GRANITE FALLS, N.C. – The calendar may have said late April, but everything else in South Caldwell’s 10-8 win over Weddington screamed late May.

The Spartans and Warriors, seen as top contenders out of the 4A West in this year’s postseason, ripped momentum back and forth on Saturday afternoon in the Spartan Easter Invitational finale.

Maddy Moore and Mcartney Harrington each homered in the bottom of the sixth inning to provide the game’s final blow. Harrington’s blast, South Caldwell’s fourth of the game, helped dig the Spartans out of their second two-run deficit of the day.

Both sides opened the event with wins. The Spartans took care of A.C. Reynolds 12-0, and Weddington broke a 2-2 tie late and held on to take down High Point Christian, 5-4.

The long, draining, and hot afternoon at the ballpark recalled what teams experienced on the final day of the NCHSAA softball state championships.

It ended up providing the perfect setting for a battle of heavyweights.

Four batters into the top of the first, Weddington seized a 2-0 advantage.

South Caldwell had an even bigger answer as the first six Spartans to bat in their half of the frame reached, including five via base hit. Sydnee Bumgarner and Emily Coffey instantly tied things up, and Holland Weisner followed with a three-run big fly to grab a 5-2 lead.

The Warriors immediately fought back thanks to Adriana and Sammy Lamantia, who took advantage each plated a run to make narrow the gap to 5-4.

McKenna Yount added insurance with a solo blast to right in the bottom of the fourth.

Weddington pulled even an inning later when Emersyn Presutty cranked a two-run home run over the wall in right center to make it a 6-6 game.

In the top of the sixth, the Warriors reclaimed the lead with a two-out rally. A bloop single and an error set the stage for Adriana Lamantia’s go-ahead two-run double.

Moore, a freshman, started the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run to cut South Caldwell’s deficit to 8-7.

Momentum shifted back to the home dugout when the Clemson commit Harrington crushed an opposite-field three-run home run.

Zalee Brown earned the win in relief of Moore. Joella Thomas picked up the loss. South Caldwell improved its record to 22-2 overall.

Weddington dropped to 18-2. The Warriors had won six straight entering the contest.

In the game prior, West Wilkes ran away with a five-inning victory over A.C. Reynolds via run-rule, 12-1.

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