NCMC softball split their Region 16 games on Saturday with State Fair CC on a day when the team honored their sophomore athletes.  Those players recognized were Myla Laws, Alex Endicott, Emma Lisenbee, Ella Barnett, Trinity Alderman, Ireland Bloss and Chariss Barnard.  The team now holds an overall record of 10-30 and a mark of 6-14 in Region 16 play.

Game 1:

NCMC outlasted State Fair in the opener, a high-scoring 13-12 battle, powered by a balanced offensive attack that produced 17 hits. Ella Barnett led the Pirates with a standout performance, going 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, and three runs scored, while Trinity Alderman was perfect at the plate, finishing 4-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Cora Thompson added two hits and drove in a pair, also swiping a base, and Chariss Barnard contributed a run-scoring hit while crossing the plate three times. Kaylor Hodge and Ireland Bloss each recorded two hits and scored twice as NCMC built an early lead and responded late with three runs in the seventh to secure the win. In the circle, Emma Lisenbee, Myla Laws, and Bloss combined to navigate a potent State Fair lineup, with the defense making just enough plays to seal the win.

Game 2:

The Pirates were unable to generate sustained offense to get a doubleheader sweep and suffered a 9-1 setback to State Fair in the finale.  NCMC saw a bright spot from Alex Endicott in the game, who accounted for the team's lone run with a solo home run while finishing 1-for-3 with an RBI. Kaylor Hodge added a double as part of a 1-for-3 effort behind the plate, and both Katie Pierson and Cora Thompson contributed hits to round out NCMC's four-hit performance. In the circle, Skylar Sunderland worked 4.1 innings, while Ireland Bloss provided relief late in the contest. Despite early momentum with a first-inning run, the Pirates were unable to capitalize further, stranding 10 runners as State Fair pulled away with a big fifth inning.