Laney Softball Team Advances Behind Wildeboer's Stellar Play

Lacey Wildeboer came into Friday night's state tourney game thinking, "We gotta win."

She certainly did her best to make sure the Laney season didn't end as she pitched a complete game four hitter, while collecting four hits herself in four trips to the plate, as the Bucs won their second round NCHSAA playoff game Friday night 9-2 over Greenville Rose.

The Bucs, now 3-0 over the Rampants this season, are onto round three Tuesday night; they will play at Middle Creek (21-2), with first pitch slated for 6 pm.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning against Rose, Laney scored single runs in the second, third, and fourth innings. Rose plated a run in the top of the fifth, but up 3-2, the Bucs blew the game open with four runs in the bottom of the frame.

Tori Sewell's (2 for 4) two RBI single in the sixth all but iced the game for Laney.

Buc skipper Jim Fisk said of his ace pitcher, "She was her normal, very good self. She kept hitters off-balance; there were only a few hard hit balls all game." Wildeboer, while allowing just four hits, fanned eight Rampant batters and improved her record to 15-2.

Coach Fisk said of their third round clash with Middle Creek, "It should be a barn burner, we're going to have to play good smart error-free ball." The Bucs have now outscored their opponent 43-3 in their last five games.

Wildeboer will pitch again on Tuesday and said about starting big games, "I love it."

-- Jesse Jones, CAPE FEAR SPORTS REPORT