PETER PETROFF
Special to the Independent Tribune
HARRISBURG â On Thursday, the Hickory Ridge softball team defeated Lake Norman, 8-3, to advance to the third round of the Class 4A state playoffs.
The top-seeded Raginâ Bulls play host to fourth-seeded South Caldwell today at 6 p.m.
While the Raginâ Bulls finished with a comfortable margin of victory Thursday, it was a comeback win over the eighth-seeded Wildcats, who led 2-1 â with no earned runs heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.Â
What came next, though, was nothing less than explosive.
The first to bat for the Raginâ Bulls was Alycea Gilliam. After a few foul balls, she rocketed a single to far left field. Then came a pair of bunt singles from senior captain Jadyn Jonasse and sophomore Grace Bechtol, loading the bases with no outs. Suddenly, the Raginâ Bulls were in tremendous scoring position.
PETER PETROFF
Special to the Independent Tribune
HARRISBURG â On Tuesday afternoon, the Hickory Ridge softball team defeated Porter Ridge, 3-0, to claim the Southwestern 4A Conference title, its first regular-season championship since 2017.
With the win, Hickory Ridge (11-2, 9-0 SWC) is guaranteed a spot in the state tournament. Meanwhile, Porter Ridge (8-3, 7-2 SWC) had already locked up at least second place but will be looking to secure a potential wild card berth in the playoffs. Todd Maulden/Special to the Independent Tribune
The clear highlight of the shutout victory for the Raginâ Bulls was sophomore pitcher Anna Dew, who threw 14 strikeouts in six innings and only allowed one hit. The Pirates were only able to bat more than four times in an inning just once in the entire game. It was Dewâs sixth shutout of the season.
HARRISBURG â The dream was just on the horizon.
That is what the Hickory Ridge softball team thought as it started the 2020 season undefeated.
But as the coronavirus pandemic has extracted a heavy toll on people all over the world, the Raginâ Bulls were no exception.
When spring sports all over North Carolina were canceled last year, Hickory Ridge lost the opportunity to make a run at its sixth straight conference regular-season and/or tournament title â and perhaps even a run at a state championship.
Hickory Ridge softball coach Justin Davies
âI think last year taught us a lot about enjoying every moment for what it is because you never know when it is going to be taken away from you,â Raginâ Bulls coach Justin Davies said. âWe always talked about times where you get hurt or canât play for some reason, but even beyond playing softball, the whole world was turned upside down for all of us.â
ROBERT IRBY
Special to the Independent Tribune
HARRISBURG â It was a night to remember for the Hickory Ridge softball pitching staff, as Anna Dew and Gracie Bechtol combined to throw a no-hitter in a 7-0 victory over Myers Park Monday.
The win moves Hickory Ridge to 5-2 on the season with a 4-0 record in the Southwestern 4A Conference, where they sit atop the league standings with Indian Trail Porter Ridge. Myers Park moves to 2-2 with a 1-2 SW4A record, good for third place.
Dew started it off for the Raginâ Bulls by pitching four scoreless innings while her team stretched out a 6-0 lead. She walked three while striking out 10 Mustang batters.