Tar River Softball’s three all-star teams made respectable showings in the Tar Heel Leagues Inc. State Softball Tournament over the weekend in Benson.
The 8U, 12U and 16U squads combined for six wins and six losses in the double-elimination event. Each of them went 2-2 and made it to the third day of competition.
“The teams seemed to enjoy themselves and were extremely competitive,” said Alex Langley, Athletics Division Supervisor of the Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation Department. “All of them had an excellent chance at making the state championship game had a few things gone in their favor, including the weather. Several teams had to drive back and forth to complete games.”
Members of the 8U all-star team for the tournament were Ava Hudgins, Lyllian Langley, Essence Adams, Taytum Mills, Lila Murray, Aubri Macklin, Jayden Jenkins, Addison Melvin, Peyton Marshall, Chandler Sykes, Taylor Richardson and Kinsley Strickland. They were coached by Brooke Sykes, Terrell Hudgins, Luke Murray and Cody Melvin.
Members of the 12U all-star team for the tournament were Emily Pate, Semajah West, Laci Warren, Ellee Gorman, Peyton Hagans, Genay Bobbit, Zakhiyah Morgan, Ava Kelly, Carolina Bulluck, Averi Ingram and Mayah Battle. They were coached by Dana Kelly, John Michael Kelly and Jimmy Pate.
Members of the 16U all-star team for the tournament were Leanna Gorman, Erica Jones, Ta’miya Keifer, Claire Keeter, Sommer Turner, Hailey Mackey, Savannah Phillips, Bailey Ingram, Jordyn Harvin, Jessica Sessoms, Katie Bulluck and Jenna Antil. They were coached by Brigiette Small, Jaz Wiggins and Cecilia Thorpe.
8UGame One
Tar River 15, Laurinburg 3
Tar River scored five runs in each of the first three innings to cruise to an opening-round victory in the state tournament.
The team racked up 21 hits with all players getting at least one hit and nine players getting multiple hits.
Leading hitters were Chandler Sykes (2-for-2, run, RBI), Aubri Macklin (2-for-2, two runs, 3 RBI), Peyton Marshall (2-for-2, two runs, RBI), Addison Melvin (2-for-2, 2 RBI) and Kinsley Strickland (1-1, R, 2 RBI).
Game Two
Shelby 5, Tar River 3
Trailing 3-2 entering the final inning, Shelby rallied to score three runs to defeat Tar River in a second-round winners bracket game. Shelby got on the board in first inning and Tar River responded with two runs of its own. After Shelby tied to score at 2-all, Tar River responded with another run in the bottom of the third inning. Those were last runs scored until Shelby’s last-inning rally to steal the victory.
Leading hitters for Tar River were Taylor Richardson (3-for-3, two runs), Lila Murray (2-for-3, run) and Addison Melvin (2-for-2).
Game Three
(Consolation bracket)
Tar River 10, Camden 7
Tar River rallied in the sixth inning to tie the game at 7-all. After the defense held, during the extra frame, Lyllian Langley got on base to lead off the inning and eventually scored the go-ahead run. Tar River plated two more insurance runs and held Camden to no runs in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory.
Tar River led 5-2 after the first inning before surrendering five runs in the third to fall behind 7-5. They scored one run in the fifth to make it 7-6 and set the stage for the dramatic late-inning victory.
Game Four
(Consolation bracket)
Cleveland 8, Tar River 7
In another dramatic ending, Tar River came up short as Cleveland scored four runs in the last inning to secure the victory and eliminate Tar River from the double-elimination format tournament.
Tar River plated runs in every inning except the sixth to take a 7-4 advantage heading into the bottom of the inning.
Cleveland’s five hits compounded with an error spearheaded them to the walk-off win. Leading hitters for Tar River were Lila Murray (3-for-3, run, RBI), Peyton Marshall (2-for-3, run, 3 RBI), and Aubri Macklin (2-for-3, RBI).
12UGame One
Western Harnett 10 Tar River 7
Tar River and Western Harnett battled to a 6-6 tie through three innings before being suspended by rain on Thursday evening (July 18). When play resumed, Western Harnett outscored Tar River 4-1 the rest of the way to secure the victory in the opener of the Tar Heel Leagues Inc State Tournament.
Game Two
(Consolation bracket)
Tar River 12 Williamston 1
Tar River scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back en route to a 12-1 victory.
Caroline Bulluck went the distance in the circle, allowing one run and only three hits with eight strikeouts.
Averi Ingram led the way at the plate (2-for-3, run, 2 RBI).
Game Three
(Consolation bracket)
Tar River 4, Foothills 2
Tied at 2 heading into the fifth inning, Tar River scored two runs and held on for the victory to avoid elimination for the second straight game.
While the team was only able to get one hit (Emily Pate), they did coax the Foothills pitcher into five free passes which led to the four runs.
Averi Ingram had an RBI for Tar River, while Peyton Hagans went the distance on the mound by allowing only one run on three hits while recording five strikeouts.
Game Four
(Consolation bracket)
Western Harnett 17, Tar River 11
Western Harnett, the team that knocked Tar River into the consolation bracket with a first-round win, ended the season for the local all-stars with a high-scoring victory in the second round of consolation bracket play on Saturday.
16UGame One
Roanoke Valley 9 Tar River 1
Roanoke Valley scored four runs in the first inning and their pitching kept Tar River at bay in the first-round victory.
Tar River’s fielding woes (five errors) did not help the cause as well.
Tar River was out hit 12-6 in the game. Leading hitters for Tar River were Katie Bulluck (3-3, run) and Savannah Phillips (1-for-3, RBI).
Game Two
(Consolation bracket)
Tar River 17 Johnston County 0
Tar River scored multiple runs in the first three innings (seven runs, three runs and eight runs, respectively) to make short work of Johnston County.
The team combined for 10 total hits led by Savannah Phillips (2-for-3, two runs, 3 RBI), Katie Bulluck (1-for-2, two runs, 4 RBI with an inside-the-park home run in the first inning) and Erica Jones (1-for-3, run, 3 RBI).
Game Three
(Consolation bracket)
Tar River 20, Cashie 2
Sommer Turner (3-for-5, two runs, 5 RBI) served as the offensive catalyst in the win over Cashie for Tar River as it avoided elimination for the second straight contest.
In a game suspended due to weather on Friday (July 19) after five innings, Tar River came back the next day to score two in the sixth and 10 in the seventh to move on in the state tournament.
Katie Bulluck, Savannah Phillips and Hailey Mackey each contributed two hits and RBIs in the victory.
Jenna Antil got the victory on the mound, going five innings and surrendering only three hits and two runs.
Game Four
(Consolation bracket)
Western Harnett 7 Tar River 5
Training 7-0 heading into the bottom half of the third frame, Tar River chipped away by scoring one run in each of the final five innings, but it was not enough to dig their way out of the early hole.
Tar River could only salvage four hits on the day with two of those coming from the bat of Sommer Turner (2-for-4, run) and one each from Jenna Antil and Jordyn Harvin. Savannah Phillips and Leanna Gorman contributed RBI on the day.
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