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Raiders' scintillating playoff run ends in fourth round
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Published: May 31, 2009
ASHEVILLE - Considering the number of miles North Iredell had logged over the past two weeks during the 3A softball playoffs, the Raiders were bound to run out of gas eventually.
On Saturday, they finally did.
Showing no ill effects from their second game in less than 24 hours, the Asheville Roberson Rams blew open a pitchers' duel with three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to take a 6-0 victory that ended North's finest season ever one step away from the four-team state finals to be held next week in Raleigh.
The Raider program had never won a playoff game before this season, but a team made up primarily of sophomores and freshmen knocked off Enka, Newton Foard and R-S Central before finally hitting a wall.
A fourth straight road win was not to be for a squad that was fifth in the North Piedmont Conference during the regular season.
"I think the gas just finally ran out," North coach Steve Harkey said. "The youngness of 'em just kind of came back out a little bit today."
Roberson's third-round matchup with St. Stephens, originally scheduled for Tuesday, was delayed repeatedly because of rain, and when the contest was finally played Friday night it took nine innings before the Rams escaped with a 5-4 victory.
But any emotional crash Roberson may have had was cushioned nicely by pitcher Brooke McDonald, who controlled North's bats all afternoon. She allowed six hits and struck out eight without walking anyone over seven innings.
Only two Raider runners got past first base.
"Roberson, they're living on a high from (Friday)," Harkey said. "They had a lot of momentum."
Raider freshman Karley Harkey matched McDonald through three innings, but after striking out the lead-off batter in the fourth the wheels came off as she tried to ride through the heart of Roberson's lineup.
No. 3 batter Jordan Critcher singled, as did clean-up hitter Ashley Ellis. That brought up Ashley Green, who worked the count full and fouled off two two-strike pitches before driving a Harkey offering over the fence in left for a three-run home run.
Roberson pushed the margin to 6-0 an inning later. Kia Morgan, Marie Mauhar and Kaitlin Ramsey loaded the bases with three straight singles, and a hit batter, an error and a fielder's choice plated three more for the Rams and broke the game open.
Roberson improves to 28-2 and advances to the first softball final four in school history.
North's only real chance to score came in the third. Singles from Elizabeth Johnson and Taylor Rosenbalm put runners at first and third with one out, but Rosenbalm was thrown out trying to steal and Emily Riddle struck out to end the threat.
Timber Davenport went 2-for-3 for North (15-8) but was left stranded at first twice.
Harkey struck out five and gave up eight hits and a walk. She also hit two batters.
North loses just two seniors off of this team: center fielder Kasey Talley and first baseman Meredith Hill.
"They did good. They'll be back next year," coach Harkey said. "They should be a contender in at least their conference for a couple more years. Hopefully we're building something strong."
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