'Just keep grinding': How South View softball uses U8 title momentum for playoff push
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Just days removed from winning their first conference tournament title in 20 years, South View handled business in the opening round of the NCHSAA 4A East playoffs, defeating Hoggard 4-0.
The Tigers' shutout win was powered by junior Duke commit Jordynn Parnell's 14 strikeouts, two runs driven in by Kaylie Cook, and one from Savanna Hardee.
The first-round win brought the Tigers their fifth straight victory and their seventh of the last nine, including their United 8 conference tournament win over Gray's Creek last Friday.
In those last nine games, South View lost to Purnell Swett nearly a month ago, which head coach Phil Dean classified as a "disappointing loss" because it took the Tigers out of the running for the regular season conference championship.
"You set a goal to win the conference first, then you want to win the conference championship," Dean said.
And after that loss, South View was forced to take a long look in the mirror and step up to focus on the things outside of their offense if they hoped to win the tournament and go for a deep 4A East playoff push.
"We kind of just buckled down and have been focusing more on defense. We haven't changed our approach at the plate, but we're just working harder on the defensive side. It's all about reps. Reps, reps, reps," Dean spoke adamantly.
Since that loss, aside from dropping their game to Cape Fear in the regular season, the Tigers haven't allowed more than two runs over six of their last seven games.
"We just have to keep grinding — we have to keep working," Coach Dean said. "We've been putting together good defensive ball games and got some timely hits."
No. 13 South View will travel to Greenville to face No. 4 D.H. Conley in the second round of the 4A East playoffs. The first pitch will likely be 6 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: NC South View high school softball pushing for deep playoff run
