The Midway Raiders continued their postseason runs Tuesday night, with both programs advancing in the state playoffs following impressive victories.
The Midway baseball team traveled to Martin County and secured a 6-4 victory to move on in the postseason, while the Lady Raiders protected home field in dominant fashion with a 10-3 win over Providence Grove in the third round of the NCHSAA 3A State Playoffs.
The baseball team returned home Friday night to host Princeton in the next round, while the Lady Raiders also prepared to defend home field once again in the fourth round.
Softball
Behind a dominant performance in the circle from Kyleigh Stonerock and an explosive night at the plate, Midway defeated Providence Grove 10-3 Tuesday evening in Dunn, punching its ticket to the fourth round while continuing an impressive postseason run.
The Lady Raiders wasted little time taking control, building an early lead and keeping Providence Grove scoreless through the first five innings behind Stonerock’s command in the circle. Midway steadily applied pressure offensively before a massive swing from Mollie Bass helped create separation midway through the contest.
Holding a 3-0 lead entering the fourth inning, Bass delivered one of the biggest moments of the night when she blasted a three-run home run that pushed the Lady Raiders advantage to 6-0 heading into the fifth inning.
“Mollie hit the home run, that’s one of her first in high school,” Midway head coach Susan Clark said. “She didn’t get in the truck because it hit the foul pole and we weren’t really sure what to do, but it was still a home run.”
Midway continued adding insurance runs in the fifth inning. Mackenzie Odom opened the frame with a single before stealing second following a wild pitch. Maggie Phillips later singled into center field to move Odom to third with one out.
A pop fly from Lauralee Harris turned into another Midway run after the Providence Grove defender lost the ball in the sun, allowing Odom to score. Moments later, Phillips tagged up and scored on a sacrifice fly, extending the Lady Raiders lead to 8-0 entering the sixth inning.
Providence Grove attempted to rally in the sixth. Ruby Caudle delivered an RBI hit to score the Patriots’ first run of the evening before Carly Lambert followed with another RBI to trim the deficit to 8-2.
Midway responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning.
Ella Clark opened with a triple before Peyton Herring drove her home on a sacrifice fly to right field, stretching the lead back to seven runs at 9-2. Odom was later hit by a pitch before Stonerock helped her own cause with a single to left field.
Phillips capped another productive inning with a deep hit to right field that plated another run and pushed Midway ahead 10-2.
Providence Grove managed one final run in the seventh inning, but Stonerock shut the door by striking out the final batter to secure the 10-3 victory and send Midway into the fourth round of the state playoffs.
Stonerock finished with a complete-game effort, striking out 12 batters while allowing five hits and three earned runs across seven innings.
At the plate, Ella Clark led the Lady Raiders with three hits and three runs scored. Bass added two hits and three RBIs, highlighted by her pivotal home run. Phillips collected two hits and two RBIs, while Peyton Herring added two RBIs of her own.
Clark credited her team’s aggressive approach offensively and complete effort across the board.
“They swung the bats very well, and they started early instead of waiting until later in the game,” Clark said. “That was a good pitcher, but they were ready. Defensively, all around, good game. Kylie pitched a great game. Mollie was an awesome asset behind the plate. Just all around a good game.”
Even when Providence Grove mounted pressure late, Clark said she never doubted her ace in the circle.
“Kylie is always motivated and wants to get better every single pitch she throws,” Clark said. “She gets frustrated sometimes if the calls are not exactly like they should be or if they change from one to the other, but she always bounces right back and comes in clutch. Proud of her for that.”
With the win, Midway moves one step closer to the state championship series, though Clark emphasized her team remains focused on handling the postseason one game at a time.
“We like to take things in increments,” Clark said. “We don’t bite off the whole thing. We don’t say we’re going to win a state championship. We say we’ve got to win these first two, then move to the next two. I think they buy into taking it one game at a time.”
The Lady Raiders played at home Friday against Heide Trask in the fourth round of the NCHSAA 3A State Playoffs.
“The girls love the crowd. They love the support,” Clark said. “Being at home with that excitement, they play into that.”
A full recap of both Friday playoff contests can be found in Tuesday’s e-edition of The Sampson Independent.