Something about one-run games keeps getting the better of Concord softball.
No. 5 Concord was upset in disheartening fashion by No. 12 Spaulding on Wednesday afternoon, 1-0. It was the third consecutive one-run loss in the playoffs for the Crimson Tide.
Concord was one of the hottest teams in the state going into the playoffs. The Tide was 8-2 in its last 10 games and had beaten its first-round opponent, 8-6, earlier in the season.
The single-elimination format in the playoffs can end a hot streak abruptly.
“We just couldn’t get that one hit to drive them in. We had plenty of opportunities, runners on every inning,” Concord coach Duke Sawyer said after the loss.
In 2024, Concord was upset as the No. 3 seed by No. 14 Portsmouth, 1-0. Last year, Concord had a Cinderella run of its own as the 12-seed to reach the semifinals but ultimately lost to Londonderry, 2-1. 2026 was a similar story.
On the mound, the Tide’s junior pitcher Natalee Rowell performed at a high level. Through seven innings, she threw seven strikeouts and allowed only two baserunners. The only run that scored was unearned.
The Lady Raiders’ Meagan Uraskevich had a similarly impressive night. The senior recorded five strikeouts, five putouts and was backed up by an impeccable defense.
Spaulding capitalized on its slim margins after an errant throw from first to second base in the top of the fourth.
Concord out-hit Spaulding six to one and had runners in scoring position four times, but never made it around the bases.
In the fifth inning, Rowell got on base and Brooke Nailor pinch ran for the pitcher. After advancing to second, with another Tide runner on first, Uraskevich delivered a strikeout.
Later in the sixth, Maggie Taylor and Jaylyn Wessling both got on base with no outs. Junior Anna Leon hit a hard line drive but the shortstop jumped and grabbed it, and quickly stepped on second to get Taylor out.
Even at the start of the game, Taylor delivered a double, but the Tide couldn’t capitalize then. At the end of the game, there was still hope with two runners on and two outs. A quick ground ball putout by Uraskevich was the end.
Concord had chances, but Spaulding’s defense found a way to recover and escape every pickle.
Only two seniors will depart from this Crimson Tide squad, yet they were crucial to the team’s success. Senior third base and cleanup hitter Wessling and Ella Gray had great careers, Sawyer said.
The majority of the team will return, with back-to-back stinging scars from playoff eliminations where they couldn’t find a run.
“We had a great season overall,” Sawyer said. “Just keep putting the ball in play, keep battling.”
