Saint softball falls to North Lenoir

Published in Sports on March 19, 2004 1:59 PM

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LAGRANGE -- Rain was not the problem at North Lenoir High School Thursday when the Hady hawks played host ot visiting Southern Wayne.

It was more the steady pour of hits from the bats of North Lenoir that casued most of the trouble for the visiting Lady Saints.

Paced by 12 Lady Hawk hits, North Lenoir racked up its sixth straight win without a loss with a 4-0 victory.

"We're right where we want to be," said coach Heather Humphrey. "Our togetherness wins ball games. We just need to keep hitting and combine it with sound defense."

Morgan Worthington was Humphrey's first line of defense. The junior pitcher was strong as four Southern Wayne batters reached base. Saint right fielder Scarlett Joyner reached base twice, getting the only walk and hit off Worthington.

Joyner was also the defensive star of the game, making three clutch catches, and just barely missing a fourth.

Offensively, North Lenoir had base runners on in every inning. Singles by Leslie Oliver, Worthington, and Mary Catherine Mills -- along with a triple by Hermia Humphrey -- spotted the Hawks to a 3-0 lead at the end of the first inning. Singles in the third by Mills and Humphrey brought in catcher Randi Moulton, who had doubled, with their team's final run.

Tight defense by Southern Wayne (2-4, 0-3) prevented further scoring in the fifth after North Lenoir had loaded the bases.

With two outs in the seventh, the Lady Saints gave it their final shot.

Joyner singled and went to second after Karen Thornton was hit by a pitch. Worthington then bore down, striking out Katie Westfall on three pitches to end the game.

"We just didn't have that spark tonight," said Southern Wayne's coach Brad Mathews. "You would have thought we were losing 20-0, when, in fact, it was a fairly close ball game."

Southern Wayne will entertain West Cartaret Tuesday in what Matthews called a "must win" game.

"We've got to beat them," said Mathews, "if we plan to have any chance at all of being in the playoffs. It's as simple as that."

Humphrey's only complaint was the nine runners that were left on base.

"We're working hard in practice on all areas of our game," said Humphrey. "With everyone gunning for us in the conference, that's what it's going to take to win."

North Lenoir travel to Havelock today, where the Lady Hawks will seek revenge for a 1-0 loss in extra innings in last year's North Lenoir Easter Tournament. Southern Wayne will host West Carteret on Tuesday.

Southern Wayne 000 000 0 -- 0 1 0

North Lenoir 301 000 0 -- 4 12 0

Leading hitters -- Southern Wayne -- Scarlett Joyner 1 hit. North Lenoir -- Mary Catherine Mills 3-4, 1 RBI; Morgan Worthington 2-3, 1 RBI; Hermia Humphrey 2-3, 3B, 2 RBI; Leslie Oliver 2-3; Randi Moulton 2B.

IP H R ER BB SO

Southern Wayne (2-4)

Darden (L, 1-2) 2 1/3 8 4 4 0 0

Thornton 3 2/3 4 0 0 0 0

North Lenoir (6-0)

Worthington (W, 3-0) 7 1 0 0 1 5