BURLINGTON, NC

A successful inaugural season for the women’s softball program at Paul D. Camp Community College came to an end on Thursday at the NJCAA Division II playoffs in Burlington, North Carolina. Qualifying as a number six seed in the double-elimination Region 10 tournament, the Hurricanes opened the day with a 10-1 loss to Pasco-Hernando State College (Fla.), forcing them into the loser’s bracket for the remainder of the tournament.

The team bounced back with a 15-14 victory over Fayetteville Tech (N.C.), which earned them a third matchup of the day against Southeastern Community College — Whiteville (N.C.). The Hurricanes came up short, falling in their final game of the tournament — and the season — by a score of 17-11.

The team finished with a final overall record of 22-17 and a conference record of 11-10.

In addition to qualifying for postseason play in their first season as a team, several players earned individual regional honors. Morgan Owens, the teams’ freshman first baseman, was named the regional player of the year and an All-American nominee. Owens led Region 10 with a .527 batting average and finished third with 45 runs batted in. She was also named First Team All-Region. Sophomore pitcher Casie Wright was also named First Team All-Region, finishing the season tied for second in the region with 10 wins and was third in the region with 70 strikeouts. Nikki Bryars, the teams’ sophomore centerfielder, and Mackenzie Coleman, a freshman catcher and pitcher, were both named to the All-Region Second Team. Bryars finished the season with a .443 batting average and 24 stolen bases. Coleman had 23 stolen bases and a .396 batting average on the season.