Before their Friday home game with rival Camden was washed out by rain, the North Central softball team split their first two games of the season last week.

On Tuesday, the Lady Knights opened the campaign with a 9-3 loss to Region 4-AA and neighboring rival Andrew Jackson. Mike Grigsby’s girls got on the winning track two nights later in handing visiting McBee a 7-4 loss.

Against McBee, the visiting Lady Panthers scored four times in the fourth inning to account for all its runs.

The hostesses got things started in the first inning when Peyton Holley singled on a 0-2 count to drive in the game’s first run. 

NC tacked on three more runs in the second inning with Abby Outlaw and Ciara Black each driving in a run as the Lady Knights collected seven runs on as many hits in the first four innings.

Outlaw was inside the pitcher’s circle for North Central. She allowed five hits and four runs over three innings, striking out three while not issuing a walk. 

The Lady Knights tallied nine hits in the game with Holley and Outlaw each having a three-hit night.

Against AJ, North Central was unable to keep up with a potent Lady Volunteer offense.

The Lady Knights did all their scoring in the fifth inning, scoring all three of their runs. A single off the bat of Holley and a Black ground out accounted for the three runs.

Andrew Jackson scored three runs in the fourth inning. The offensive firepower by Andrew Jackson was led by Caroline, Abby, and Mackenzie, all driving in runs in the frame. 

Outlaw started the game for the Lady Knights and went all six innings while striking out two. She also led the way at the plate for the visitors with a pair of hits.

Beat Cancer with a Bat tournament to be played in Camden: After having fallen victim to the weather in February, the North Central softball program has rescheduled its annual Beat Cancer with a Bat softball tournament. The new date is Saturday, March 16 at the Larry Doby Sports Complex in Camden.

Admission for the tournament is $10 per person which includes full-day admittance for all 40 games. Proceeds from the tournament will be turned over to North Central High School’s Relay for Life team.

Here are the four divisions, their pools and game times. Cross-bracket games will follow pool play:

Hope Division (Field 2)

Schedule: 9 a.m.: McBee vs. Ben Lippen; 10:45 a.m.: Saluda vs. Lee Central

Fighter Division (Field 4)

Schedule:  9 a.m. – Richland Northeast vs. Lamar; 10:45 a.m. - Mid-Carolina vs. Andrew Jackson

Brave Division (Field 1)

Schedule: 9 a.m.: North Central vs. Columbia; 10:45 a.m. – Thomas Sumter Academy vs. Columbia; 12:30 p.m. – North Central vs. Thomas Sumter Academy

Warrior Division (Field 3)

Schedule: 9 a.m. – Camden vs. Ridge View; 10:45 a.m. – Swansea vs. Lakewood