WASHINGTON — West Bladen’s bid for the ultimate upset was denied Tuesday in the opening round of the state high school softball playoffs.
The Lady Knights snagged the final of 64 berths into the 2-A bracket. A matchup with the top seed in the East, unbeaten Washington, ended early by the mercy rule 15-1.
It was the second consecutive year West Bladen drew an unbeaten opponent in the first round. A year ago, it lost to eventual state champion South Granville.
The Lady Knights, finishing their eighth year under the direction of head coach Pam Stephens (134-58), ended the year 11-10 to match last year’s win total. West Bladen was 9-9 in the Three Rivers Conference, good for fourth place behind strong teams at Whiteville, East Columbus and South Columbus and despite losing several key players to injuries.
The junior nucleus of the team returning next season includes Kyla Reed, a natural center fielder pushed to shortstop who scored the lone run Tuesday in the first inning after reaching on an infield single. Senior Conner Brisson reached on an infield single in the third.
The Lady Pam Pack responded to the first-inning score with seven of their own, then picked up three in the second inning, one in the third and four in the fourth.
Brisson and Carley Dawson, who missed the season with an injury sustained in basketball, were the lone seniors and will continue their careers at UNC Pembroke.
Washington hosts No. 16 seed Bunn, a 2-0 winner over Thomasville Ledford, on Friday in the second round.
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