(27) Gray's Creek run-rules (6) Cardinal Gibbons softball in first round of 4A playoffs
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Gray's Creek bats are hot at the right time.
The Bears scored in each inning en route to a run-rule-shortened, five-inning 20-8 victory at Cardinal Gibbons in the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A softball playoffs.
It is the second time in its last three contests that the Bears have scoring at least 20 runs, and fourth time in its last five of scoring at least 10 runs.
Gray's Creek (11-8) was seeded 27th in the bracket but rattled off 18 hits against Gibbons (12-6), the Cap-6 Conference champion that was seeded sixth.
Freshman August Kebort had a home run for Gray's Creek in the bottom of the second inning and was 3-for-3 at the plate while batting ninth. Leadoff hitter Amariya Green was 4-for-4 with a game-high seven RBIs and two triples. Roshell Williams was also 3-of-3 with one RBI.
Also driving in runs were Saniyah Leach and Anna Cobb, each with two, and Hannah Welsh and Amber Miller, each with one.
Hailey McFarley got the start in the circle for Gray's Creek and went three innings. The Bears led 11-4 at that point by outscoring Gibbons 6-0 in the third. Welsh pitched the last two innings.
Gibbons had 11 hits as a team, led by sophomore Tessa Gladieux's 4-for-4 day with three RBIs. Classmate Bridget Mazzo went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and junior Layce Chappell and Mallory Kelly each drove in one run.
The victory moves Gray's Creek onto a second-round date with 11th-seeded Wake Forest.
