In the playoffs it’s all about getting hot at the right time and right now South Creek is on fire. The No. 5 Cougars (18-7, Four Rivers) clinched their first-ever District title on Tuesday as they scrapped out a 1-0 win over Four Rivers Conference champions, and No. 1 seed, Riverside thanks to a brilliant performance by pitcher Lauren Sitterson.
The Cougars’ freshman ace no-hit the Knights and struck out 12 to lead the team into the NCHSAA 1-A Sectional championship game which will be played tonight when they hit the road for their fourth straight playoff game to take on No. 1 Princeton (20-5, Carolina). The winner of that matchup will advance to the state tournament at Walnut Creek.
“It was a great win, the girls have worked really hard,” South Creek coach Danny Webb said. “We were up against a good team and we had a real good performance by our pitcher and our defense was solid … Lauren pitched a no-hitter and was only two batters away from throwing a perfect game. It was a big win for the school and the community and I would like to thank the fans for all their support.”
Sitterson and the Cougars’ defense have been near perfect the entire playoffs as they combined to allow a mere four hits and two earned runs in three games.
South Creek began the postseason run by thumping No. 1 Creswell (Tideland) 10-1, then squeezing out a 2-1 win over Rosewood (Carolina) before blanking Riverside 1-0.
Webb, who was the softball coach at Bear Grass before the school merged with Roanoke, said he has never coached a freshman that has pitched the way Sitterson has during this playoff run.
“I have not. That was a super performance she had last night and it was almost a repeat performance of what she did last Friday against Rosewood when she gave up three hits and struck out 12,” Webb said. “Out of 21 outs she had 12, but the defense made the other eight outs.”
The Knights, who were also formed this year when softball powers Jamesville and Williamston merged, fought their rivals hard but cracked in the sixth inning. With two outs, South Creek was able to load the bases and drive in the winning run when Kaitlyn Sitterson, Lauren’s older sister, produced a clutch hit.
The Cougars’ current hot streak is their second of the season. South Creek opened up the year scorching has it won its first nine games before hitting a midseason funk. However, Webb feels like his team’s play of late has surpassed its early season prowess.
“Overall, we’re playing good ball right now. We started out the season 9-0 then we kind of hit a rough spot but now were are over that,” Webb said. “I think we are playing better than before. Our defense and hitting has come around; we’re not striking out as much as we did before.”
In softball, the name of the game is to put pressure on the opposing defense as much as possible, and by not striking out as much, the Cougars are doing just that. South Creek hitters like Victoria Van Northwick, Taylor Johnson, Krista Silverthorne and Cameron Mobley have stepped their game up.
“Right now a lot of our players are swinging a good bat and making contact,” Webb said.
In order for his team to continue slaying higher seeds, Webb said his team must continue to execute the fundamentals of the game.
“It’s like I tell the girls every game: We just have to focus on what we are there to do. We don’t have to do anything spectacular, just make the routine plays and have some good pitching,” Webb said.