PETER PETROFF
Special to the Independent Tribune
HARRISBURG â On Friday, South Caldwellâs softball team defeated top-seeded Hickory Ridge, 16-0, in five innings in the Class 4A state quarterfinals on the Raginâ Bullâ home field.
After a scoreless first inning, fourth-seeded South Caldwell - the 2019 4A champions - put on a show in the top of the second, producing eight hits and nine runs to effectively put the game away. The Spartans, who finished with 19 hits, won by way of the state-mandated âmercy rule.â
âThatâs probably one of the best-hitting teams that Iâve ever seen,â said Hickory Ridge coach Justin Davies of the Spartans. âEvery one of them attacked the ball, they were aggressive, they had great swings, great coaching. Theyâre going to go deep, and thereâs a reason why theyâre the deafening state champs.â