By George Lawther: Special to The Pilot

Despite losing in the finals of the conference tournament, North Moore girls’ softball team continues a magic season.

Picked to finish fifth in the Central Tar Heel 1-A Conference in preseason predictions, the Mustangs roared their way through the regular season, losing just one conference clash on its way to a tie for first place in the final standings.

Graham High School spoiled the Mustangs conference undefeated bid by beating North Moore in the next-to-last game of the season, earning a regular-season championship split. Graham played the spoiler once again Thursday when it beat North Moore 10-2 in the finals of the conference tournament played at Jordan-Matthews High School.

Mustang coach Rodney Stewart had no excuses for his team’s loss in the finals.

“They just flat out beat us,” Stewart said after the game. “They hit well, they fielded well, and their pitcher did a great job for them.”

The Mustangs record for the season fell to 19-5 (10-2 conference) with the loss, but the Mustangs still get a first round home game in the state playoffs. The opponent will be Albemarle in a 6 p.m. game slated for North Moore on Tuesday.

The Devils used three second-inning runs to take a lead they never relinquished in the conference final.

Neither team could score in the first inning, but Graham broke through with three runs in the top of the second, as Lindsay Boger singled, Stephanie Rudd was safe on an error, and Alicia Carden doubled to left field to score Boger. Rudd then scored on a ground out to third. Jessica Crisp walked, and was thrown out stealing second, but Carden scored from third on the play.

North Moore went down in order, and the Devils led 3-0 after two innings had been played.

Neither team scored in the third inning, although both teams left runners on base.

Graham added three more runs in the top of the fourth inning, as Thompson walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Crisp singled to left field, and stole second. Sara Manuel doubled to left center field driving in two runs, and Lauren Smith followed with another double to score Manuel.

The Mustangs finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning. Heidi McNeill singled to right field. Casey Wallace bunted and was safe at first on an error, as McNeill went to third on the overthrow. Holly Montjoy then hit a double down the left field line to drive in the only two Mustang runs. The score at the end of four innings was Graham 6, North Moore 2.

The Devils added three runs in the sixth inning and one in the seventh, but the added insurance runs were not needed as the Mustangs were unable to score again, and Graham won by a score of 10-2. Erin Boger allowed six hits in the seven innings, striking out eight Mustang batters and walking none in winning for the second time this season against North Moore.

McNeill took the loss for the Mustangs, and her record is now 17-4 for the season.

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