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After giving up a three-run homer in the first inning, East Gaston pitcher Michelle Primm was nearly flawless the rest of the way.
By Benjamin Patton/The Gazette
Warriors win second straight Big South title
MOUNT HOLLY - After giving up a three-run homer in the first inning, Michelle Primm made a promise to her catcher.
"They're not going to score any more," she said. "That's it."
The senior pitcher stayed true to her word, surrendering one hit and three baserunners the rest of the way in East Gaston's 7-3 win over Crest for the Big South 3A/4A Conference tournament championship Thursday.
The Warriors (20-3) beat the Chargers (17-8) for the second straight year in the tournament finals and now cruise into the playoffs with a nine-game winning streak.
In the third matchup between the teams this season, it was all East Gaston after Gracie Pitchford clobbered a three-run homer to give Crest an early 3-0 lead. Melissa Hunter and Bailey Smith had base hits before Pitchford knocked a 1-1 pitch over the left-center field fence.
Primm and the East Gaston defense buckled down from there, though, facing just two batters over the minimum over the final 6 1/3 innings.
"I felt like the first inning I didn't really hit my spots as good as I should have," Primm said. "After that I really, really tried to focus."
East Gaston still faced a 3-0 deficit until Cameron Sealey's two-out single to right field scored twin sister Tameron Sealey in the third inning. Two batters later, Taylor Hawley dropped a two-run hit to right field, knotting the score at three.
The Warriors then started pulling away, scoring two runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
"I told them that I thought they really played like true warriors tonight," first-year East Gaston coach Richard Hawley said. "We got behind on a three-run shot and that's demoralizing enough for most teams."
Primm struck out only three batters but that stat hardly mattered on a night that she walked just one, yielded four hits and trusted a superb defense that committed only one error.
Right fielder Lindsey Greeson turned in the defensive gem of the game, gunning down an aggressive baserunner at third for the final out of the third inning. Greeson fielded a hit to shallow right field and threw a laser to Cameron Sealey, who tagged out Amanda Baker to end Crest's best scoring chance over the final six innings.
Hawley, a freshman centerfielder, went 3-for-3 with a run and two RBIs to lead East Gaston's eight-hit effort against Crest senior left-hander Melissa Hunter. Tameron Sealey, Cameron Sealey, Lindsey Greeson, Megan Soots and Blair Collier had one hit each.
Smith went 2-for-3 to lead Crest.
"We hit the ball early in the first inning but then their defense stepped up and made great plays," Crest coach Greg Earl said. "Defense definitely carried them tonight."
East Gaston had both regular-season meetings, 2-0 and 6-3, on its way to the regular-season championship and top tournament seed.
Both teams had already qualified for the 4A state playoffs, which begin Tuesday for most teams. East Gaston will open at home against a yet-to-be-determined wild card opponent, while Crest will play host to the No. 4 seed from the MECA 6. Brackets are expected to be released Sunday.
C 300 000 0 - 3 4 1
EG 003 220 x - 7 8 1
W - Primm. L - Hunter. HR - none.
You can reach Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843.
