East Bladen Softball Wraps Up a Memorable Season With Grit and Growth

East Bladen Team Photo.

Henderson, NC - The 2025 season came to a close for East Bladen Softball on Tuesday night in the opening round of the NCHSAA 1A Playoffs, as the Lady Eagles fell 7-2 to Vance Charter.

East Bladen finishes the year with an overall record of 8-9 and a .500 mark in Waccamaw Conference play at 6-6. More impressively, they turned things around late in the season, winning 7 of their final 11 games to surge into the postseason.

It was a fun and competitive campaign full of learning moments, individual growth, and team-first softball. Head Coach Nathan Dowless, alongside assistants David Allen and Jamie Brice, helped guide this group through the highs and lows of the season, always emphasizing fundamentals, effort, and teamwork.

In Tuesday’s game against Vance Charter, the Eagles showed flashes of their resilience. After falling behind early, they battled back in the fourth inning.

Niyah Wooten sparked the offense with a double and came around to score on a ground ball single by Taylor Dowless. Dowless later crossed the plate on a well-placed hit by Mollie Tolar that, aided by a Vance Charter defensive miscue, brought the score to 3-2 and gave East Bladen a surge of momentum.

Taylor Dowless was a key presence at the plate, collecting a hit, scoring a run, and driving in another. Wooten’s double gave the Eagles their first scoring opportunity of the night. Mollie Tolar continued her reliable season with a single that moved the offense forward at a critical moment. Jamie Perkins added a base hit and contributed in the outfield with a heads-up play to limit damage in the third.

Martha Simmons remained steady at the plate, racking up two singles and applying pressure with every trip to the box. Gabriella Bray, Gracie Edwards, Jenna Brice, and Tatum Allen each had three plate appearances, working counts and trying to spark the offense in late innings.

In the circle, Jenna Brice pitched a full six innings and battled through tough situations. She held Vance Charter to just four hits while striking out eight batters. Although defensive errors extended a few innings, only three of the seven runs she allowed were earned—another testament to her competitiveness and command.

While the postseason run was cut short, the 2025 East Bladen squad should walk away proud. Each player played a role in making this season memorable. Whether it was clutch hitting, solid defense, or bringing energy to the dugout, this was a team effort from start to finish.

Congratulations to the full roster: Tatum Allen, Zoie Durden, Mollie Tolar, Taylor Dowless, Martha Simmons, Gabriella Bray, Addison Douglas, Gracey Clark, Jamie Perkins, Niyah Wooten, Gracie Edwards, and Jenna Brice. Your efforts on and off the field made this season one to remember!

The coaching staff deserves equal credit for their leadership—thank you to Coach Dowless, Coach Allen, and Coach Brice for your investment into these athletes!

Though the bats are put away for now, East Bladen Softball gave fans plenty to cheer about—and the future remains bright.

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East Bladen Softball Wraps Up a Memorable Season With Grit and Growth