CONCORD -- The Cannon School softball team had its winning ways momentarily interrupted last week with a non-conference loss to one of the state’s best teams: Mooresville.
For perspective, Mooresville is undefeated (17-0), the best team in one of the state’s strongest public-school conferences (the Greater Metro 4) and ranked No. 2 in North Carolina, according to MaxPreps.com.
But Cannon’s 11-3 loss to the Blue Devils certainly didn’t dissuade the Cougars.
The Cougars simply returned to their mission of proving they are the best team in one of the state’s strongest private-school conferences.
Cannon did that with authority by going on to take convincing wins in their next two Charlotte Independent Schools Athletic Association games, downing Charlotte Latin on Tuesday and Matthews Covenant Day on Thursday.
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Having played a demanding non-conference schedule, the Cougars are now 10-7-1 overall and 7-0 in the CISAA.
Also, for perspective, Cannon is the No. 1-ranked private school in North Carolina.
The Cougars are looking to win their second consecutive CISAA title after also winning the state title championship last season.
Cannon has three conference games remaining, but it is close to clinching the crown. The Cougars must close out the season with games against second-place Charlotte Christian, third-place Providence Day and another a second matchup with fifth-place Charlotte Latin.
Cannon has already beaten Charlotte Christian by a score of 6-4 and Providence Day by a score of 4-1.
In Tuesday’s 5-1 victory over Charlotte Latin, the Cougars overcame a 1-0 deficit in the first inning. Layla Wagner smacked a two-run home run (her third long ball of the season) in the top of the third to give Cannon the game-winning scores.
The Cougars, though, didn’t stop there.
Jolie Matthews had a two-run single in top of the sixth inning to plate pinch runner Aliza Anderson along with Kenzie Sturgill to insure the outcome.
Matthews ended the day 3-for-4, and Wagner was 1-for-3. Meanwhile, Clark Hudson was 1-for-3 with a double.
Maddie Sturgill earned the win as the pitcher, going the distance while allowing seven hits and striking out three.
On Thursday, didn’t need a fierce rally and ended the day with an 11-1 victory that was halted after six innings because of the state’s 10-run “mercy” rule.
The Cougars did so by bashing out 13 hits.
Things really started going Cannon’s way in the third inning. Possessing a 1-0 lead, the Cougars bats got going as Liv McLaughlin and Kenzie Sturgill opened with back-to-back doubles. Kenzie Sturgill (who was 3-for-4 with three RBIs) eventually scored on an error.
In the fifth, Nicole Ratterman (2-for-3, three runs and an RBI) walked and reached third base on a Clark Hudson double. Ratterman would score on a wild pitch, and Jolie Matthews (2-for-3) drove in Hudson.
Maddie Sturgill opened the sixth inning with a single, and Liv McLaughlin collected her third walk. Then, Kenzie Sturgill’s single sent in pinch runner Richelle Syer, and Ratterman to score McLaughlin. Ratterman eventually scored when Aliza Anderson reached on an error.
Matthews singled, Wagner walked and a Kayce Campurciani single scored Anderson to put the 10-run rule into effect.
Maddie Sturgill again went the distance in the circle and this time fanned eight batters. As a hitter, she was 2-for-4.
Cannon again steps out of conference on Monday, when it faces another GMC team, Cox Mill, at home.