Hiwassee Dam – The Lady Eagles’ softball team earned a home game for the first round of the state 1A playoffs. However, South Stanly came in and won 9-2 on May 6.
After the game opened with two scoreless inning, the Lady Eagles were the first to get on the board. Their two runs were scored by Olivia Williams and Olivia McNabb. Brinkley Payne had an RBI that gave the Lady Eagles an early lead.
After a scoreless fourth inning, South Stanly scored their first run of the game to make it a one-run game in the fifth inning. In the sixth inning, they took the lead with two more runs. In the seventh inning, South Stanly added six more runs to pull away.
Brinkley Payne went 2/3 at the plate with two doubles and one RBI. Avery McNabb and Olivia McNabb both had stolen bases.
Olivia McNabb pitched a complete game for the Lady Eagles, giving up nine runs on 11 hits. She had four walks and three strikeouts in the loss. In the final start of her high school career, she threw 143 pitches.
For Olivia McNabb, Sky Taylor and Bella Stiles, it was their final game on home turf at Hiwassee Dam. Still, the Lady Eagles will have a strong group next season, as many of their core players are returning.
The Lady Eagles finished the season with a 9-8 overall record.
This season, Olivia McNabb led the team in batting average, on-base percentage, home runs, stolen bases, runs, hits, RBI, slugging percentage and extra base hits in her senior season. She also had a good year on the mound, ending the season with a 2.40 ERA.
The Lady Eagles will now look to next season with the hopes of another playoff run.