East Surry softball picked up the pace Friday in the cold, defeating host Mount Airy 12-1 behind a balanced offensive performance.

The Granite Bears had a tough time with Cardinal ace Hayley Shelton, who finished with 11 strikeouts and gave up just four hits.

After giving up five runs because of errors on Thursday to Forbush, East Surry coach Derrick Hill was much happier with Friday’s effort.

“After the way we played yesterday, we told the kids they needed to play this game hard and they took it heart,” Hill said.

East’s Courtney Simmons scored three runs, picked up two walks, a triple and an RBI from the leadoff spot, while fellow senior Paige Honeycutt finished two for four and reached base all four times she stepped to the plate.

Jenna Pruitt and Hannah Merritt also came up big for the Cards, with each finishing two for four with three RBI.

The Cardinals came out strong, picking up three first inning runs, two of which came during a two-out rally.

The Cardinals put up two more runs in the second to set up a comfortable early cushion.

Hill said his teams hitting throughout the lineup was key to the win.

We hit it well from top to bottom and that’s what we are looking for,” Hill said. “If we do that we are going to be in business. We had kids at the bottom of the line up tonight contributing to our scoring an that is big for us.”

East will host South Stokes Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. while Mount Airy will travel to North Stokes.

EAST SURRY 12,

MOUNT AIRY 1

East Surry — 3 2 0 2 2 3 x — 12 2 12

Mount Airy — 0 0 0 0 1 x — 4 6 1



WP - Hayley Shelton ; LP - Courtney Wagoner

2B: ES — Julie Bullington, Courtney Reid; MA — Courtney Wagoner

3B: ES —Courtney Simmons