Alexander Central wins over North Davidson for 4-A softball title
June 7, 2009 North Carolina
RALEIGH - Freshman pitcher Chelsea Wilkinson gave up just three hits and went the distance as Alexander Central nipped North Davidson 2-1 in the championship game of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 4-A softball championships at Walnut Creek Softball Complex on Saturday.
The young righthander, who was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament, had fired a complete game shutout and struck out 13 in the Lady Cougars¹ opening win by 3-0 over North Davidson in a battle of 28-1 teams Friday night. She struck out 12 in her Saturday effort.
In the final, North took a 1-0 lead in the second but Alexander tied it with a run in the bottom of the fifth and then senior first baseman Brittany Loudermilt drove home the winning run with a base hit in the sixth.
Hannah Alexander was the losing pitcher in relief.
Alexander Central finished with a record 31-1 while North Davidson wound up 30-3, with both losses in the championship to the Lady Cougars. It was Alexander¹s first fast pitch softball state title since 1996.
North Davidson had advanced to the championship game earlier on Saturday with a 4-0 victory over Fuquay-Varina in the loser¹s bracket final. Alexander limited Fuquay-Varina to just two hits and struck out 11.
Junior outfielder Amelia Griffin was a perfect four for four while Tisha Mahon had three hits and Tara Aldridge two for the winners. Alex Ryan got the loss for the Tigers, who ended the year 21-6 overall.
The Raleigh Sports Consortium and the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau are among the host city sponsors for the championships.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
2009 STATE 4-A SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
WALNUT CREEK SOFTBALL COMPLEX, RALEIGH
FRIDAY¹S RESULTS
STATE SEMIFINALS
Fuquay-Varina 1, New Bern 0 (10 innings)
Alexander Central 3, North Davidson 0
WINNER¹S BRACKET FINAL
Alexander Central 10, Fuquay-Varina 0 (5 innings)
ELIMINATION GAME
North Davidson 3, New Bern 0
LOSER¹S BRACKET FINAL
North Davidson 4, Fuquay-Varina 0
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Alexander Central 2, North Davidson 1 |
NATIONAL
NORTH CAROLINA
