Southwestern Randolph sweeps West Stanly in 4A series for 6th softball title

GREENSBORO, N.C. — State championship number six for Southwestern Randolph softball.

The Cougars finished off a sweep over West Stanly in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A state championship series with a 11-5 win in game two on Saturday afternoon on the campus of UNC-Greensboro.

Southwestern Randolph had a 1-0 series lead after its 8-3 win on Friday night.

"I didn't do this," Southwestern Randolph head coach Toby Strider said. "I just happened to be coaching when we were supposed to be winning. We have a great community and great kids."

Katelyn West, a senior in her first year at Southwestern Randolph after starting at Uwharrie Charter Academy, was named the series MVP. West had three hits and an RBI in game one. This afternoon, she had three hits and two RBIs.

"I came in here really nervous yesterday," Katelyn West said. "So getting MVP of this whole thing means a lot to me."

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Southwestern Randolph got the fast start that it needed to crush West Stanly’s day two hopes.

Quickly in the top of the first inning, Nauttica Parrish got on base via a walk. She scored on a wild pitch soon after that. Later, a Katelyn West infield single allowed Kami Dunn to score. Two pitches after that, Alyssa Harris doubled deep to center, and West scored. The Cougars were up 3-0 after the first inning.

The second inning was even bigger for Southwestern. First, Parrish hit an infield single RBI, scoring Sara-Kate Marion. Then, Bristol Marine hit a sacrifice fly to center, which advanced R Hineline to home and Parrish to third. Next, Maylee Strider hit a ground ball and reached first on a West Stanly error. The error allowed Parrish and Dunn to score.

The inning came to a stop when the West Stanly pitcher was hit by a ball after it had contacted an opposing bat. The crowd gave her a round of applause. After that, Katie Broadway came in and ended the inning with a strikeout.

• View photos: West Stanly vs. Southwestern Randolph softball, Game 2 (May 30, 2026). HSOT Insiders can download championship photos for free. Here's how.

West Stanly got on the board in the bottom of the third inning with a Broadway double to right, which scored Abby Hartsell. Kallie Barbee scored after tagging up courtesy of a Malia Whitley flyout. That play ended the inning. Southwestern Randolph led 7-2 after two innings.

The Colts also added a run in the bottom of the third inning on a single from Saylor Edwards that scored Payton Watson. The lead was 7-3 entering the fourth.

In the top of the fourth inning, Southwestern made its push to try to finish the game on a run rule. Dunn singled, allowing Parrish to score. Then, West singled to score Dunn. But the Cougars were only able to increase the lead to six runs by their third out.

West Stanly got one run back in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to a Watson single, which allowed Neveah Alexander to score.

Southwestern Randolph tacked on two more runs in the top of the sixth with RBI singles from Harris and Jada Freeland, which allowed Dunn and West to score.

West Stanly managed one additional run in the seventh inning, but a catch by Dunn, the second baseman, on a liner cincluded the game with one runner left on base."

"I'll always remember having that last out and running all together and hugging," West said.

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This was West Stanly’s ninth state championship appearance. It was a rare runner-up finish for the Colts. They won championships in seven of the previous nine appearances.

West Stanly finished the season with a 28-8 overall record.

The 2026 4A series was Southwestern Randolph’s eighth appearance. It last won a state championship in 2024, when it was the 2A champion.

Box Score

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