Lady Spartans 5-4

South Caldwell thought its softball season was over last week. Tuesday in Morganton, the end came for real.

The Spartans fell 5-4 to Freedom in the first round of the North Carolina 4-A playoffs, only a few days after South realized it had at least one more game in its future. The Patriots built up a three run lead early, then staved off South's late comeback attempt to advance.

Freedom scored twice in the first and twice in the third to take a 4-1 lead. South bounced back in the top of the fifth, scoring two runs on Kayla Gross' hit to center field, then one more on a Matison Hall RBI.

The Spartans had a chance to prolong their season in the seventh inning. Still down by one run, Gross picked up a bloop single and Hall drew a full-count walk. With two on and two outs, however, Freedom shortstop Ashley Harrell threw out South's Kristin Lackey to effectively end the Spartan season.

“She lets that ball go by, and we're still playing,” Freedom coach Thad Fox said.

Megan Waters led Freedom in the win, going 2-for-4 with two steals and a run.

Gross paced the Spartan offense, going 3-for-4 with a double, two single and two runs batted in. She has been named to the Northwestern 4-A all-conference team.

“Gross has done that all season,” South Caldwell coach Moira Brookshire said. “She gets things started.”

South's Kasey Hatley pitched admirably in the loss. She went six and two-thirds innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out two.

The Spartans closed out the season 8-15.

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