NCISAA Rewind: Providence Day baseball, Charlotte Christian softball move to state finals
Providence Day’s baseball team and Charlotte Christian’s softball team were among Charlotte-area schools to advance to N.C. Independent Schools championship events later this week.
Providence Day (21-8) beat Covenant Day 5-0 Tuesday in the 4A baseball semifinals.
The Chargers, who last won the state title in 1998, will play either High Point Wesleyan or Charlotte Christian in a best-of-3 championship series scheduled to begin Friday.
Charlotte Christian’s softball team beat North Raleigh Christian 3-0 to advance in 4A. The Knights will play Cannon School, which beat Providence Day 3-0 in the other semifinal, in the best-of-3 series that begins Friday.
▪ Bo Ziegler pitched a four-hit shutout in Providence Day’s baseball victory. He helped himself at the plate, smacking two doubles and driving in a run.
In the other semifinal, Charlotte Christian will have an uphill battle if it hopes to have a chance to defend its 4A state championship. The Knights were trailing High Point Wesleyan 7-1 in the top of the sixth inning when a thunderstorm halted play. The teams will resume action at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
▪ If a Charlotte Christian-Cannon School 4A softball finale sounds familiar, that’s because it is. The two schools will be meeting for the third straight year in the championship series. Charlotte Christian won in three games in 2021 and 2022.
Charlotte Christian freshman Morgan Banks tossed a three-hitter and struck out 12 in her team’s 3-0 victory over North Raleigh Christian. The Knights scored all their runs in the sixth inning, on Sydney Francois’ two-run triple and a sacrifice fly by Banks to scored Francois.
Cannon School’s Brie Biddle slammed a two-run homer in a three-run first inning, providing the Cougars with all the offense they’d need. Maddie Sturgill tossed a four-hitter for the victory. Providence Day pitcher Rachel Lyons allowed only five hits and struck out 10.
▪ In soccer, Providence Day, ranked No. 3 nationally by MaxPreps, won its 15th straight game, downing North Raleigh Christian 6-0. The Chargers will face a familiar championship-game foe, Charlotte Latin, in Saturday’s finals. Latiln advanced with a 3-2 victory over Covenant Day.
Providence Day has beaten Charlotte Latin in the past three 4A state championships – in 2019 (3-1), 2021 (4-3) and last spring (1-0 on penalty kicks). COVID canceled the 2020 finals. And Charlotte Latin topped Providence Day in the 2017 and ’18 finals.
Providence Day (21-2) had to wait a bit for its victory. A thunderstorm halted play midway through the first half, with the Chargers up 2-0. The game was delayed about an hour, but the Chargers picked up where they left off. Blane McElroy scored two goals and added an assist, and KK Hart had a goal and an assist.
Charlotte Latin (17-2-1) got two goals from Eleanor Fisher, two assists from Ella Smith, and a goal from Avery Cheatwood. B Hylton scored both Covenant Day goals.
Other teams heading to NCISAA championships this weekend:
Hickory Grove Christian baseball: The Lions (17-9) trounced Greensboro Day 10-0 and will face High Point Christian (26-4) in a best-of-3 series Friday and Saturday in High Point for the 3A title.
Colby Vanhook and Ryan Quesinberry each drove in a pair of runs for Hickory Grove, and Langston Rupert added a single and a double.
High Point Christian is the defending 3A state champion, having beaten SouthLake Christian 2 games to 1 in the 2021 finals.
Hickory Grove Christian softball: The school’s softball team (16-10) also will play a best-of-3 set at High Point Christian on Friday and Saturday for the championship. Hickory Grove advanced with a 5-4 decision Tuesday over Arendell Parrott Academy. The Lions trailed 2-0 early but went ahead to stay with four runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Davidson Day girls’ soccer: The Patriots (11-1) are headed to the 2A semifinals after a 5-1 victory over Carolina Friends in a Tuesday quarterfinal. Davidson Day will travel to top seed Rocky Mount Academy (19-0) in a Thursday semifinal.
Cannon School, Providence Day boys’ lacrosse: The top-seeded Cougars trounced Durham Academy 17-3, while second Providence Day downed Christ School 13-10 in semifinals. The teams will meet for the Division 1 title Saturday at Cannon School. The Cougars (19-3) are defending state champions.
SouthLake Christian boys’ lacrosse: The Eagles lost 16-9 to Greensboro Day in the Division 2 semifinals. They finished with an 8-9 record.
Charlotte Latin, Providence Day girls’ lacrosse: Defending Division 1 state champion Charlotte Latin (18-5) advanced to the finals with an 18-3 rout of Durham Academy. Third-seeded Providence Day (21-5), meanwhile, nipped second seed Charlotte Country Day 11-10 in overtime. Freshman Jane Updyke led the Chargers with four goals.
Davidson Day girls’ lacrosse: The Patriots’ bid for a Division 2 state title ended with a 16-9 loss to Asheville School. Davidson Day finished 8-7 on the season.
