1A softball playoff opener
GATESVILLE – A bus trip of more than four hours was made worthwhile for the East Columbus Lady Gators Friday as they edged host Gates County 2-1 in the opening round of the state 1A high-school softball playoffs.
The game-deciding run came in the top of the seventh inning.
East Columbus, which gained a wild-card berth in the state playoffs following a tie for second place in the Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference, now has a 15-7 record and will travel to Martin County Tuesday to meet Bear Grass. Bear Grass advanced Friday with an 11-0 road win over Louisburg.
Jessica McPherson was the winning pitcher for Coach Larry Williamson’s Lady Gators after relieving starter Jena Britt in the fifth inning with the score knotted at 1-1.
East Columbus scored the game’s first run in the fourth inning when Hannah Proctor hit a one-single, stole second and scored on a single by Sara Garrell.
Gates County tied the score in the bottom of the fourth when it brought across a run with three hits.
Tiffany Ellis, Proctor, Garrell, Alicia Freeman and Bri Jacobs had hits for East Columbus.
| E. Columbus | 000 | 100 | 1 | - | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Gates County | 000 | 100 | 0 | - | 1 | 7 | 0 |
WP: McPherson LP: Hobbs
