By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Western Alamance’s softball team will be in the Class 3-A state finals after taking care of business in the East Regional finals.
The Warriors swept the best-of-3 series with South Johnston, winning 2-0 in Thursday night’s Game 2 road assignment at Four Oaks.
Taylor Apple threw a one-hitter and also homered for Western (22-3).
Western (22-3) takes on East Lincoln or Rockingham County in the state finals. The West Regional finals has been extended too three games after East Lincoln won 1-0 in eight innings and Rockingham County responded to win 5-4.
The best-of-3 state finals will be held June 2-3 on the UNC Greensboro, Duke, or North Carolina State campus.
Apple struck out 14 batters and walked two as the Warriors posted their 10th consecutive shutout.
Ryan Justice tripled and scored in the first inning for Western. Apple’s home run in the sixth inning expanded the lead.
At the plate, Apple had two of Western’s five hits.
Western won Tuesday night’s Game 1 by 5-0 at home behind Apple’s perfect game from the pitching circle.
South Johnston’s final record is 24-3.
Girls’ soccer
At Mebane, Eastern Alamance turned back visiting Dixon by scoring three times in the first half in a 4-0 home victory in the Class 3-A fourth round.
The top-seeded Eagles (18-0-1) are aiming to return to the state final and they need one more victory to do so. They’ll take on second-seeded Jacksonville (24-0) in the East Regional title game Tuesday night at home.
Eastern’s goals were scored by Abby Brinker, Ainsley Dial, Molly Widderich and Audrey Hupman. Brinker and Widderich also had assists. Goalkeeper Karsyn Johnson was called upon for four saves.
Fourth-seeded Dixon finished with an 18-2-3 record.
