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South Stanly’s softball team continued to progress towards the team’s goal of defending its state championship by claiming the 2023 Yadkin Valley Conference regular-season title.

However, the Bulls will be without one of the team’s top players at least for the initial rounds of the postseason. Cassie Swink, the 2023 YVC Player of the Year, suffered a leg injury and had surgery on it.

She did not play in the Bulls’ 12-1 five-inning win Friday versus Mount Pleasant in the YVC Tournament finals at South Stanly.

YVC Pitcher of the Year Mattie Poulos struck out seven and allowed one earned run on four hits to secure the win for South (21-3). The only run she allowed was a solo home run off the bat of Mount’s Caylin Herring in the top of the fifth.

Cassidy Smith led South with three hits and three RBIs, including a double, while Kinsley Tyson drove in three runs for the Bulls. Skylar Mauldin had two RBIs with freshmen Lily Coakley and Ashelyn Tucker each adding RBIs.

Regarding South’s offense in the game, Poulos said, “We were just ready to come out and get after it.

“We just talk about it from day one,” South head coach David Poplin said regarding injuries.

Poplin said his team has been fortunate this season, playing good teams.

“We’ve played well at times. It’s tough when you lose the Conference Player of the Year, but we go to work every day with a plan and a mission,” Poplin said.

South is ranked No. 1 in the 1A Western Region and will be at home Tuesday night in the opening round of the NCHSAA state playoffs.