KENLY – A battle of two of the top-rated teams in the east took place here Friday night.

In the end, North Johnston High School – the top seed out of the 2-A Northern Carolina Conference – edged out Bertie High School – the top seed in the Northeastern Coastal Conference – by a final of 3-0.

North Johnston got on the board first, with a single run in the bottom of the opening frame on a sacrifice fly.

In the top of the second, the Falcons got Kelsey White on board with an error, but two strikeouts ended the inning.

Bertie got their offense going again in the third when Brook Bowen delivered the Lady Falcons’ only hit with a two-out single to center. A strikeout, however, ended any scoring opportunity.

In the top of the fourth, the Falcons got on base again. This time Haley Williams reached on an error. She was thrown out, however, when White bunted and Williams was caught rounding second.

In the bottom of the fourth, North Johnston put together a threat with a runner on third and one out. On a sacrifice bunt, Bertie hurler Caroline White fielded the ball and caught the runner at third. She then struck out the next batter to keep the Falcons in the game.

The biggest threat for the Lady Falcons came in the top of the sixth stanza.

With one out, Bowen walked and went to second on a sacrifice by Tori Dunlow. Caroline White then drew a walk on which Bowen stole third.

A lineout to left, however, ended the inning with the Falcons still trailing.

North Johnston then sealed the win with a two-run homer by pitcher Caroline Tuner which gave the Panthers a 3-0 advantage.

The Lady Falcons went down in order in the top of the seventh.

Caroline White tossed six innings for the Falcons, scattering four hits and striking out nine. Turner countered with a one-hit performance for North Johnston. She struck out 13.