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North Carolina American Legion Lady Softball was created in 2017, and Davie fielded its first team in 2021. The season recently ended with Davie going 4-5.

Sierra Ferguson, Davie’s career leader in home runs (19 from 2015-18) and RBIs (112) and the only War Eagle to post three seasons with a .400-plus batting average, was the head coach.

“We had many bumps along the way, but in the end it all worked out,” she said. “Our team consisted of rising eighth graders to rising seniors. We were by far the youngest team in our area. We hope to grow the program over the years and keep it going. This was a great opportunity for some of the girls to be introduced to future teammates at the next level. Although we did not have a winning season, everyone learned a lot from top to bottom – coaches and players.”

The 15-girl roster included Abigail Lankford (rising eighth grader), Callie Jenkins (rising eighth), Riley Potts (rising freshman), Carleigh Croom (rising freshman), Hanna Steinour (rising freshman), Raelyn Lankford (rising freshman), Addie Hendrix (rising sophomore), Ashley Bledsoe (rising sophomore), Melanie Gobble (rising junior), Sydney Dirks (rising junior), Summer Simpson (rising junior), Bailey Snow (rising senior), Kaylyn Nuckols (rising senior), London Dirks (rising senior) and McKenzie Mixon (rising senior).

Ferguson was assisted by Fred Smith, Gary Simpson, Morgan Wyatt and Darren Potts.

The top batting averages were turned in by S. Dirks (.435), Potts (.316) and Gobble (.276). The RBI leaders were Potts (five), Gobble (four) and R. Lankford (four). Steinour paced Davie with six walks. Mixon and Gobble led in hit by pitches with eight and six, respectively.

Davie used three pitchers – Potts, Hendrix and Nuckols. Potts did most of the work in the circle, striking out 47 in 41.1 innings. The rising freshman logged all but 18.2 innings.