North Lenoir powers past Wallace-Rose Hill 11-1, gears up for pivotal East Central 2A showdown
Wheat Swamp — North Lenoir continues to look the part of a championship contender.
The Hawks (10-2 overall, 6-1 East Central 2A) used a dominant all-around effort to run past Wallace-Rose Hill (3-9, 2-5 ECC) in a five-inning, 11-1 victory Tuesday night. North Lenoir scored in every inning, backed by a strong defensive showing and quality work in the circle from both Hallie Fowler and Maddie Rouse.
“We did the things we had to do,” head coach Colby Miller said. “We scored every inning, made the plays we had to make. Both of them pitched a great game, did the things I asked of them — which was throw strikes. Defense worked, and you can’t ask more than that.”
After Wallace-Rose Hill opened the scoring in the first inning, North Lenoir responded immediately with a three-run bottom half. Hallie Fowler tied the game with an RBI groundout, Alyssa Hatcher roped a triple to left, and Jayla Ross added a single to center to drive in another.
In the second, Lakyn Whitley and Rouse delivered back-to-back doubles, and Hatcher tacked on her second RBI hit to extend the lead to 6-1. Rouse blew the game open in the third with a two-run triple, and Fowler followed with a double to cap a three-run frame. Two more runs in the fourth and a scoreless fifth by Rouse closed the book.
“I made the adjustments I needed to make from the first at-bat,” Rouse said. “They threw me inside and I got jammed a little bit. Backed off the plate and found the barrel after that.”
Rouse, who leads the team in nearly every major offensive category, finished 2-for-3 with a double, triple, and three RBIs. Through 12 games, the senior is batting .559 with six doubles, three triples, three home runs, 22 RBIs and a staggering 1.987 OPS.
Hatcher, one of North Lenoir’s most consistent bats, went 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs. She raised her season average to .526 with 10 hits, three triples, and eight RBIs. Ross, who chipped in another RBI, holds a .429 average with 12 hits and 16 RBIs.
Whitley reached base all four times at the plate, walking three times, scoring three runs, and adding two stolen bases. She enters the final stretch of the season with a .545 average, .643 on-base percentage, and 16 RBIs. Her four triples are tied for the team lead.
Fowler earned the win in the circle, tossing three innings and allowing just two hits and one earned run. Rouse took over in the fourth and fifth, striking out three while allowing no hits or runs.
“It was good just knowing you got a good defense behind you,” Fowler said. “I think we are doing good. Think as long as we stay connected and work together we will be fine.”
Fowler, a junior, now holds a 2-1 record with a 3.04 ERA, striking out 21 and walking 20 across 27.2 innings. Rouse, meanwhile, improved to 5-1 with a 1.47 ERA and 47 strikeouts over 33.1 innings of work.
As a team, North Lenoir drew eight walks, stole six bases, and played clean defensively—committing zero errors and turning a double play.
Now the Hawks turn their focus to East Duplin (8-5, 7-1 ECC), who currently sits atop the conference standings. North Lenoir and South Lenoir (7-4, 5-1 ECC) are both tied in the loss column, and with the top three teams trading head-to-head wins, the East Central 2A championship race is wide open.
Two weeks ago, South Lenoir defeated North Lenoir. East Duplin beat South Lenoir last week. Earlier in the season, South Lenoir knocked off East Duplin in a 3-2 game. Though the standings don’t show a literal three-way tie due to the number of games played, the race remains deadlocked with critical matchups still to be played.
“It’s time to get prepared,” Miller said. “Show up tomorrow ready to practice. I need 100 percent out of the girls every day. And like I told you at the beginning of the season — roll the balls out and let’s see what happens, as long as we play the right way.”
North Lenoir will travel to East Duplin on Monday, April 15, and host the Panthers two days later on Wednesday, April 17. Both games could carry conference title implications, and with momentum building, the Hawks are well-positioned for the stretch run.
