Play and learn: Panthers, Pam Pack go through ups and downs in tourney

Published 4:06 pm Friday, April 25, 2025

By Jason O. Boyd

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YEATESVILLE, N.C. — Northside and Washington stayed busy and learned a lot during play in the softball portion of the three-day tournament hosted by the Panthers.

Northside went 1-3 in their games, falling to Lawrence Academy, Manteo and Perquimans before beating Richmond County. Washington went 1-1, falling to Class 1A state champs East Wilkes last Saturday before beating Camden County on Monday.

Northside lessons learned

The Panthers had their moments in each of the games, trailing by a run against Lawrence, Manteo and Perquimans before running out of gas each time.

That wasn’t the case against Class 4A Richmond County after scoring eight runs in the first inning. The Panthers (10-10) finished with 18 hits, led by EllaKate Hanna’s 4-for-5 outing with two runs and three RBIs. Sophie Berry (3-for-4, 2 runs, RBI) and Riley Hudson (3-for-5, 3 runs) also excelled at the plate in the win.

“We’re so young that every extra game we can play right now just builds for next year,” Northside coach Keith Boyd said. “We’ll make the playoffs and this weekend might be a springboard. We play better and better each game.

“Matter of fact, this team here, it was three to two going into the fifth inning with Perquimans. And we just ran out of gas. But it’s just great for the kids to, especially our young kids, to get out here and there’s 200 and 300 people standing around the fence line to be in that atmosphere.

“If they ever got the opportunity to go real far in the playoffs, it’s kind of a playoff atmosphere. I mean, this is a playoff atmosphere. And it’s just great to be a part of.”

Washington bounces back

The Pam Pack dropped a 6-0 decision to East Wilkes on Saturday, then beat Camden County, 8-3, in Monday’s game to go to 15-5 on the season.

Washington was coming off a surprising Eastern Plains Conference loss to SouthWest Edgecombe and was held to five hits in the loss to East Wilkes. The Camden County game had a better outcome in a possible preview of a Class 2A state playoff game. The Pam led 3-1 before blowing it open on Honor Edwards’ grand slam, the first she’s ever hit. The ball curved down the left-field line but stayed fair as it sailed past the fair-foul pole.

“I was like, uh-oh. And then I saw it go over,” Edwards said.

The Pam Pack ride the pitching of Emma Orr to a lot of its success. She was a workhorse again in the two games of the tournament, striking out 10 with a walk against East Wilkes and giving up four hits, no earned runs and striking out 11 against Camden.

In addition to Edwards’ day, Orr (4-for-4), Emma Harris (3-for-4, run), Carly Woolard (2-for-4), Alani Hyatt (2-for-4, run, RBI) and Addison Miller (2-for-5, 2 runs, RBI) each added to a 16-hit attack for the Pack.

“Yeah, the girls actually came out, scoring in the first inning,” Washington coach Brad Horton said. “It was really good to get a little confidence after they didn’t score anything against East Wilkes on Saturday. So yeah, it was nice to come out and score a run, kind of get on the board, knock the rust off.

“I mean, I told the girls before the game that they’re better than what they’re playing, and I said, it’s frustrating to see you come out and perform like that when I know you can do better than this.

“I said, I’m not mad with you, but you gotta understand, we can’t continue to play like this and expect to go anywhere in the playoffs. And so I said, I’ve never lost three games in a row.”

Perquimans wins tournament

Perquimans beat Bear Grass, 7-4, in Monday’s title game. It was a possible preview of a late-round Class 1A East Regional state playoff game. The Pirates improved to 18-2 with the wins. In addition to a 12-2 win over Northside, the Pirates also beat 1A power Pamlico County, 6-1, in another potential state playoff game. Bear Grass held off Manteo (14-3) and beat Lawrence Academy in its other two games.

Overall tournament success

The two days of play in the Northside Easter Baseball Tournament and three days of play in the Northside Easter Softball Tournament proved very beneficial to the school.

Officials were praising the large turnout of fans, saying it was the biggest event they’ve hosted. They were still totaling up the final figures, but it’s safe to say if they can do this again next season, they sure will.

“Yeah, man, we’ve had great, great turnout,” Boyd said. “The teams have been very nice, they’ve traveled well. The competition level has been super high.

“It’s 85 degrees, get out of the house and come watch some good softball. And man, it’s been awesome. We’ve made a good amount of money. And what I’m hearing, most of the teams have liked it so much that they’re gonna come back.”

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