Warlassies fall to Randleman in third round of playoffs

Owen season ends in 4-3 loss to Tigers

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
May 14, 2025

A late rally fell short, May 14, as No. 7 seed Owen fell to No. 15 Randleman in the third round of the 2025 NCHSAA 2A Softball Playoffs.

The Warlassies mounted a comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Lions held on for a 4-3 victory.

Owen, which entered the contest having scored 25 combined runs in their first two postseason appearances, was without star sophomore shortstop Mia Roland, who was out of the state for a previously scheduled family gathering.

Without Roland, who hit 3 home runs and 7 RBI in a second round win over Lincoln Charter, the Warlassies offense struggled to get going against sophomore pitcher Kinzie Ivey, who came into the contest with a 10-3 record.

Owen starting pitcher Sophie Neal, who finished her high school career with 26 wins and 280 strikeouts, kept Randleman off of the scoreboard through the first two innings, before the visiting team broke through with a lead-off single in the third.

A string of singles plated a pair of runs for the Lions, who established a 4-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning.

The Warlassies, sparked by a lead-off single to the opposite side of the field from the left-handed swing of freshman Cadyn Pressley, closed the gap in the bottom of the frame. Neal, who reached on a fielder’s choice, scored the first Owen run on a single by sophomore Elly Wright. Another RBI single by sophomore Hannah Norton closed the gap to 4-2, followed by a Payten Brockman hit to shallow right field to drive Norton in from third base.

Owen threatened to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, when senior Savannah Hollingsworth hit a single down the left field line. A drive to left center field off the bat of senior Bryanna Stafford was hauled in by a diving catch from the Randleman left fielder to end the contest.

The Warlassies advanced to the third round of the postseason tournament for the second straight year, The team finished the regular season by successfully defending its Western Highlands Conference Championship, posting a 12-0 record in the conference.

Photos of the third round of the 2025 NCHSAA 2A Softball State Playoffs can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.