The West Stanly softball team, the top seeds in the Western Region, got another solid pitching performance from starter Jordan Hatch to improve to 21-0 on the season with a 2-0 win Tuesday night over No. 32 West Iredell in the opening round of the state 2A playoffs.

Hatch struck out 16 batters with no walks allowing just one hit in the win for West.

The Colts managed six hits in the game, including two each from Kailey Furr and Rosalyn McRae.

Furr reached on a bunt single and later scored on an error in the bottom of the first giving the Colts an early one-run lead.

Madison Harwood added the other run of the game for the Colts on a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning for West Stanly.

The Colts will host either No. 16 Mountain Heritage Cougars or No. 17 West Stokes Wildcats on Friday night in the second round of the state playoffs. Tuesday’s game between the Cougars and the Wildcats was rained out and was scheduled to be played Wednesday evening.

Sports Editor Charles Curcio can be reached by email at charles.curcio@stanlynewspress. com, 704-983-1361 or by Twitter (@charles_curcio).