Parrott Academy’s run at a third straight state softball title has come to an end.
The Patriots were held to three hits and committed an uncharacteristic five errors in a 4-2 defeat at Charlotte Hickory Grove Christian School in the second round of the NCISAA state 3A playoffs on Tuesday.
Summer Taylor and Michelle Ballard each singled and Savannah Hill doubled for Parrott’s three hits. Ballard held Hickory Grove to five hits and walked three in the loss. Of the four runs she allowed only one was earned.
“They were for real, they were good,” Parrott coach Matt Beaman said of Hickory Grove.
The loss ended the Patriots’ season at 15-6. They won back-to-back state 2A titles in 2011 and 2012, and made the 3A playoffs as an at-large team after winning the Eastern Plains Independent Conference championship this year.
Parrott will be a 2A team again next season.
“We don’t have anything to hang our heads on,” Beaman said. “We had a great year and are looking forward to next year competing for a championship as a 2A school.”
BOYS GOLF
PATRIOTS FINISH FIFTH: Parrott Academy’s golf team finished fifth out of eight teams in the NCISAA state 3A tournament at Bryan Park in Greensboro on Tuesday.
The Patriots shot a team score of 628 to finish 23 shots behind champion Forsyth Country Day. They were 10 strokes back at the conclusion of Monday’s first round.
Wes Simmons, who earned all-state honors, shot a team-best 75 on Tuesday for Parrott. James Stroud shot a 79, Matt Simmons a 79 and Riley Davis an 80.
“That’s golf. (It) just wasn’t our day,” Parrott coach Rickie Killinger said. “This was an extremely high level of competition on a difficult golf course. We are satisfied we have proven ourselves to be considered among the best teams in the state regardless of classification. I’m proud of these boys.”