N&O spring sports rankings: Carrboro girls’ soccer, Princeton softball now No. 1

All that’s left of the high school sports season is the N.C. High School Athletic Association East final and state championships in baseball, softball and girls’ soccer.

It would be impossible to predict all the teams that remain standing.

Some, like No. 1s Green Hope baseball, Princeton softball and Carrboro girls’ soccer, were favorites if not favored to reach the final four stage.

But that doesn’t go for some teams in The News & Observer’s greater Triangle area rankings, like when No. 3 Middle Creek visits No. 2 Athens Drive in 4A girls’ soccer East final Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Those teams combined to top five other ranked squads over the last two weeks.

Corinth Holders baseball is also a surprise. Entering the playoffs as a No. 19 seed, the Pirates have managed to win four playoff games, three on the road.

South Granville, the defending 2A champs in softball and baseball, have their repeat hopes alive. Jordan-Matthews softball plays its fourth-round game Monday, at home against Washington, potentially setting up a 2A East final with South Granville, which would pit the last two 2A East champs against each another.

Franklin Academy girls’ soccer hosts Whiteville in Tuesday’s 1A East girls’ soccer final at 6 p.m., which is why the Patriots – whose only loss was 7-0 to Cary Academy – are in the top 15 this week.

This story was originally published May 22, 2016 at 10:20 PM with the headline "N&O spring sports rankings: Carrboro girls’ soccer, Princeton softball now No. 1."