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By GENE MOTLEY

Special to the R-C News-Herald

MERRY HILL – Junior Conner Ferebee continued his torrid hitting pace, smacking a pair of doubles as Lawrence Academy used a seven-hit attack to top Pungo Christian Academy 7-3 here Tuesday evening.

The win sends the Warriors (17-4) to the 1A NC Independent Schools Athletic Association State Championship for the second consecutive year and 13th in their last 17 seasons. It also marked their third win this season over the Raiders.

Ferebee, hitting at a .508 clip on the season, also added another base hit to go 3-for-4 at the dish as Lawrence won their sixth game in a row.

After reaching on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the first, Ferebee then stole second base. Zander Mizelle followed with a walk and he too stole second for two runners in scoring position. Luke Foster reached on a two-base error, scoring Lawrence’s first two runs and a 2-0 lead after one full inning.

Lawrence got two more in their half of the third. Ferebee smacked his first of a pair of two-baggers. He later advanced to third and scored on Mike Lee’s ground-out RBI. The team’s fourth run came later in the inning when Noah Congleton drove in Foster for a 4-0 lead after three.

Lawrence got another pair of runs in the fifth thanks to Ferebee’s second double and run that scored later on an RBI sac-fly from Mizelle. Congleton got the other run-batted-in with a base hit into the gap in left-center that scored Foster who’d reached after being hit by a pitch.

Pungo finally got on the board with three runs in the top of the sixth to halve the Warriors’ edge, but Lawrence got a solo run in the bottom of the frame then closed it out retiring three of the last four batters for the four-run victory.

Ferebee got the win on the mound, surrendering three of Pungo’s six total hits before Mizelle came on in relief. Bo Spencer and Evan Woolard had two hits each for the Raiders. Woolard also took the loss on the mound.

Ferebee’s three hits led Lawrence. Congleton and Mari Larry went 2-for-4 each to round out the seven Warrior hits.

Lawrence faced Halifax Academy Friday and Saturday May 19-20 in Rocky Mount for the state crown in the best two-of-three championship series. Full details are upcoming in the Wednesday edition of the News-Herald and online at www.r-cnews.com.