LAURINBURG — The Sandhills Athletic Conference has been eliminated from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4A state baseball playoffs following second-round action.
No. 4 Pinecrest lost to No. 13 West Forsyth on Friday, at home, 5-4 to end the Patriots season. No. 13 Richmond lost their bid for the state title in Kernersville with a 5-2 loss to No. 2 East Forsyth.
The SAC-8 began the playoffs with four teams but Scotland and Jack Britt were knocked out in their postseason openers while Richmond picked up a win and Pinecrest enjoyed a first-round bye.
The No. 19 Fighting Scots lost 11-1 in six innings to No. 14 South Mecklenburg while No. 11 Jack Britt lost to No. 22 Riverside-Durham, 6-2.
The third round of the NCHSAA playoffs begins today and the regional semi-finals will be held on Friday, May 18. The regional finals will be held on May 22 and the state championship will take place on June 1.
4A baseball third round pairings
East
No. 17 Middle Creek vs. No. 9 Fuquay-Varina
No. 12 Sanderson vs. No. 4 Jordan
No. 14 Garner vs. No. 6 New Bern
No. 7 Pine Forest vs. No. 15 Apex
West
No. 1 Providence vs. No. 8 Ardrey Kell
No. 5 South Caldwell vs. No. 13 West Forsyth
No. 14 South Mecklenburg vs. No. 11 Reagan
No. 10 Hickory Ridge vs. No. 2 East Forsyth
Amber Hatten-Staley can be reached at 910-506-3170 or [email protected].