North Lenoir’s last regular season baseball game as a member of the Eastern Carolina 3A Conference ended in defeat.
Caleb Baird homered for the Hawks’ only run as they fell 3-1 to Eastern Wayne at home on Thursday and finished in last place.
The loss dropped North Lenoir to 4-14 overall and completed league play at 2-10. The conference tournament begins on Tuesday.
The Hawks managed only three hits — singles by Dylan Puchalski and Sammy West in addition to Baird’s long ball — and had just four reach base.
Seth Beard, who reached base twice via a walk and a fielder’s choice, suffered the tough-luck loss. He allowed three unearned runs on three hits in five innings. The Hawks had three errors.
It was the 10th time this season North Lenoir lost a game decided by two runs or less.
CROATAN 12, SOUTH LENOIR 0, 5 INN.: At Croatan, the Blue Devils were held to two hits in the East Central 2A Conference loss.
Garrett Holland and Brett Davis singled for South Lenoir, which had a total of four reach base.
Will Graves earned the loss. He gave up seven runs on nine hits and two walks in two innings.
The Blue Devils (9-9, 6-6) host Clinton on Tuesday.
RALEIGH FRIENDSHIP CHRISTIAN 9, BETHEL CHRISTIAN 8: At Raleigh, the Trojans had their four-game winning streak snapped.
Tyler Antwine had two hits with a double, two RBIs, scored a run and stole a base, Ben Potter went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Bethel had eight total hits.
Hunter Truett took the loss, giving up three runs, all unearned, on one hit, two walks and struck out four in three innings. The Trojans committed three errors and walked a total of eight. They allowed just four hits.
Bethel (9-7, 6-2) wraps up the regular season today at 4:30 p.m. with a home game against Wilmington Christian.
GREENE CENTRAL 7, EASTERN WAYNE 6: At Eastern Wayne, the Rams rallied with four runs in the seventh inning to top the Warriors in a non-conference game on Wednesday.
Kevin Ormond had a three-run double, Chandler Barrow went 2-for-4 and Mason Head went 1-for-3 and drove in two runs. Barrow pitched a pair of scoreless innings giving up one hit in the win.
The Rams (11-7) will face Farmville Central today.
SOFTBALL
SOUTH LENOIR 16, CROATAN 2, 6 INN.: At Croatan, the Blue Devils picked up an EC2A win.
Bree Williams went 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs, Morgan Mentz went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI and Madison Beyer went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
Taylor Sandlin earned the win. She allowed one run on two hits and struck out five in four innings. Beyer pitched the final two innings, giving up one run on two hits, walked one and fanned three.
South Lenoir (15-3, 9-2) hosts Clinton on Tuesday.
PARROTT ACADEMY 16, HALIFAX ACADEMY 12: At Halifax, the Patriots clinched the Eastern Plains Independent Conference championship with the win.
Eight of Parrott’s nine starters had at least one hit. Brooke Uken went 3-for-5 with a double and four RBIs, Brianna Casey went 3-for-4 with two doubles and scored four runs, and Sarah Riley went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI.
The score was 3-3 after five innings.
Michelle Ballard earned the win. She gave up six unearned runs on three hits, struck out four and walked three in five innings.
The Patriots (12-3, 7-0) play at Oakwood Academy on Wednesday.
PARROTT ACADEMY 8, FAYETTEVILLE VILLAGE ACADEMY 0: At Fayetteville, the Patriots knocked off the 3A host team on Wednesday.
Caroline Casey went 2-for-4 and Brooke Uken and Summer Taylor added RBI doubles for Parrott. Michelle Ballard gave up two hits and struck out two in five scoreless innings for the win.
GIRLS SOCCER
KINSTON 8, SOUTHWEST EDGECOMBE 0: At SouthWest Edgcombe, the Vikings shutout the Cougars in an Eastern Plains 2A Conference match on Wednesday.
Abby Sargeant scored two goals and added two assists, Hannah Vermillion had two goals and one assist, Becky Irvin had two goals and Elizabeth Procter and Alexis Williams scored a goal each.
Kinston (3-9-2, 2-2-0) will host Wilson Beddingfield on Monday.
PARROTT ACADEMY 3, HALIFAX ACADEMY 2: At Halifax, the Patriots earned an Eastern Plains Independent Conference win.
Holden Arthur scored two goals and added an assist and Jana Warren scored a goal. Sallie Sylvester and Langley Mills had an assist each.
Parrott (10-4-1, 9-2-1) will be in Asheville this weekend for a tournament.