The North Brunswick ballclub picked up its third win this week as Blaine Hollis started the contest and Sheldon Perkins picked up the save in an 8-7 victory on the road against South Columbus.
Shak Graham paced the Scorps with two hits as North used 12 total base knocks to plate four runs in the first and three in the fifth to take a 7-2 lead. After adding one more in the sixth to make it a six-run cushion, South Columbus rallied in the bottom of the frame with five runs, but the Stallions’ comeback bid came up short as Perkins closed out the win in relief.
North Brunswick looks for its fourth victory in five days on Friday as the Scorps continue a six game swing away from home at Whiteville.
Softball
West Brunswick 2 South Columbus 1 (11 innings)
Caroline Gore let up a run in the first inning and then went on to shutout South Columbus over the next 10 frames as West Brunswick pulled out a 2-1 win in 11 innings at home on a frigid night in Shallotte.
Leilani Emile had the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 11th to lift the Trojans (2-1) to their second win of the season. West had nine hits in the contest.
The Trojans return to action Friday at home against Purnell Swett.
Topsail 7 Dixon 1
The Lady Pirates pounded out 11 hits and freshman Victoria Elder recorded her first varsity win as Topsail cruised past Dixon 7-1 on Thursday. Elder, Ashton Bizzell and Katie Abston each had an extra base hit, while Danielle Parks drove in three runs for the Pirates.
“I can’t say enough about how proud I am of the team effort that continues to build with each game,” said Topsail Coach Amber Passwaters. “I am especially happy with cutting back on errors. Dixon has some good hitters, but between Victoria’s pitching and our defense, we were able to make the routine plays easily tonight.”
Topsail used a strong game on the base paths for Keri White, who swiped fours bags for the Pirates, while White and Danielle Parks combined for five RBI.
“Offensively we are starting to put the pieces together,” said Passwaters. “Each player gets a good, focused and quality at bat-regardless of the outcome. Our mental game continues to strengthen with each game.”
Box score R H E
Topsail 102 103 0 7 11 1
Dixon 000 100 0 1 7 2
Tennis
Hoggard 7 Laney 2
Hoggard claimed five singles matches and added a pair of doubles victories to down host Laney 7-2 on Thursday afternoon.
Chase Horton clinched the win for the Vikings (4-2, 3-1) with a 7-5, 6-0 decision over Shane McDonough at No. 2 singles.
Evan Linett, Matt Jensen, Miles Hirchak and Dom Scialabba also notched victories at Nos. 3-6 respectively.
In doubles, Hirchak and Dillon Cook rallied from a 7-4 deficit to earn a 9-7 victory at No. 2 doubles.
Hoggard senior captain Noah Milliken was forced to retire while leading 5-3 at No. 1 singles after suffering a knee injury. X-rays were negative and Milliken’s status is day-to-day.
The Vikings host Cape Fear Academy on Monday at 4 p.m.
Singles: No. 1 Patrick Ryder (L) def. Noah Milliken 3-5, ret.; No 2. Chase Horton (H) def. Shane McDonough 7-5, 6-0; No 3. Evan Linett (H) def. Zack Taffer 6-2, 7-5; No 4. Matt Jensen (H) def. Jake Schoolfield 6-3, 6-3; No 5. Miles Hirchak (H) def. Brandon McNeill 6-4, 6-0; No 6. Dom Scialabba (H) def. Lennart Haydweiller 6-3, 7-5.
Doubles: No. 1 Ryder/Schoolfield (L) def. Linett/Jensen 8-5; No 2. Hirchak/Dillon Cook (H) def. Taffer/Schoolfield 9-7; No 3. Scialabba/Andrew Haskins (H) def. McNeill/Haydweiller.
Cape Fear Academy 9 Fayetteville Christian 0
Cape Fear Academy cruised to a 9-0 win in the Hurricanes season-opener Thursday as five of their six top players never dropped a game in straight set 6-0, 6-0 victories. Mike Mills also made easy work of his opponent with a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 3. In doubles, Tristan Smith and Taylor Smith teamed up to take an 8-0 match as the team’s top tandem.
Singles: No. 1 Tristan Smith (C) def. Max Faykus 6-0, 6-0; No. 2 Jack Gallop (C) def. Kyle Praschan 6-0, 6-0; No. 3 Mike Mills (C) def. Marshal Faykus 6-1, 6-1; No. 4 Tyler Smith (C) def. Nathaniel Eddy 6-0, 6-0; No. 5 Jason Atwood © def. Drew Daak 6-0, 6-0; No. 6 Robert Schuett (C) def. Albert Bass 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles:No. 1 Smith/Smith def. Faykus/ Praschan 6-0, 6-0; No. 2 Mills/Gallop def. Faykus/Eddy 8-0; No. 3. Atwood/Schuett def. Bass/Pinnell 8-0.
Soccer
New Hanover 3 Swansboro 2
Lauren Mumford, Lily Herring and Abbey Campbell also put in goals for New Hanover as the Wildcats picked up a quality 3-2 result at Swansboro on Thursday. Ashley Woodward also had an assist in the win.
New Hanover improved to 3-0-1 on the season and entertain Jacksonville Monday, March 17, at Legion Stadium.
Laney 7 East Duplin 0
Bailey Edwards recorded the hat trick, while Anna Rae Porcelli and Allyson Beckman tallied two scores apiece in a 7-0 win for Laney on Thursday. Edwards added an assist and Sydney Young made two saves for the Bucs, who moved to 1-0-2 on the year.
Coastal Christian 8 North Brunswick 2
Coastal Christian tallied six goals in the second half to break open a 2-1 game over the opening 40 minutes as the Lady Centurions defeated North Brunswick 8-2 on Thursday.
Wilmington Christian 2 Living Waters 2
Jordan Collins scored just three minutes into the contest and Megan Barber made it 2-0 Wilmington Christian in the 13th minute of play, but Living Waters bounced back to get within one at the midway point of the first half and Anna Morgan tied the match just after the break as the game played to a draw on Thursday afternoon.
Shots: WCA-14; Living Waters 9; Corners: WCA-3; Living Waters 1
Goals: WCA- Megan Barber, Jordan Collins; Living Waters- Anna Morgan, Brianna Storm
Boys lacrosse
Cape Fear Academy 7 New Hanover 3
