Enka sweeps West Carteret to win 5A softball championship

DURHAM, N.C. — Silence was broken by an unmistakable ring as Enka softball’s Baylee Edney connected with the ball in the fifth inning for a hit that forged champions.

Edney’s RBI double opened the gates after four scoreless innings to begin Game 2 of the 2026 N.C. High School Athletic Association 5A softball state championship. Later in the fifth, she scored on a two RBI single by Reagan Stroupe to make it 3-0. The runs kept rolling in and the Sugar Jets used that momentum to claim the 4-0 win over West Carteret at Smith Family Stadium at Duke University on Thursday.

And with that, Enka softball was a state champion once again.

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The Sugar Jets (25-3) ended the season on a 12-game winning streak to claim their fourth state championship in program history. It was the program’s sixth appearance, and first since winning back–to-back titles in 2015 and 2016.

Two of Enka's five losses occurred during its first five games of the season. Sophomore pitcher Savannah Frisbee said those tough, early-season losses helped bring them together.

"We've just really pulled it together," Frisbee said. "And so that's why this is so big for us this year."

Frisbee was named the series MVP after pitching in both wins for the Sugar Jets. Frisbee closed the game with 11 strikeouts and kept West Carteret scoreless. She gave up just one hit and two walks on the game.

For Enka head coach Todd Coggins, this was a victory surrounded by and dedicated to family. He said this win was for his father, Gary, who passed away just before the start of this season.

"He was one of the Sugar Jets' biggest fans," Coach Coggins said. "He would have [given] anything to be able to be here today and watch these girls win a state championship."

Coach Coggins' daughter, Averi, is a senior for the Sugar Jets. Sharing that moment with her before she goes on to Wofford next season, was quite significant for the Enka head coach.

"I told her there's no better way to end this story with me and her winning the state championship together," he said. "But it's not only her, it's the other girls I've seen work tirelessly for years that were trying to get to this spot. And we got the chance and took care of business. It's amazing."

For West Carteret (22-6), the road ended as runner-up. The Patriots advanced past the second round of the playoffs for the first time in 30 years this season, and made their first state championship appearance since being runner-up in 1993. Ultimately, WCHS fell short of its first state title.

"This journey was so incredibly rewarding for me," West Carteret head coach Chris Margoupis said. "I'm so proud of the girls. They come out every single day and they give everything they have. And for them to make history in Carteret County, come all the way out here --- there's no such thing as a bad day at a state championship tournament. They finished runner-up and I just couldn't ask for more."

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The initial picture painted in Game 2 was that of a pitching battle. West Carteret senior Caitlin Dumarce was solid throughout the first four innings, holding the offensively-capable Jets scoreless. In Wednesday's Game 1, Dumarce had given up seven runs to the Sugar Jets in four innings of work. And in Game 2, she cleaned things up dramatically. But once Edney delivered that first RBI in the top of the fifth, things started to go sideways for the Patriot defense. Dumarce was relieved by freshamn Ivana Lopez in the midst of Enka's offensive coming out party.

On the other side, Frisbee started and pitched the duration of the game. After striking out 12, walking nine and allowing five earned runs in Game 1, Frisbee took it to the next level on Thursday.

"Get your get back," Frisbee said about her mentality after Game 1. "So today it was just limit the walks, make your adjustments. I don't know if you could tell my speed was a bit down today. I threw a lot of pitches. So today it was just trust your spin, trust your team."

She secured seven of Enka's first nine outs by strikeout. Her lights out pitching set the tone for the Sugar Jets, and perhaps most importantly, bought the offense some time to get going.

"That's what the kid does," Coach Coggins said. "She's a grinder. She works all the time. She lives for these moments. And it's great to see her get in here and shine. "

Now, Frisbee and the Sugar Jets will bring the NCHSAA 5A softball state championship trophy back to Candler, where it will forver live in history

Big 2nd inning pushes Enka past West Carteret in G1 of the 5A softball championship

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