Greene Central gets walkoff win over Ayden-Grifton on Coach Jones' birthday
Greene Central’s Elexie Sutton runs out of the batter’s box after making contact with a pitch during Wednesday’s game against Ayden-Grifton. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News
SNOW HILL — Katelin Uzzell wasn’t going to let another opportunity go to waste.
Uzzell’s walkoff single gave Greene Central a thrilling 7-6 win over Ayden-Grifton Wednesday, forcing a tie for second place in the Eastern Carolina Conference. The Rams (7-2, 4-2) were in control for most of the game, but Uzzell’s shot down the third-base line one pitch after her foul ball was dropped clinched it.
“When I saw that happen, I knew I had a second chance to continue fighting and I’m glad that it worked out for us,” Uzzell said.
Greene Central opened up the scoring in the bottom of the second after an error on Madison Holloman’s bunt brought home Allison Wade, followed by Meredith Warren’s RBI single. Another error during Holloman’s at-bat in the third brought home another run, but the Chargers (8-4, 4-2) responded in the top of the fifth with a Mikayla Olejar RBI triple before Nora Fields’ two-run single an inning later to tie it up.
The Rams responded in the bottom of the sixth with RBI singles from Uzzell and Abby Burress sandwiched between an error on an Amber Speight grounder to go up 6-3, but the Chargers countered in the top of the seventh. After Olejar and Kristen Hardee led with singles, Kim Gurkins’ sacrifice fly and Taylor Bowen’s base knock brought Ayden-Grifton within one. The Chargers loaded the bases with one out, but after Laura Wade struck a batter out, Fields forced a full-count walk to tie the game at six before Wade picked up another strikeout.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Warren singled and Laura Wade followed up with a walk. Elexie Sutton advanced the runners with a grounder, setting up Uzzell’s heroics.
The win also took place on Greene Central coach Kim Jones’ birthday, ending it in triumphant fashion.
“This was really the icing on the cake,” Jones said. “We’ve had several games this year where we’ve been close and had to fight back, which is something the girls have done very well.”
Ayden-Grifton coach Casey Matthis said the team made a valiant effort to come back, but it fell short.
“We’ve had some slow starts on offense and I think it’s been because we’re trying to get into the rhythm of the pitches,” Matthis said. “Laura Grace (Wade) is a great pitcher and she has a lot of great movement — she’s one of the toughest we’ve faced all year. One thing I can say about this team is they’re giving 100 percent for all seven innings, which is all you can ask for as a coach.”
