NEW BERN – Rylee Chadwick pitched a one-hitter as Bladen County won the Statewide Activities Committee (SWAC) Eastern Sectional Softball Championship Sunday with an 8-1 victory over Onslow County.
Both teams advance to the SWAC State Tournament Saturday in Williamston. Bladen County will be the No. 1 seed from the East and Onslow will be the No. 2 seed.
Chadwick allowed only 2 base-runners –one on a hit off the tip of her glove and the other on an error – walked none, and struck out 7 batters. The only Onslow run was unearned.
Bladen grabbed the early lead as Savannah Turbeville was hit by a pitch, moved up on Karli Priest’s fielder’s choice and scored when Alexus Mitchell reached base on an infield hit.
Chadwick rapped a one-out single in the third inning, and Savannah Turbeville walked. Priest rapped a single to centerfield that scored Chadwick and Turbeville.
Mitchell beat out an infield hit that brought home Zoe Smith, the courtesy runner for Priest and stretched the Bladen lead to 4-0.
After Onslow trimmed the margin to 4-1 in the fourth, Bladen exploded for 4 runs in the sixth to seal the verdict. Priest reached base on an error to start the inning, and Mitchell cracked a single.
Emma Turbeville reached base on a fielder’s choice that retired Mitchell. Heustess’ infield hit scored Smith who was running for Priest. Lainey Hughes walked, and Mackenzie Singletary’s fielder’s choice plated Emma Turbeville.
Lainey Autry swatted a single to rightfield that drove in Heustess, and Chadwick knocked in Hughes with a single.
Mitchell’s speed produced a pair of infield hits as she finished 3-3 at the plate. Chadwick batted 2-4, and Priest, Heustess and Autry connected for one hit each.
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