The co-conference champs of the Tri-Eight had very different results on Thursday in the first round of the NCHSAA baseball playoffs.
Green Hope, which won the coin flip for the No. 1 seed, easily defeated Clayton (the No. 4 seed out of the Greater Neuse) by the 13-1 score. The Falcons (20-5) only needed six innings to get the win, and will host the winner of Broughton-East Chapel Hill in the next round.
Middle Creek, which was playing host to third-seeded Garner, lost their playoff opener 6-4. The game went down to the final out as the Mustangs (17-8) brought the winning run to the plate but couldn't extend the game any further.
Athens Drive (13-10), which finished fourth in the Tri-Eight and had the unenviable task of playing at CAP-7 champ Millbrook, lost 9-5. Millbrook will now play Garner in the second round.
Our own Dennis Burton will have the story from Athens Drive's loss, while I will have the report from Middle Creek's game. Clay Best of the Smithfield Herald will have the story from Green Hope, so be looking for those in the next few days.
Fuquay (11-13) will play tomorrow at Greater Neuse Conference champ Smithfield-Selma, while Apex (14-7) will travel to Holly Springs (19-5) in our only match-up of two area teams.
