland for Friday’s second-round matchup.
Pirates baseball eliminated by Apex Friendship
A season that included a shared United-8 Conference regular-season championship came to an end for the Lumberton baseball team Tuesday in a 7-0 loss at Apex Friendship in the first round of the 4A state playoffs.
No. 6 Apex Friendship (22-6) scored one run in the second inning then two each in the third, fourth and fifth.
No. 27 Lumberton (15-9) was held to two hits by two Patriots pitchers, including Luke Hemric, who pitched six innings with 16 strikeouts. Tyler Komorner struck out three in one inning.
Connor Sousa had three hits and Braden Bloom had two for Apex Friendship, with Ajay Rychcik driving in two runs.
No. 11 Ashley will visit Apex Friendship for a second-round contest on Friday.
St. Pauls softball falls at South Lenoir
The St. Pauls softball team lost 8-3 at South Lenoir in the first round of the 2A state playoffs Tuesday.
No. 6 South Lenoir (14-6) scored two runs each in the first and second innings, one in the fourth and two in the sixth.
KeMya Baldwin had three RBIs with two doubles for No. 27 St. Pauls (10-12), which scored two runs in the fifth and one in the seventh.
South Lenoir will host No. 22 Southeast Alamance in the second round on Friday.
Lady Tornadoes shut out by Martin County
The Fairmont softball team took a 8-0 defeat in the first round of the 2A state playoffs at Martin County Tuesday.
No. 3 Martin County (20-4) scored four runs in the second, one in the fourth and three in the fifth.
Riley Cowan had three hits and two runs and Izzy Williams and Harmony Hoo each had two hits and two runs, with Williams driving in two runs and Hoo one for Martin County.
No. 30 Fairmont (7-13) managed one hit against Gators pitcher Erica Sturgill.
Martin County will stay home to face No. 14 Eastern Wayne in Friday’s second round.
Cape Fear soccer beats Purnell Swett in United-8 semifinal
The Purnell Swett girls soccer team took a 4-0 setback in the semifinals of the United-8 Conference tournament Tuesday at Cape Fear.
Cape Fear (16-4-3), the tournament’s top seed, scored all four of its goals in the second half after the match was scoreless at halftime. Caroline Hales, Addison Gunter, Kayla Brown and Grace Sherbert each had one goal for the Colts.
After beating fourth-seeded Purnell Swett (15-7), the Colts advanced to face Jack Britt in the championship game on Thursday.
Purnell Swett is expected to earn an at-large bid to the 4A state playoffs when the North Carolina High School Athletic Association releases brackets on Monday.
