By George Lawther: Special to The Pilot

The North Moore High School girls’ softball team easily defeated Albemarle High School in the first round of the state playoffs on Tuesday.

The game was played at Robbins, and the 10-run rule was enforced at the end of the fifth inning with the Mustangs leading by a score of 33-5.

The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning, scoring two runs, as the leadoff batter Edie Edwards was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a single by Jane Smith, and came home after Tina Russell flied out to right field. Smith then scored from third, after the catch, as Althea Gibson flied out to center field, giving Albemarle a 2-0 lead.

North Moore came back quickly in the bottom of the inning, however, to tie the score, as Heidi McNeill walked and stole second, Casey Wallace also walked, and then Kyla Craven tripled down the left field line to drive in two Mustang runs. The score was 2-2 at the end of the first inning.

Albemarle did not score in the top of the second inning.

In the bottom of the second the roof caved in for the Bulldogs. North Moore sent 23 batters to the plate, scoring 19 runs on 15 hits and seven bases on balls. The score at the end of the second inning was North Moore 21, Albemarle 2.

The Bulldogs added one run in the top of the third inning, as Smith led off with a triple to left field and then scored on an error. The Mustangs were unable to score in the third, and the score was 21-3 in North Moore’s favor.

Albemarle scored two more runs in the top of the fourth inning, as Alice Stevens walked, Betty Phillips was safe on an error, and both runners advanced on the overthrow. Then two runs scored for the Bulldogs, the first on a passed ball, and the second on an errant throw back to the plate.

However, the Mustangs got another “merry-go-round” rally going in the bottom of the fourth inning, sending 16 batters to the plate, and scoring 12 more runs on six hits and five walks. The score was 33-5 at the end of the fourth inning.

Albemarle did not score in the top of the fifth inning, and the 10-run rule was applied at that point.

“We came to play today,” Mustang coach Rodney Stewart said following the game. “I started substituting in the second inning, which may seem unusual for a playoff game, but I have a lot of confidence in those players on the bench.”

McNeill picked up her 18th win against four losses for the season, giving up only three hits, walking four and hitting one batter.

The Mustangs’ next opponent will be the winner of the contest between East Wilkes and West Davidson. The game will be played at North Moore on a date to be determined.

Correction: Because of an editor’s error in Monday’s story about the Mustangs, it was reported that North Moore tied for the championship of the Central Tar Heel 1-A Conference regular season. The Mustangs won the regular season title outright.

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