South Caldwell repeats softball title, wins 6A championship over Union Pines in G3

DURHAM, N.C. — Maddy Moore threw 14 innings for South Caldwell on Saturday.

She gave up five runs in the first two. In the final 12, she gave up zero.

That's a big reason why South Caldwell is now a back-to-back state softball champion.

Moore, a sophomore, threw a complete game, four-hit shutout as the Spartans defeated Union Pines 8-0 to win the third and deciding game of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 6A State Championship series inside Smith Family Stadium at Duke University in Durham on Saturday.

It’s the second consecutive state title for the Spartans, who defeated D.H. Conley to win the 2025 4A State crown, also at Duke University.

The Vikings forced a third game with a 5-4 win in game two earlier in the day.

Moore went the distance in both games. After throwing 122 pitches in the opening game, she delivered 100 in the nightcap and still routinely exceeded 60 miles-per-hour on her fastball into the seventh inning. In all, she struck out six with three walks.

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In game two, Union Pines led 5-0 after two innings. Spartans head coach Casey Justice talked with Moore about leaving the game to save her strength for a potential game three. It was a suggestion that Moore immediately shot down.

"That conversation didn't go over great," said South Caldwell head coach Casey Justice. "She said she was going to pitch every pitch we had left. Maddie is special."

South Caldwell catcher Mcartney Harrington was named the Most Valuable Player of the series. On Friday in the Spartans' 5-2 win in game one, Harrington hit a grand slam.

The long ball has been the trademark for the Spartans in winning consecutive state championships. In the opening game, Moore hit a two-run home run, the 59th of the season by South Caldwell, which tied their own NCHSAA record for most home runs in a single season, which they set last year.

South Caldwell ends the year 27-4.

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Union Pines, making its first appearance in the state championship series, couldn't make up an early deficit after giving up four runs in the opening inning.

"I'm very proud of my team," said Union Pines head coach Brian Blue. "They didn't quit. We had energy all day long. Our energy was great. We started game two really well. But kudos to their pitcher (Moore). We didn't score in the last 12 innings. She changed her entire scheme that she was approaching the game."

The first four Spartans to step up to the plate in the game three all scored, providing all the offense they would need. McKenna Yount lined a single against Union Pines starter Allie Bauer, who faced six batters. Mcartney Harrington followed with a single to right field, while Moore walked to load the bases. Holland Weisner ripped a two-run single to right field to score Yount and courtesy runner Alexis Whisenant, running for Harrington.

Mallory Winebarger sent a liner to left field that was chased down by the Vikings’ Serena McCutchen, allowing courtesy runner Lily Williams to tag up from third and increase the Spartans lead to 3-0. Tempy Trivette drove in the final run of the frame with another RBI single to left field to score Weisner, which led to Kaitlyn Blue replacing Bauer in the circle.

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Union Pines got only one runner to third base in the second game. Abby McKenzie, pinch-hitting for Emily Auman, reached on a walk and advanced followed a single by McCutchen. Yount, playing second base, ended the only true Vikings threat when she tagged out McCutchen on a grounder hit by Abbie Tyner.

Weisner went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a double. Yount went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, including a two-run single in the sixth to score Bella Smith and Alyssa Clontz, increasing the Spartans’ lead to 7-0.

On the two-and-a-half hour drive back to Granite Falls, Moore will sing "Fight Song" by Rachel Platten one more time. It's been the official team anthem for a journey that has led them to solid gold---twice.

"As soon as we left here last year, this team was already talking about things that we could do to get back here again," Justice said. "We lost some really special kids last year. But these juniors did a really good job of working and getting after it. They were lifting weights at seven, eight o'clock every night. They were determined to get back here."

Box Score

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