At one point on Saturday, Apex looked down and out. Now the Cougars are preparing for a decisive Game 3 in the NCHSAA 2A softball state championship series after beating Hickory Ridge 8-6 in extra innings on a two-run walk-off home run by Kaleigh Ayscue in the bottom of the eight of Game 2 at Duke's softball stadium.
Anna Dew didn't let a runner get into scoring position and Hickory Ridge used small ball to defeat Apex 3-0 on Friday in Game 1 of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A softball state championship series at Duke's softball stadium. Hickory Ridge's (27-2) Dew, an Elon commit, entered with a 0.34 ERA, and her prowess in the circle quickly became apparent against the Cougars. Apex didn't have a baserunner until the fourth inning, and Dew finished with eight strikeouts.
Down 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Apex scored five times to take the lead then held on to claim the 4A softball eastern regional championship with a 7-6 victory in game three over Topsail on Friday May 26, 2023
Southern Alamance and Apex traded leads early in a non-conference matchup of two 4A East conference champions before Greta Hessenthaler launched a go-ahead three run home run in the fourth to push the Patriots to a 6-3 victory on Wednesday Apr. 26, 2023