LAURINBURG — The Lady Scots softball team had two players named to the all-Sandhills Athletic Conference team over the weekend.

The all-conference selections are not allowed to be released until all teams have completed their seasons. Jack Britt played for the 4A state title, and won, and league officials were finally permitted to announce names of the All-SAC-8 players.

Seniors Katie Lighthall and Macie Gibson repeated for the Lady Scots as the team’s two representatives. Lighthall finished her senior campaign with a team-best .565 batting average and four home runs. The Belmont Abbey commit also paced the team with 26 RBIs and 35 hits and eight doubles. When not in the batter’s box, Lighthall served as the Lady Scots short stop.

Gibson moved from center field to third base for her final season. The Lenoir-Rhyne commit had the second highest batting average hitting .465 with 33 hits and eight RBIs. Gibson was primarily a slap-hitter, but did connect for one triple this season.

The Lady Scots finished the season 9-10 overall and 5-9 in the Sandhills Athletic Conference for sixth out of eight teams. The team lost in the first round of the conference tournament to Purnell Swett, 4-1 and did not earn a bid to the 4A state playoffs.

Richmond’s Greyson Way scored conference Player of the Year honors, and Jack Britt head coach Sebrina Wilson was tabbed as the SAC-8 Coach of the Year.

The Lady Raiders led the SAC-8 schools with five all-conference selections, including Way — Owen Bowers, Savannah Lampley, Brianna Bayseck and Paige Ransom.

Richmond which was 24-5 overall and 14-0 in league play, advanced to the regional finals of the state playoffs. The No. 1 seeded Lady Raiders lost back-to-back games to No. 2 South Caldwell, 2-3, 9-10 in a best-of-three series to end their season.

Conference newcomer Jack Britt (25-6, 10-4) finished second in the conference and earned four all-conference selections — Carlie Myrtle, Rayven Shepard, Savannah Roddey and Kassidy Hardee.

The Lady Buccaneers played South Caldwell in the 4A state championship over the weekend in a best-of-three series. Jack Britt won the first game, 3-2 before getting shut out in game two, 3-0. In game three, Jack Britt rallied to knock off South Caldwell 6-3 for the program’s first state title.

Purnell Swett also had four players selected. The Lady Rams are represented by JaiLena Deese, Madison Strickland, Kaitlyn Hunt and Magan Barton after finishing third in the SAC-8 standings with an 16-8 overall record and 9-5 mark in league play. Purnell Swett advanced to the second round of the playoffs before losing to Mooresville, 6-2.

Alexis Blackwell and Jessica Cardona were selected to represent Hoke County. The Lady Bucks posted a 16-9 overall record and 8-6 in conference play to tie with Lumberton. Hoke County advanced to the 4A playoffs falling to Fuquay-Varina, 10-0.

Despite finishing in a tie for fourth, Lumberton had four players earn all-conference honors. The Lady Pirates are represented by Madison Canady, Kasey West, Lee Ann Nobles and Erin Maynor.

Lumberton had a 16-10 overall record and an 8-6 mark in league action. The Lady Pirates also advanced to the second round of the state playoffs behind falling to South Central, 6-5.

Pinecrest and Seventy-First each had one player chosen for the all-conference team. Katelyn Chisholm represented the Lady Patriots while Unique Nash represented the Lady Falcons.

Pinecrest finished the season 3-17 overall and posted a 2-12 conference mark while Seventy-First went 1-16 and 0-14 in SAC-8 play.

Amber Hatten-Staley can be reached at 910-506-3170 or [email protected].

Amber Hatten-Staley | Laurinburg Exchange Lady Scots senior Katie Lighthall earned her second all-conference nod as one of two members from Scotland to be selected to the All SAC-8 team. The announcement was made Sunday after Jack Britt won the 4A state title.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_IMG_7507.jpgAmber Hatten-Staley | Laurinburg Exchange Lady Scots senior Katie Lighthall earned her second all-conference nod as one of two members from Scotland to be selected to the All SAC-8 team. The announcement was made Sunday after Jack Britt won the 4A state title.

Amber Hatten-Staley | Laurinburg Exchange Lady Scots senior Macie Gibson earned her second all-conference nomination. The league announced the All-SAC-8 selections after Jack Britt won the 4A state title on Sunday.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_IMG_1355.jpgAmber Hatten-Staley | Laurinburg Exchange Lady Scots senior Macie Gibson earned her second all-conference nomination. The league announced the All-SAC-8 selections after Jack Britt won the 4A state title on Sunday.
Scotland lands two all-conference nods

By Amber Hatten-Staley

Sports editor

2018 All-Sandhills Athletic Conference softball team:

Richmond – Owen Bowers, Savannah Lampley, Brianna Baysek, Paige Ransom, Greyson Way

Jack Britt – Carlie Myrtle, Rayven Shepard, Savannah Roddey, Kassidy Hardee

Purnell Swett – JaiLena Deese, Madison Strickland, Kaitlyn Hunt, Magan Barton

Hoke County – Alexis Blackwell, Jessica Cardona

Lumberton – Madison Canady, Kasey West, Lee Ann Nobles, Erin Maynor

Scotland – Katie Lighthall, Macie Gibson

Pinecrest – Katelyn Chisholm

Seventy-First – Unique Nash

Player of the Year – Greyson Way, Richmond

Coach of the Year – Sebrina Wilson, Jack Britt