Entering the last two weekends of Region 10 softball, the Trojans were in a tie with Bryant & Stratton College for the final spot in the Region 10 Championship Tournament. With the rain outs and travel schedule, the Trojans were on the wrong side of a Region ruling that benefited Bryant & Stratton. They had to win 2 of 3 games to assure their advance to the tournament. Friday rain in Norfolk, VA washed away the first game and set up a scenario where the Trojans had to sweep the Sunday double-header.
The women were up for the task. In a hard fought game 1, they were able to prevail, 5-4. Solid pitching and clutch hitting helped to assure the win. The job was halfway accomplished.
In the second game, they had even more pressure. A second win would assure their spot, and they wanted that opportunity. They were able to capitalize on balls in play and good pitching to keep the pressure on the Bobcats. The women posted an 8-5 victory for the sweep. The win assured the post-season in the inaugural year for the Trojans.
In addition to the guaranteed spot, the team jumped two other teams to move in the #6 seed and a better draw for the tournament. In the final weekend, a few more wins will place them in an even better position. They played their best when it really mattered.
The Trojan men were not as fortunate. They welcomed the Baseball Bobcats to Trojan Field in a rain delayed weekend series. They were able to post good innings in all three games, but had tough innings where the ball just bounced the wrong way.
Saturday night the Trojans were solid through 6 innings, only to give up 4 runs in the 7th and lost 1-6 in the 9-inning game. Sophomore, Tamiris Palmer, was on track with 11 strike-out, but tired in the 7th and gave up 2 runs. Johnny Lowery came on in relief, but the offense could not rally to pull out a home win.
On Sunday, the sun was shining, and the team showed some great flashes of skill, but the errors in game 1, six of them, doomed the Trojans as they fell, 4-16 in 7 innings. The second game looked better as the Trojans matched the Bobcats with a run each in the 1st inning. That was just about all that went well and the Bobcats were able to put up runs each inning until the game ended, 2-12, in the 6th inning.
The home season ended for the Trojans and sophomore Tamiris Palmer, was recognized before the 2nd game and entered left field in the final inning to get a view of the field he has not seen all year.
It was a mixed weekend for the Trojans; one team winding down, while the other is just winding up. Still one weekend for home games. Join the Trojans for the fun!
Softball
Friday, May 3rd, Home v. Surry CC, 2 PM & 4 PM, Freedom Christian Academy
Saturday, May 4th, Home v. Surry CC, 11 AM & 2 PM, Freedom Christian Academy
Baseball
Saturday, May 4th, at Catawba Valley CC, 1 PM & 4 PM, Hickory, NC
Sunday, May 5th, at Catawba Valley CC, 12 PM, Hickory, NC
TBA
Region 10 D-II Softball Tournament, May 9-12, Burlington, NC