Jacob Shumate went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three pitchers combined to toss a two-hitter as host North Brunswick defeated South Lenoir 13-0 in five innings in the opening round of the NCHSAA state 2A baseball playoffs on Friday.
Trint Turner had a hit and Noah Stroud had a hit for the Blue Devils (11-10), who gave up nine runs in the first inning.
Starter Wyatt Janning was saddled with the loss. He gave up seven runs, one earned, on four hits with two walks in just 2/3 of an inning.
South Lenoir sent just two over the minimum to the plate.
The Scorpions (13-10) advance to face Providence Grove, a 5-0 winner over Farmville Central, in a second round game next week.
Other area playoff scores: 1A — Dixon 3, Ayden-Grifton 1, 10 inn.; North Duplin 4, Jones Senior 0 (played on Thursday).
TRACK AND FIELD
STATEN HAS 2 TOP 4 FINISHES IN GIRLS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Jones Senior’s Markiara Staten had a pair of top-four finishes in Friday’s NCHSAA state 1A track and field championships at N.C. A&T. Staten finished fourth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.84 seconds, and was third in the long jump with a jump of 16-feet, 7.5-inches.
Other area athletes who participated in the girls championships were: Kebori Gorham, Ayden-Grifton, eighth, 300-meter hurdles, 49.76 seconds and did not place, 100-meter dash (was 12th in prelims at 13.56 seconds); Alexsia Best, Ayden-Grifton, 100-meter hurdles, did not finish (was third in prelims at 16.40 seconds); Ayden-Grifton’s 4-by-100-meter relay team (Gorham, Shambria Hines, Tylasia Moye, Best), 12th, 54.14 seconds.
HEATH FINISHES SIXTH IN STATE 300-METER HURDLES: Ayden-Grifton’s Maurice Heath finished sixth in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 42.27 seconds in the NCHSAA 1A boys state track and field championships at N.C. A&T.
Other area athletes who participated in the boys championships were: Alex Lopez, Ayden-Grifton, 10th, shot put, 43-feet, 11.5-inches; Rodney Nelson, 15th, triple jump, 37-feet, 10-inches; Glen White, Jones Senior, eighth, 200-meter dash, 23.38 seconds and did not place, 100-meter dash (was ninth in prelims at 11.52 seconds); Ayden-Grifton’s 4-by-200-meter relay team (Rashaad Edwards, Nelson, Ray’Quawn Dixon, Giddel Waters), 14th, 1:37.91.
BOYS TENNIS
GC’S TAYLOR ELIMINATED: Greene Central’s Robby Taylor was defeated by Garrett Lakey of Wilkes Central in the first round of the NCHSAA 2A singles championships at the Cary Tennis Center on Friday.
Lakey won in straight sets, 6-4 and 6-3.
SOFTBALL
PARROTT ACADEMY 11, MERRY HILL LAWRENCE ACADEMY 0, 5 INN.: At Parrott, the Patriots wrapped up regular season play on Thursday with a win.
Darci Basden went 2-for-3 with a double and drove in three runs, Savannah Hill was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, Sarah Riley was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Caroline Casey was 3-for-3 with an RBI. Brianna Casey earned the win with two perfect innings and two strikeouts. Three Parrott pitchers combined to one-hit Lawrence.
The Patriots (14-5) will open the NCISAA 3A state playoffs at home at 1 p.m. today against Cary Academy.
Thursday’s area playoff scores: 1A — Chocowinity Southside 10, Jones Senior 0; Pender 4, Ayden-Grifton 3; 2A — North Johnston 10, Greene Central 0.