By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Kayla Spain admitted that she and her teammates were a bit nervous about playing the top-ranked team in the state.
Those nerves were calmed when Spain delivered a clutch two-run single in a three-run first inning. That was more than enough for Charity Watson, who held the D.H. Conley Vikings, the No. 1 team in the latest N.C. Softball Coaches Association Class 3-A poll, to two hits in Friday’s 3-0 Coastal Conference victory.
Lauren Allen drew a leadoff walk for the Pam Pack (9-1, 5-1) to start the early rally. Conley (11-3, 4-3) pitcher Brandi Adams then walked Kristi Wood to put two aboard.
Marissa Fucito followed with a lined shot up the middle that scored Allen. One out later, Spain drilled a single into right-center that plated two more for the 3-0 lead.
Washington would only manage one more hit — a third inning single by Watson.
However, the three-run cushion was more than enough.
Watson struck out 14 and walked one in the complete-game victory.
The Vikings, which got a first-inning single by Allison Brown, threatened in the fourth and sixth innings. Breanna Andrews reached on a one-out error in the fourth, then stole second and third. Katie Gould followed by reaching on a fielder’s choice to put runners at the corners.
However, Watson struck out Brittany Smith and then got Kaitlyn Maloney to pop out to Spain at first base to end the inning.
Brianna Richie led off the sixth with a bunt single. One out later, Andrews walked to get two aboard. A wild pitch allowed the runners to move up to second and third.
Watson buckled down and struck out Katie Gould and Smith to end the threat.
The Pack faces another tough test Tuesday when it plays host to the South Central Falcons, who are unbeaten in Coastal Conference play and ranked seventh in the state.
D.H. Conley 000 000 0 — 0 2 1
Washington 300 000 x — 3 3 1
WP: Charity Watson; LP: Brandi Adams
Leading hitters: DHC — Allison Brown 1-2; Brianna Richie 1-3; W — Kayla Spain 1-3 (2 RBI), Marissa Fucito 1-3 (RBI), Charity Watson 1-3