Pack hope to keep softball success going in EPC

Published 5:32 pm Friday, March 28, 2025

By Jason O. Boyd

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Washington High School’s softball team was riding a pretty big high with two victories earlier this week.

The Pam Pack picked up a 3-2 home win over Eastern Plains Conference foe Farmville Central on Tuesday in a battle for first place in the conference. On Wednesday, the Pack also won a non-conference game at South Central, 12-3.

Washington improved to 8-2 overall, 3-0 in the EPC going into Friday’s rematch with the Jaguars.

“I mean, I knew it was going to be a tough game,” Washington pitcher Emma Orr said. “They can hit the ball. They’ve always been able to.

“So I knew it was going to be tough. And it doesn’t help I’m a little bit off too. So Friday, I’ve got to be on my A game.”

For the second straight home game, the Pack broke out the bats quickly. Washington got nine runs in the first inning in last Thursday’s win over West Craven. Tuesday, the Pam Pack scored two of their three runs in the first inning then held on through a tense seventh inning.

Farmville Central got on with a bunt single and scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to one before a liner to second baseman Samantha Ward ended it.

“We try to tell the girls all year, we can’t just rely on Emma,” Washington coach Brad Horton said. “You’ve got to learn how to hit. You’ve got to learn how to field.

“Getting the runs in the first inning, I think we got four hits in a row to start the game, which is really key for us. And so that kind of set the tone.”

Orr had two solid performances on the mound for Washington. Against Farmville Central, she gave up one earned run on five hits with eight strikeouts and three walks. Against South Central, she gave up three earned runs on five hits with 11 strikeouts and five walks. Washington got three first-inning runs then exploded for six runs in the third.

“Yeah, and I mean, first in and popping off the bat gives me room to breathe throughout the game,” Orr said about her team’s hot start against the Jaguars. “I’m not having to white knuckle the whole game.”

Another key moment for the Pack’s defense came in the fifth inning. After Farmville Central’s Antigone Johnson reached on an error, Orr struck out Chassidy Felton then got Michele Wirth to hit into a double play. Pack shortstop Alani Hyatt played the shift and was able to scoop up a grounder, tag second and throw to first in time to get Wirth.

“Yes, I think something that really helped us is Coach Brad has gotten us to play a shift, which helps us with double plays like that,” Hyatt said. “And Addison (Miller) had a great line drive catch at third base. 

“We knew they were going to come out and hit the ball. And we’ve seen a routine with, especially since Emma’s been hurt, she’s been lacking just a little bit. And so she’s been throwing some pitches and a lot of girls have been hitting it up the middle.

“So this shift has been great for us, a great adjustment. And it helps me turn double plays and just helps our whole middle infield.”

Orr said she was thankful for that defense.

“My defense had my back this game, knowing I was struggling, making great plays that were in win-or-lose situations that could have cost us the game,” Orr said. “And I’m glad that they had my back this game. I would say they had my back every game.”

Carly Woolard led Washington with a 3-for-3 performance, scoring a run, against Farmville Central. Miller had two hits as Washington finished with 10 hits overall.

In the South Central win, the Pack had 11 hits, led by two hits each by Joelie Pair, Miller and Orr. Pair drove in three runs while Woolard, Miller and Orr each drove in two.

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