CONCORD – For the third time in the last four seasons, the Cannon School softball team has proven to be its conference’s best.
The Cougars clinched at least a share of the 2024 Charlotte Independent Schools Athletic Association title on Thursday by blanking third-place Charlotte Christian, 16-0, on their home field.
The Cougars won their previous conference titles under former coaches Kirstin Maves and Patrick Moyer. This season, a new head coach, Chris Evans, moved from an assistant’s role and is guiding the Cougars as the leader.
The transition has been smooth.
Cannon can claim the league crown outright with a win in its last two games (Tuesday at home against Providence Day or Friday at home vs. Charlotte Latin).
Cannon moved its overall record to 12-7-1, while its CISAA mark is a perfect 8-0. The Cougars, who won the state title last season, are in prime position to enter this year’s playoffs as the top seed.
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Including postseason action, the Cougars have now won 16 consecutive conference games.
The Cougars got their 16 runs Thursday with eight hits, and they only needed the first inning to secure the victory over injury-riddled Charlotte Christian, which has long been a fierce rival. Cannon and Charlotte Christian have met in the state championship series for the past three seasons.
But this time, the Knights were without the league’s top hitter, Anna Hinde, who’s batting a whopping .586 and has a CISAA-best nine home runs.
Cannon put up 12 big runs in the opening frame.
The rampage started when the Cougars’ Nicole Ratterman smacked a double to drive in Jolie Matthews (who reached on a bunt single) and Layla Wagner (walk).
Charlotte Christian walked the seven of the next Cannon batters.
After a couple wild pitches, Kayce Campurciani hit an RBI single and Maddie Sturgill added a sacrifice fly.
At the start of the second inning, Jolie Matthews reached on a walk and Layla Wagner hit her fourth home run of the season, which ranks third in the conference. Liv McLaughlin (double) and Clark Hudson (groundout) each registered RBIs to put the “mercy rule” in effect.
Maddie Sturgill was efficient while earning the win, throwing just 32 pitches over her three innings in the circle, striking out three and allowing two hits.
The rest of the Cannon attack featured Matthews (1-for-1, two walks, three runs and two stolen bases); Wagner (1-for-1, two walks, two RBIs and a homer); Ratterman (1-for-2, a double, three RBIS, two walks, two runs); Kenzie Sturgill (2-for-2, a double, three RBIS and a run); and McLaughlin (1-for-1, a double, two runs, two walks and an RBI).