PrepsNow Best of the Week: Top players from around the area
Each week, we’ll honor the top performances as nominated in baseball, softball, girls soccer, boys and girls lacrosse, boys golf, boys tennis and track and field with a “PrepsNow: Best of the Week” column.
To nominate players, email by noon Sunday. Please list the name, school, sport and accomplishment for that week.
BEST OF THE BEST
▪ Miranda Barker of South Granville softball did a little bit of everything to get her team back in the state championship series for the third year in a row. Barker had six RBIs and pitched every inning in the 2A East final series, which the Vikings won with a 9-1, 10-0 sweep of Eastern Randolph.
BASEBALL
Chance Howard and Derek Neal, Rosewood: Howard did not allow an earned run in two appearances in the 1A East final series while Neal was the only Eagles player to get two RBIs as the Eagles were swept by Whiteville 6-5 and 5-0.
Justin Bullock, South Granville: Bullock pitched six innings and struck out 12 in a no-decision in Game 1 of the 2A East final series, a 3-1 loss in eight innings. Bullock had two hits in a 5-0 Game 2 5-0 loss as Edenton Holmes swept the Vikings.
Camden Munise and Matt Willadsen, Holly Springs: Both pitchers went the complete game for the Golden Hawks in a 4A East final series loss to New Hanover. Willadsen went seven innings in a 1-0 loss in Game 2 and Munise pitched all six in a 2-0 loss in Game 1.
SOFTBALL
Megan White, South Granville: White homered twice against the Wildcats and had five RBIs for the series.
Jaden Hurdle, Olivia Ruff, Alisha Pettiford and Kristina Givens, Orange: Hurdle, Ruff and Pettiford each homered in the 3A East final series while Givens pitched every inning as the Panthers rallied from losing Game 1 8-5 to defeat West Brunswick with a 7-4 victory in Game 2 and a 5-1 win in Game 3.
Laine Barefoot and Chelsea Roberson, Louisburg: Both freshmen went 3-for-4 at the plate in a Game 1, 9-5 loss to Whiteville in the 1A East final series. Louisburg lost Game 2 9-4.
GIRLS SOCCER
Anu Kane and Alyssa Walawender, Corinth Holders: Walawender made a number of saves to shut out Terry Sanford in the 3A East final and keep the championship game close. Kane scored the only goal against Terry Sanford to win 1-0. The Pirates lost 1-0 in the state championship to Weddington.
Maggie Pierce, Cardinal Gibbons: Scored the only second half goal to force overtime in the 4A championship game against West Forsyth and hit the crossbar in overtime before the Crusaders fell 4-3.
Grace Nanney and Miah Araba, Carrboro: Nanney, the 2A title game MVP, made a number of saves early in the game that set the tone. Araba had a goal and assist in the 3-0 championship victory over West Stokes, and also dictated the game with possession.
Anna Krussow, Chloe Armitage and Kennedy Capps, Franklin Academy: Krussow, the 1A MVP, scored one goal and made one difficult pass after another to help spark the Patriots’ comeback effort. Down 3-0 at halftime, Franklin Academy forced overtime at 3-all before winning 4-3 on penalty kicks. Capps had her team’s first goal and Armitage had the game-tying goal with 33 seconds left.
This story was originally published May 30, 2017 at 10:44 AM with the headline "PrepsNow Best of the Week: Top players from around the area."