West Stokes, East Surry, Surry Central advance

KING — Emily Worley and Lauryn Smith combined to pitch a one-hitter, and West Stokes’ softball team beat Bishop McGuinness 11-0 on Monday in the opening round of the Northwest 1A/2A Conference tournament.

The game ended after five innings due to the mercy rule. Worley pitched two innings, struck out two and gave up one hit. Smith pitched three frames, and had four strikeouts and a walk.

West Stokes jumped on the Villains early, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the first inning. The ‘Cats tacked on one in the second and three in the third.

Emily Worley helped her own cause by driving in two runs. Brianna Bratcher had three hits and scored twice. Brea Lawson was 2-for-3, scoring three times. Lacey Grubbs hit a double and a single. Smith, Grubbs, Taylor McKinney, Morgan Manley and Sarah James also had RBIs.

West Stokes will play East Surry on Wednesday in the conference tournament semifinals. The game is slated to start at 5:30 p.m. at North Stokes.

East Surry slipped past South Stokes 1-0 in Monday’s tourney opener. Jessica Barker picked up the pitching victory, allowing only a handful of hits and keeping the improving Sauras off the board.

In Monday’s other tournament game, Surry Central edged North Surry 6-5. The Golden Eagles won the game on their final at-bat. Senior Ivey Johnson batted home Karie McLamb with the score tied 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh. The Eagles trailed heading into the inning.

Surry Central will face top-seeded North Stokes in the second Northwest 1A/2A semifinal Wednesday night. North Stokes had a first-round bye since only seven conference teams finished the regular season. Mount Airy folded its softball team a few weeks ago.