Croatan tops East Duplin in softball playoffs

 BROAD CREEK - Croatan made simple basic plays and it helped to blow past East Duplin 11-1 in six innings in the third round of the NCHSAA 2-A state playoffs on Wednesday.

Bunts and singles were important for the Cougars as batters got on base. Paige Williams attacked with the long ball with a 2-run home run for Croatan.

With a big lead, it took the pressure off of Whitney Hill. She only allowed only one run on six hits for the win, victory No. 18 of the season.

Williams went 2-for-3 with a home run and had three RBIs. Ashley Williams went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a double and Lauren Poole went 1-for-3 with a double for Croatan, the second seed from the East Central Conference.

Alexis Smith went 3-for-3 and Ashley Thigpen went 1-for-3 with an RBI for East Duplin.

Croatan will travel to Deep Run to face against East Central Conference foe South Lenoir Friday.

East Duplin was the fourth seed from the ECC.

East Duplin    000   100  -     1   6   3

Croatan        021   503  -   11   7   0

WP-Hill (18-7) 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K, 3 BB. LP-Amanda Price 4 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 6 K, 4 BB. LEADING HITTERS-Cro.: P. Williams 2-3, HR, 3 RBIs; A. Williams 1-2, RBI, 2B; Poole 1-3, 2B. ED: Smith 3-3; Thigpen 1-3, RBI. RECORDS-Cro.: 18-8, at South Lenoir Friday. ED: 17-7, season complete.