Alexis Shaffer of Cary Green Hope High is the North Carolina Gatorade girls soccer player of the year.

Shaffer helped lead Green Hope to a 24-0 record and to Wednesday night’s N.C. High School Athletic Association’s 4A semifinal against Wilmington Hoggard. She had scored 28 goals and handed out 20 assists.

She also is a member of the U.S. Soccer Under-18 Women’s National Team and will go the national team camp on June 2-10 in Chula Vista, Calif. She was a 2011 Youth All-American selection for club play by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

The junior is committed to the University of Virginia.

Nunn’s strikeouts: Erica Nunn’s 22 strikeouts in Tuesday’s 6-5 13-inning quarterfinal victory over Apex ties her for 18th on the NCHSAA’s list for the most strikeouts in an extra inning game. The record is 40 by Kayla Richardson of Ashe Central in a 26-inning 2-0 win over North Surry. The game was played over three days.

Heels get quarterback: The University of North Carolina gained a commitment this week from Mentor, Ohio, quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who was getting recruiting attention from Ohio State, Wisconsin, Alabama, Tennessee and others.

“He just fell in love with North Carolina and with coach (Larry) Fedora,” said Mentor coach Steve Privisonno. “He knows the offense that Carolina is going to run.”

Privisonno said Trubisky had been involved in the Mentor program since he was 8 years old and was a water boy. “He is a student of the game,” Privisonno said. “He is a great athlete, a great person and a great student.”

Trubisky passed for 3,845 yards and 41 touchdowns and ran for 611 yards and 12 touchdowns on an 11-2 team last season.

Richard Murphy game: A scholarship foundation has been established to honor Richard Murphy, a former principal at Broughton, Sanderson and Leesville Road. A Broughton vs. Leesville Road alumni game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 14 at Leesville Road High.

Soccer finals: The NCHSAA soccer championships will be played Friday and Saturday at N.C. State’s Dail Field.

The 1A finals between Southwest Onslow (14-5) and Jefferson (18-4) will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The 4A final, matching the winner of Green Hope and Wilmington Hoggard against the winner of Charlotte Providence and Cornelius Hough, is set for 11 a.m. on Saturday. Jacksonville White Oak (21-2-2) plays Charlotte Catholic (25-1-1) in 3A at 2 p.m., and Carrboro (20-1-2) faces either South Iredell or Waxhaw Cuthbertson in 2A at 5 p.m.

Baseball semifinals: Middle Creek, Pittsboro Northwood and Durham Voyager Academy will begin best-of-three playoff series on Thursday night in the NCHSAA baseball playoffs.

Middle Creek (22-6) will be at home against Richmond County before the 4A Eastern championship series goes to Richmond County (25-5) on Friday. The third game, if needed, would be Saturday at Middle Creek at 7 p.m.

Northwood (23-6) plays Whiteville (22-5) in 2A.

Voyager (18-5) begins the 1A series at Dixon but returns to Durham for a 6 p.m. game at Duke University on Friday. The third game, if needed, is scheduled for Friday at Dixon.

Softball semifinals: Holly Springs (22-2) opens its best-of-three 4A softball semifinal against Fayetteville Britt (24-2) at home at 6 p.m. Thursday. The series moves to Britt on Friday at 6 and, if needed, returns to Holly Springs on Saturday at 1 p.m.

“We are hitting the ball hard and making things happen offensively,” said Holly Springs coach Jill Munchick. “Defensively, I think we are continuing to make adjustments depending on the team that we face.”

Holly Springs has had 12 shutouts this season but has allowed 5 and 3 runs in its last two games. Erica Nunn, who is 20-2 this season, still is dominating hitters, Munchick said.

“Lately, we have played other Tri 9 teams that have seen Erica multiple times this year and maybe 10 times in their careers,” Munchick said. “Teams have tried to adjust by shortening their swings, which in turn gives them more opportunities to make contact. Erica is still pitching extremely well. It is just a shock when she gives up a few hits.”

North Johnston will play either Wilson Beddingfield or Swansboro in the 2A Eastern finals.

TSTEVENS: 919-829-8910