Pender tops Lady Gators for title

East Columbus batter Jena Britt connects with a pitch in Tuesday’s Waccamaw Conference championship softball game with Pender. Pender took the conference title with a 2-0 victory.

Staff photo by Mark Gilchrist

LAKE WACCAMAW - The Pender Lady Patriots secured a third straight Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference softball championship Tuesday night with a 2-0 victory over the host East Columbus Lady Gators.

Both teams went into the final regular-season game with identical 10-1 conference record.

Pender, the two-time defending state 1A champion, took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Janetta Robinson’s fly ball to outfield was misplayed. Robinson scored the Lady Patriots’ other run in the sixth inning when Gus Crist singled to centerfield.

East Columbus closed its regular season with a 14-5 record.

The Lady Gators will play host to Topsail next Tuesday in the opening round of the state 1A playoffs
“It was a great ball game,” said ECHS head coach Larry Williamson. “We just left too many people on base.”

The Lady Gators had runners at second in the third, fourth and fifth innings and a runner at third in the sixth but were unable to cash in as they suffered their second 2-0 loss to Pender of the season.

“We had our chances but just didn’t produce,” Williamson said.

Pitcher Jena Britt, Caitlin Lane and Erica Smith, who were honored during Senior Night ceremonies prior to the game, each had one hit. Hope Bordeaux and Carrie Ham also had hits for the Lady Gators.

Also, prior to the game, the ECHS squad presented Pender’s Jenna Robinson with an autographed softball in recognition of her selection as the NCHSAA Female Athlete of the Year.

Along with the softball title, Pender High girls teams have also won Waccamaw Conference championships in volleyball, basketball and track and field during the current school year.