Louisburg College softball won the Region X softball championship this weekend at Sheliah Cotten Field. Three other teams remained for double elimination play at the start of Friday's action including: Cleveland Community College, Catawba Valley, and Bryant & Stratton.

In game one the Hurricanes defeated Cleveland 8-0 in 6 innings.

Zoey Jones started in the circle for the Hurricanes. She went 4 innings giving up no runs, 3 hits, and striking out 4. Riley Lingerfelt came in to pitch the final 2 innings. She did not allow a base runner and struck out 4.

"I thought our pitchers did a really nice job of working ahead in the count and forcing Cleveland to hit in minus counts," said Coach Eric Lee.

1st baseman Darrah Nickens went 2-2 with a homerun, 2 walks, and 2 runs scored. Averie Ottaly also had a pair of hits to go with 2 RBI and a run scored.

The Hurricanes stole 8 bases in the contest, led by Ottaly, Edi Austin, and MacKenzy Angle with 2 each.

Coach Lee commented, "Cleveland's pitcher, Brooke Dover, attacked the outer half of the plate very well and it took us a few innings to adjust. Hat's off to her and the team for competing the way they did."

In game two the Hurricanes defeated Catawba Valley 9-2 in 7 innings.

Kennedy Byrd started game two in the circle and went 4 innings. She gave up 2 runs on 4 hits, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Riley Lingerfelt came in relief in the 5th and was once again lights out. She went 3 innings allowing 1 hit and striking out 3.

"[Kennedy] Roo [Byrd] had to bulldog her way through this one because she just didn't have her best stuff," said Coach Lee. "She is the most intense competitor on our team and managed to find a way to give her teammates a chance to win."

Nickens drove in a pair on a single in the opening frame. Iona Davis homered and reached base safely in 2 of her 3 plate appearances. Byrd hit her 32nd home run of the year. Other RBI in the contest were contributed by Taylor McQueen and Kylie Gilmour.

"Anytime we play Catawba Valley we know that they will give us their best shot. Our team was very effective in our approach to withstand the initial emotion that they play with," Coach Lee remarked.

In a championship game that was never in doubt, the Hurricanes defeated Catawba Valley 9-0 in 5 innings.

Zoey Jones got the win for the Hurricanes in the complete game shutout. She collected 4 strikeouts, allowing only one hit.

"I told Zoey when I recruited her that I brought her here for moments like these," said Coach Lee. "Today she showed up in a big way in the biggest game of our season so far."

Byrd opened the scoring with a 2-run shot in the bottom of the first–her 33rd of the year. McQueen was 2-3 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored including a 2-run homerun–her 25th of the year. Tucker added her 43rd homerun and 100th RBI of the campaign on an 0-2 count.

Coach Lee reflected, "To lose eight starting position players and our top two pitchers to graduation a year ago and still run the table in this region is an incredible testament to the resolve of these women. They committed from day one to a process and have accomplished more than I ever could have imagined and still have more goals within their reach."

The #2 Hurricanes travel to Leesburg, Florida to take on #20 Lake-Sumter State College this Friday for the South Atlantic District Championship Series. The first pitch of the three game series is at noon.