GREENVILLE, N.C. — West Point’s softball team did what no other team had done against Pitt County, the North Carolina champion, in the Little League Softball World Series.
It lasted more than four innings, slowed down an offense that had produced 42 runs in three blowouts and pushed the host team to the brink.
But West Point couldn’t get a run across, falling 1-0 early Sunday afternoon in a game for a berth in the title game of the tournament.
“We knew it was a pitcher’s duel,” West Point coach Matt Maiers said. “They were going to have solid defense, and we had it as well. It was going to take one or two plays to make a difference and, unfortunately, it went their way.”
Lexi Stabile held Pitt County to four hits, striking out three and walking three.
But walks were issued to Pitt County’s Anna Rose and Mikayla Bateman to start the third inning. Rose eventually scored on a groundout for a 1-0 lead.
“Lexi’s tough,” Maiers said. “She’s one of the best, and we knew we had a good chance with her on the mound. Unfortunately, those two walks came back to bite us.”
Pitt County threatened to pad its lead by loading the bases in the fifth inning with one out, but Jayelyn Luft made a pair of sharp catches at first base, one of them diving.
“That side with Jayelyn on first and Jocelyn (Luft) on second, not many balls are going to get through there,” Maiers said. “That’s the strength of our defense, the right side.”
West Point, however, was unable to tie the score.
The Mid-Atlantic Region champion’s best chance came in the second inning as Rian Starz led off with a single to left field, and Stabile reached on a fielding error. Two batters later, Sofia Porreca’s sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position with two outs. But Pitt County starter Kenzie Carson responded with a strikeout to end the threat.
Jayelyn Luft led off the game with a single, and a sacrifice bunt by Piper Hoppel moved her to second before Carson struck out the next two batters.
Lily Carroll hammered a one-out single off the glove of Pitt County’s Braelyn Johnson at first base in third inning. But Carson struck out the next batter, and Pitt County catcher Aurora Edwards cut down Carroll trying to steal second immediately after the third-strike call.
“We had our chances and just couldn’t get them around,” Maiers said.
Maiers knows the memories of this team’s summer will live long after the sting of Sunday’s loss subsides.
“So proud of these girls,” he said. “Unbelievable. Since July 1, we’ve been playing. Here we are a month later. Never thought we’d be here. It’s unbelievable. So proud of these girls. Can’t even describe how proud I am of these girls.”