LAURINBURG — The Scotland girls soccer team wrapped up their home schedule on a high note Tuesday night, as the Scots cruised past East Columbus 9-0 in a game that was called early due to the mercy rule.
It was a night of celebration for head coach Abbi Giaier and her girls as Scotland honored eight seniors for their contributions to the program. Allison Hamlin, Kaitlin Lewis, Tiffany Cole, Lindsay Stone, Jahnita Melvin, Marlee Mercer, Breonne Johnson and Megan Davis will graduate in June, leaving an otherwise young team behind that has shown steady growth as the season has gone on.
“I’m very proud of them, fortunate enough to let them play, and we were fortunate enough to not have any of them injured this season so we were lucky to have them in,” Giaier said. “I’m just happy with what they girls have done. Last home game, it’s a great way to end it.”
Scotland had little trouble putting away visiting East Columbus (0-14), scoring three goals in the first half before running away with the contest in the final forty minutes. Lewis notched a hat trick in her final regular season home game, which included two first-half goals.
Hamlin, Stone and Johnson also tallied scores in their last home appearance, and they had help from some of the underclassmen. Emma Gray Beacham, Beatrice Eddy and Kara Gainey chipped in with goals to complete the Scots’ scoring onslaught.
Scotland (5-14, 1-8 Southeastern Conference) will wrap up the regular season with a road tilt tonight at Richmond Senior.
“It’s just one of those where it’d be great to go out with one more win and just have fun with it and just try our best,” Giaier said.
Scots softball loses to Lumberton
Plagued by inconsistency for most of the season, the Scotland softball team continued its unpredictable play Tuesday night against visiting Lumberton.
The Scots were shut out in a 1-0 loss by Pirate freshman pitcher Morgan Britt, who allowed just three hits in a masterful complete-game performance as Lumberton completed the season sweep of its fellow Southeastern Conference rival.
Scotland had chances to put runs on the board with runners in scoring position in the first and third innings, but otherwise, Britt held the Scots in check. It was a stark turnaround for a Pirates squad that allowed 17 runs to Richmond Senior in a 17-6 loss on Monday.
“Morgan Britt on the mound hit her spots and stayed ahead of batters, and our defense played maybe our first game all year long without an error,” said Lumberton head coach Mackie Register. “It feels good, they’re a good team, well-coached and everything so any time you get a win like that it’s big for your program.”
The loss was another agonizing defeat for a Scotland squad that has dropped several close games this season. Lumberton (13-8, 4-5) scored its only run in the top of the third inning when Madison Canady hit a pop fly that Scotland mishandled, which allowed London Thompson to reach home on the error.
“You mess around and when you look at our schedule we may have four or five losses, 2-1. 1-0, 6-5,” said Scotland head coach Patrick Williams.
Five seniors — Ashlyn Dial, Kelsey Smith, Cameron Sharpe, Debra Kyle and Kwadeja Quick — played their final regular season home game as Scotland (8-8, 2-6) will hit the road today and Thursday to play Hoke and Richmond respectively to wrap up the year.
Despite the Scots’ struggles, Williams said his seniors have stepped up to lead the team through adverse times.
“Having five seniors, each one has been phenomenal for the most part,” Williams said. “I listen to other coaches and stuff like that and they’ll say, ‘man, I’ll be glad when my seniors go.’ That has never crossed my mind regardless of the season is turning out and how things are turning out. I know they may be frustrated, but they come to work every day and they come with that blue collar attitude.”
Logan Martinez can be reached at 910-506-3170. Follow him on Twitter @L_ Martinez13.
