East Bladen Softball Tops Trask Again in Conference Showdown

East Bladen Team Photo.

Elizabethtown, NC - The East Bladen Eagles are finding their rhythm at just the right time. On Friday night, they picked up their third straight win—another Waccamaw Conference thriller—by defeating Trask 7-5.

The victory, which followed a narrow 6-5 win over the same team on Tuesday, improves East Bladen to 4-5 overall and 3-4 in conference play.

Catcher Martha Simmons delivered in every facet of the game, leading her team with a perfect night at the plate. Simmons went 4-for-4, scored twice, and drove in two runs—including an electric inside-the-park home run that gave the Eagles the lead for good in the sixth inning.

Her hustle behind the plate anchored the defense, and she finished the night by securing the final out on a gutsy catch near home.

The game started with Trask jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, capitalizing on an error and a well-placed single. But East Bladen answered quickly in the second. Mollie Tolar reached base and scored on a defensive miscue, followed by an RBI from Zoie Durden that tied the game at 2-2.

In the third, the Eagles took control. After Simmons reached base, Niyah Wooten stepped up and crushed a two-run home run over the center field wall, giving East Bladen a 4-2 advantage. Wooten finished with two hits and two RBIs, adding another strong performance to her season.

Trask fought back with runs in the third and fifth innings, briefly reclaiming the lead at 5-4. But East Bladen showed poise and resilience. Tolar, who had two hits and scored twice, crossed home again in the sixth to tie the game.

Moments later, Gracie Clark—who had already driven in a key run—scored on Simmons’ inside-the-park blast, putting the Eagles on top 7-5.

Clark made the most of her opportunities, going 1-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI. Gabriella Bray also chipped in with an RBI, and Taylor Dowless, Jenna Brice, and Gracie Edwards each added a hit. Edwards also drew a walk, helping set the table for the middle of the lineup.

In the pitcher’s circle, Jenna Brice went the distance. She pitched all seven innings, allowing eleven hits and five runs—but only one was earned. Brice struck out three and walked three, keeping her team in the game even as the defense faced pressure.

Tatum Allen and Addison Douglas contributed in the lineup as well, playing their roles in a total team effort.

After the game, Head Coach Nathan Dowless couldn’t help but laugh at his team’s flair for the dramatic.

“Man, if we keep having games like this, I won’t make it to social security age at all,” he joked. “They are drama queens. They love the drama, the close games,” he said laughing, clearly proud of their fight.

East Bladen will look to keep the streak alive on Monday when they host county rival West Bladen (6-5) in a non-conference matchup.

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East Bladen Softball Tops Trask Again in Conference Showdown