The annual Touchstone Energy Beach Diamond Invitational baseball and softball tournament opened early Monday at the athletic complex on the campus of West Brunswick High School in Shallotte.
The North Brunswick ballclub started things off on a high note in the opener with a 9-5 win over Harrells Christian to move on in the winners’ bracket.
Shak Graham, Shelton Perkins and Blaine Hollis had two hits apiece to pace the Scorps’ lineup, while Kevon Perkins earned the victory on the hill. North Brunswick returns to action Tuesday at the tournament against Richmond County, who pulled out a 1-0 no-hit shutout over South Stanly.
Caroline Gore turned in another strong performance for West Brunswick in game two of the day on the softball diamond as the Trojans’ top hurler tossed a complete game in a 4-0 win. West Brunswick fell to East Columbus 9-8 in the nightcap to earn a split heading into Tuesday’s game against Whiteville.
The Trojan baseball team completed day one of the tournament Monday night with a 15-0 route over East Columbus. West Brunswick takes on South Columbus Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Day two of the Invitational gets started at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Shallotte, with games scheduled for 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The semi-finals and finals will be held on Wednesday.
Day two schedule
Harrells Christian vs. South Stanly 10 a.m.
Winslow Township (N.J.) vs. East Columbus 1 p.m.
North Brunswick vs. Richmond County 4 p.m.
West Brunswick vs. South Columbus 7 p.m.
Softball pairings for day two
South Columbus vs. Richmond County 10 a.m.
Whiteville vs. Davie County 1 p.m.
South Columbus vs. Davie County 4 p.m.
West Brunswick vs. Whiteville 7 p.m.
Soccer
Ashley 5 Topsail 4
Carly Higgins recorded the hat-trick and Charlotte Pearsall tallied twice in a 5-4 win for Ashley on Monday. Pearsall and Tess Cairney added assists for the Screaming Eagles and Kennedy Green made three saves in net.
Softball
North Brunswick 10 Ashley 2
Preston Ellenberg’s three-run home run in the top of the fourth highlighted a five-running as North Brunswick pounded out 10 hits in a 10-2 win over Ashley on Monday. Ellenberg was 3-for-4 at the plate with a homer, double and 5 RBI, while Kasey Klutz went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in.
Klutz also picked up the win on the stripe, allowing two runs on four hits with six strikeouts in a complete game.
North Brunswick is 12-5 and 5-1 in the East Central 2A Conference, with the only loss to Dixon. The Lady Scorps take on Next Game West Brunswick at home on April 28.
North 202 510 0=10-10-1
Ashley 101 000 0= 2-4-4
WP: Kasey Klutz; LP: H. Boring
Baseball
Trask 7 Laney 5
