The Lady Rams rallied for three runs in the seventh inning Tuesday night to defeat West Bladen 5-3 in the opening round of the NCHSAA 3A Softball State Playoffs. The No. 17 seed Greene Central improved to 11-11 on the season and secured the program’s first playoff victory since 2019 and first road playoff win since 2009.
Goldsboro’s Caleb Larson and Greene Central’s doubles teams headline a strong showing from the area after the 2026 NCHSAA 3A East Regional, with five players advancing to the state championships.
North Lenoir’s postseason run came to an end Tuesday afternoon in one of the most tightly contested matches of the season, as First Flight escaped Bill Fay Park with a 5-4 victory in a dual team matchup that stretched more than three and a half hours and was ultimately decided by tiebreaks.
Behind a dominant shutout from Connor Sutton and a 12-hit offensive performance, Frink defeated Woodington Raiders 7-0 on Thursday at Woodington Middle School to secure its first conference championship in several years.
Despite navigating three different coaches in three years, the program has continued to thrive. Under head coach Stony Wine, this year’s eighth-grade group delivered a dominant finish, securing its third straight conference title while completing a second consecutive undefeated season.
We break down first-round matchups across NCHSAA softball and baseball, plus a big-time second-round showdown in the NCCSA playoffs. From teams getting hot at the right time to potential upsets and key players to watch, this episode is packed with everything you need to know heading into postseason play.
Greene Central’s JV baseball team made the most of its return, winning the conference championship in its first season back in over 10 years under head coach Colin Lee.
The Cavaliers capped an unbeaten conference run with a 3-1 win over Woodington at Woodington Middle School, securing their first conference championship since 2018.
Lenoir Community College’s 2026 baseball season hasn’t followed a straight line. It’s been a climb, a stumble, and ultimately a response — one that now includes a postseason berth.
At 27-20 overall and 25-16 in conference play, the Lancers have secured their spot in the postseason, riding a late surge that reflects both the strength of their lineup and the lessons learned during a difficult midseason stretch. Lenoir also has one regular season game remaining before turning its full attention to postseason play.
The numbers tell part of the story. The rest is how they got there.
Behind senior leaders Jamey Williams and Brayden Cash, the defending state champions opened the 2026 NCCSSA 2A playoffs with a gritty 6-5 win over Hilltop Christian on Friday — a game that tested both their composure and championship pedigree.
South Lenoir softball split with East Duplin in a tightly contested series, Greene Central dominated Beddingfield across the board, and East Duplin baseball edged South Lenoir while North Lenoir fell to Havelock midweek.
In Episode 9 of Down The Line, we take you through the latest softball and baseball updates, key wins and losses, and where each team stands heading into the postseason. From South Lenoir’s strong positioning to Greene Central snapping a losing streak, to North Lenoir building momentum at the right time — there’s a lot to unpack.
