Photo by Jennifer Regan
A special group of Cedar Ridge softball seniors ended their careers in the second round of the 5A State Playoffs on Friday night.
C.B. Aycock, the #8 seed in the 5A Eastern Regional, defeated the Red Wolves 15-0 in three innings in Pikeville. Brooklyn Davis hit a three-run home run in the final at-bat of the game. It was just the second time all year the Red Wolves lost via the run-rule.
The Red Wolves were limited to a season-low two hits. The Golden Falcons’ Haylee Ezzell tossed a shutout to improve to 6-2 on the season. C.B. Aycock blew the game wide open with eleven runs in the second inning.
Madeline Woodring-Galindo and Mia Best had the Red Wolves only hits of the game. It was the first time Cedar Ridge was shutout this season.
It was the final game for Red Wolf seniors Best, Brittani Goddard, Laci Sykes, Victoria Matthews, and Rylee Capps.
Best, who has committed to play at Division III Meredith College, led the team in five offensive categories this season. She hit .554 with 41 hits, 14 doubles, nine home runs and 51 RBIs. Best was also the Red Wolves top pitcher and finished 16-7 with a 3.19 ERA. She struck out 134 batters with 51 walks.
Goddard, who has signed to play at Division III Greensboro College, hit .379 with nine doubles and 16 RBIs. Goddard played catcher this season.
Sykes, who qualified for regionals in women’s golf last October, started in left field and hit .257. A four-year varsity player, Sykes plans to attend East Carolina to study nursing in August.
Victoria Matthews also played four years at the varsity level and also played golf for Cedar Ridge head coach Chris Casey.
Capps hit .352 in 25 games this season. She had 25 hits with 20 RBIs in 2026.
Cedar Ridge ends the season 17-8, finishing in second place in the Big 7 Conference.
