West Stanly seeks fifth softball state crown, faces Washington Pam Pack

Published 6:34 pm Friday, June 3, 2022

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There has not been a three-peat softball state champion in the NCHSAA since East Surry won four 1A titles from 2007-2011. The last 2A school to win three consecutive titles was Central Davidson from 2007-2009.

West Stanly has the chance this weekend to earn its third straight softball crown, taking on the Washington Pam Pack starting at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Colts seek the school’s fifth overall fast-pitch softball state championship. West won the 1A/2A title in 1997 and have 2A crowns in 2013, 2019 and 2021. Alexander Central and East Surry have both won six fast-pitch titles in their school history. A win for West would tie them for second overall in terms of titles won with South Granville.

Washington head coach Brad Horton said the team’s four seniors, Olivia Pazst, Laci Campbell, Morgan Eisenzimmer and Abby Gardner, “have really been able to keep this group together and make a real cohesive group.”

Horton, who has been with the team as a coach for six years, the past two as head coach, said jokingly he was not sure who the team had angered after seeing the tough playoff match-ups the team had this season. The Pam Pack beat Jordan-Matthews 10-0 in the first round, then topped Bunn 7-1. Washington then needed nine innings to beat South Columbus, 1-0, then eliminated last year’s 1A state champs, Camden County, who moved up in classification in the recent realignment. Washington then swept South Lenoir in the Regional Finals, 4-0 and 2-0.

South Columbus, Horton said, had a “Div. I pitcher” which he added helped his team to grow.

Washington starts a freshman in the circle, Emma Orr, who Horton said, “has been steady the whole season for us, which is probably our biggest surprise.”

Offensively, the Pam Pack is led by Campbell (.554 avg., 32 RBI) and Eisenzimmer (.436 avg., 33 RBIs).

Video for the game on the NFHS Network can be accessed at the following link: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/nchsaa/gam7ad414118f  .

About Charles Curcio

Charles Curcio has served as the sports editor of the Stanly News & Press for more than 16 years and has written numerous news and feature storeis as well. He was awarded the NCHSAA Tim Stevens Media Representative of the Year and named CNHI Sports Editor of the Year in 2014. He has also won an award from Boone Newspapers, and has won four North Carolina Press Association awards.

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