Live Scores
BASEBALL
Class 4A
Tuesday’s semifinals
Charlotte Christian (22-10) at High Point Wesleyan (14-5), suspended to 6 p.m. Wednesday (High Point Wesleyan leads 7-1 in top of sixth)
Providence Day 5, Covenant Day 0
State finals series
(best-of-3, Friday-Saturday)
Providence Day (21-8) vs. Charlotte Christian-High Point Wesleyan winner
Class 3A
Tuesday’s semifinals
High Point Christian 7, Asheville Christian 1
Hickory Grove Christian 10, Greensboro Day 0
State finals series
(best-of-3, Friday-Saturday)
Hickory Grove Christian (17-9) at High Point Christian (26-4)
Class 2A
Tuesday’s semifinals
The Burlington School 3, Wayne Country Day 2
Westchester Country Day 4, Sanford Grace Christian 2
State finals series
(best-of-3, Friday-Saturday)
The Burlington School (11-9) at Westchester Country Day (15-6)
Class 1A
Tuesday’s semifinals
Halifax Academy (8-8) at Kerr-Vance Academy (11-6), 6
Lawrence Academy 7, Pungo Christian 3
State finals series
(best-of-3, Friday-Saturday)
Lawrence Academy (17-4) vs. Halifax Academy-Kerr Vance Academy winner
BOYS’ LACROSSE
Division 1
Tuesday’s semifinals
Cannon School 17, Durham Academy 3
Providence Day 13, Christ School 10
Saturday’s state championship
Providence Day (18-5) at Cannon School (19-3)
Division 2
Tuesday’s semifinals
Cape Fear Academy 16, Forsyth Country Day 5
Greensboro Day 16, SouthLake Christian 9
Saturday’s state championship
Greensboro Day (10-6) at Cape Fear Academy (11-2)
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
Division 1
Tuesday’s semifinals
Charlotte Latin 18, Durham Academy 3
Providence Day 11, Charlotte Country Day 10
Saturday’s state championship
Providence Day (21-5) at Charlotte Latin (18-5)
Division 2
Tuesday’s semifinals
Asheville School 16, Davidson Day 9
Fayetteville Academy 12, Forsyth Country Day 9
Saturday’s state championship
Fayetteville Academy (17-1) at Asheville School (11-2)
GIRLS’ SOCCER
Class 4A
Tuesday’s semifinals
Providence Day 6, North Raleigh Christian 0
Charlotte Latin 3, Covenant Day 2
Saturday’s state championship
Charlotte Latin (17-2-1) at Providence Day (21-2)
Class 3A
Tuesday’s semifinals
Calvary Day (12-3) at Forsyth Country Day (15-2), 6
Asheville Christian 3, Raleigh GRACE Christian 2
Saturday’s state championship
Asheville Christian (14-1-1) vs. Calvary Day-Forsyth Country Day winner
Class 2A
Tuesday’s quarterfinals
Greenfield School (13-7) at Rocky Mount Academy (18-0), 6
Davidson Day 2, Caldwell Academy 1
Sanford Grace Christian 1, O’Neal School 0
Trinity Academy 1, Trinity School of Durham-Chapel Hill 0
Thursday’s semifinals
Davidson Day (13-3) vs. Greenfield School-Rocky Mount Academy winner
Sanford Grace Christian (13-6) at Trinity Academy (13-1)
Saturday’s state championship
Thursday’s winners play, at Greenfield School
Class 1A
Tuesday’s semifinals
Crossroads Christian 9, Ridgecroft School 0
Oakwood School 5, Pungo Christian 2
Saturday’s state championship
Crossroads Christian (13-1) vs. Oakwood School (13-4), at N.C. Wesleyan Univ., 2 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Class 4A
Tuesday’s semifinals
Charlotte Christian 3, North Raleigh Christian 0
Cannon School 3, Providence Day 0
State finals series
(best-of-3, Friday-Saturday)
Game 1 Friday, 4:30; Game 2, Saturday, 10 a.m.. Game 3, if nec., 30 mins. after Game 2.
Cannon School (17-6) at Charlotte Christian (15-4)
Class 3A
Tuesday’s semifinals
High Point Christian 18, Concord Academy 2
Hickory Grove Christian 5, Arendell Parrott Academy 4
State finals series
(best-of-3, Friday-Saturday)
Hickory Grove Christian (16-10) at High Point Christian (17-7)
Class 2A
Tuesday’s semifinals
Wayne Christian 14, Rocky Mount Academy 2
Freedom Christian 5, Harrells Christian 0
State finals series
(best-of-3, Friday-Saturday)
(at Mount Olive College)
Wayne Christian (18-7) vs. Freedom Christian (12-8)
Class 1A
Tuesday’s semifinals
Halifax Academy 8, Cape Fear Christian 1
Pungo Christian 11, Lawrence Academy 3
State finals series
(best-of-3, Friday-Saturday)
(at N.C. Wesleyan Univ.)
Halifax Academy (15-3) vs. Pungo Christian (14-2)
BOYS’ TENNIS
Division 1
Semifinal Round
Charlotte Latin (11-6) at Cary Academy (12-0)
Durham Academy (14-4) at Providence Day (17-0), Thurs.
Saturday’s state finals
Durham Academy-Providence Day winner vs. Charlotte Latin-Cary Academy winner
Division 2
Tuesday’s semifinals
Cape Fear Academy def. Arendell Parrott Academy 5-1
Greensboro Day (8-5) at Forsyth Country Day (13-6)
Saturday’s state finals
(at Cary Academy)
Cape Fear Academy (15-1) vs. Greensboro Day-Forsyth Country Day winner
Division 3
Tuesday’s semifinals
Carolina Day (11-2) at Rocky Mount Academy (11-6)
Davidson Day def. Carolina Friends 5-1
Saturday’s state finals
(at N.C. Wesleyan Univ.)
Davidson Day (11-1) vs. Carolina Day-Rocky Mount Academy winner
This story was originally published May 15, 2023 at 8:08 PM.