SWR girls continue dominance

RANDLEMAN — Fans of the softball teams in the Piedmont Athletic Conference are treated to intriguing matchups every week of the league season. With so much talent inside the PAC, teams need to be ready each and every time they cross the white lines.

Last Friday night, Southwestern Randolph met and conquered another challenge from a Randleman team that relies mostly on underclassmen as the Cougars came away with a 9-0 victory at RHS, staying undefeated in the league at 9-0.

In improving to 10-2 overall with their fifth straight win heading into action earlier this week, the Cougars’ used a complete-game, two-hit, 13-strikeout performance from Macie Crutchfield.

Alyssa Harris helped break open the game with a grand slam during a five-run fifth inning.

“This was much more relaxed because we scored in the first inning,” SWR coach Toby Strider said. “We had some big hits and the defense played error-free ball. All in all, it was a great night for us.”

The Cougars scored once in the first on an infield hit from Lillian Payne, twice in the third on a two-run double from Crutchfield, once in the fourth when Kami Dunn was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and five times in the fifth, highlighted by Harris’ slam.

RHS was charged with one physical error, but the Tigers made a number of mental and base-running miscues.

“Tonight you saw our youthfulness show up and inexperience show up,” said RHS coach Jeff Webster, who started four freshmen and four sophomores. “I feel for us to win against them, it has to be a 1-0 or 2-0 ballgame. They are a great team. Macie is a great pitcher. But I feel if we make a couple of plays there, we’re right back in the game.”

The loss was the third in the last four games for the Tigers, who are still having a solid season at 9-4 overall and 5-4 in the PAC entering play this week.

SWR finished with nine hits with Madelyn Smith and Harris recording two each.