Panthers top Manteo in Keech’s return to field

Published 1:59 pm Friday, March 7, 2025

By Jason O. Boyd

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YEATESVILLE, N.C. — Success usually happens each season for the Northside High School softball team.

It’s not easy, it’s never just assumed and each time requires a lot of talent and hard work. That’s the case again this season as the Panthers bring back a squad full of college commitments with a lot of youth to a squad that came oh so close to winning the Class 1A state title last season.

Northside held on to beat Manteo, 3-2, on Tuesday. Londyn Keech, who will play softball at Catawba Valley Community College, carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. She finished with one hit, eight strikeouts and three walks. Neither of Manteo’s runs were earned. It was her first game on the field after recovery from surgeries on her right knee and foot.

“So the first inning, this is my first last-time game as a senior, and I was a little nervous going on the mound pitching for my first game after my surgery,” Keech said. “But I know I had a good team behind me, and as long as I settled down, if they hit the ball, I knew I had a defense behind me to back me up.”

Manteo took the lead in the first inning after a walk to Calleigh Bush. A stolen base and two passed balls gave the Redskins a 1-0 lead. Northside (2-1) tied it in the bottom of the first with a walk to Keech, who then stole second and scored on an error.

The Panthers then took a 2-1 lead in the second when Megan Hopkins doubled down the left-field line and scored on a hit by Riley Hudson to center.

Keech and the Panthers settled down after that. She gave up a walk in the third inning to Peedee Berry, who was stranded at second base. Northside turned a double play in the fifth to get out of a jam.

Between those two innings, Northside extended its lead. With one out, Keech dropped a hit into shallow center field. She advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Hopkins’ second hit to give the Panthers a 3-1 lead.

The Panthers did leave the bases loaded but kept the momentum as Keech and the defense maintained the no-hitter. With one out in the top of the sixth, Manteo’s Bailey Dickerson hit a screamer up the middle that broke up the no-hitter.

The Redskins got their other run in the seventh when Bella Huntingford reached on an error, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a fielder’s choice. Northside coach Keith Boyd called time and spoke with Keech, who then buckled down and struck out Jose Wright to end it.

“I think this helps everybody’s mental and physical part of the game,” Keech said. “Because the more we practice, the more physical we’re going to get. But having wins is mentally preparing us to keep going and keep building as a team to keep the winning streak going.”

Although the Panthers missed some opportunities due to errors, passed balls and leaving the bases-loaded twice, including in the sixth, Boyd believes this year’s team is coming along and that success will follow them.

“(Keech) started off a little nervous, I think,” Boyd said. “You know, she’s been battling injuries her whole career. The first day we’ve had her, in a week and a half for practice. And then to come out here and throw a complete game with a one-hitter, that was pretty impressive and showed a lot of grit.

“We had 12 strikeouts, way too many. But we got a young group, you know. I mean, and their pitchers were well above average.”

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