03/28/2024
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HOLLY SPRINGS – Bladen County scored in every inning and defeated Holly Springs 10-4 Saturday in the StateWide Activities Committee 12-and-Under Softball Sectional Tournament.

Bladen County advances to the sectional championship game at 1 p.m. Sunday against Wake Forest. The victory also assures Bladen County of a berth in next weekend’s SWAC State Tournament that features the top two teams from each sectional tournament.

After Holly Springs scored in the top of the first, Lena Trinidad was hit by a pitch then stole second base for Bladen County. Megan Pait raked a single through the middle that scored Trinidad.

Megan Pait was out trying to stretch the hit into a double, but Martha Simmons reached base on an error and Molly Pait was hit by a pitch. Simmons stole third base then home to edge Bladen in front 2-1.

Bladen County loaded the bases in the second inning as Brookee Singletary, Violet Allen and Karly Ross all reached base on errors. Trinidad knocked in Singletary and Allen with a single to right field that padded the lead to 4-1.

Holly Springs closed the gap to 4-3 in the third, but Bladen responded with a run for a 5-3 lead. Emmee Ward walked, but her courtesy runner, Mary Frances Sutton, was retired on Singletary’s fielder’s choice. Allen was hit by a pitch. Ross laid down a bunt, and a throwing error on the play allowed Singletary to score.

Megan Pait walked and stole second base to begin the fourth inning. Marlie Walters ripped a single to left field that scored Megan Pait. Molly Pait lined a single to right field that scored Walters. Ward advanced Molly Pait’s courtesy runner, Reagan Moore, with a sacrifice bunt. Singletary smashed a double to left field that scored Moore for an 8-3 lead.

Holly Springs trimmed the margin to 8-4, but Bladen County tacked on two more runs in the fifth. Trinidad reached on an error and circled the bases on a trio of fielder’s choices. Walters reached base on a fielder’s choice and sprinted home when Molly Pait drilled a double to left field.

Molly Pait batted 2-for-3 with a double and two runs batted in for Bladen, and Megan Pait finished 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. Singletary doubled home a run and scored twice.

Walters and Trinidad connected for one hit each and drove in two runs each. Trinidad and Walters scored 2 runs each, and Simmons, Allen and Moore scored one run each.

Ward pitched a complete game four-hitter, struck out one, walked four and allowed only one earned run.

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