West Bladen Softball’s Season Ends in Hard-Fought NCHSAA Playoff Battle Against Bunn

West Bladen Softball team photo.

Bunn, NC - The West Bladen Lady Knights closed out their 2025 softball season with a valiant effort on the road, falling 5-3 to Bunn in the first round of the NCHSAA 2A Softball Playoffs.

While Bunn entered the postseason as the #12 seed, they were ranked as the #3 team in the 2A East—making them a formidable opponent despite their bracket position.

West Bladen didn’t shy away from the challenge. They opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning, setting the tone early. Though Bunn countered with three runs in the bottom half, the Lady Knights kept applying pressure.

They added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, tightening the contest to a tie margin heading into the sixth. However, two insurance runs by Bunn in the bottom of the frame proved to be the difference, as West Bladen’s season came to a close just shy of a comeback.

Kali Allen delivered a well-rounded performance, notching a double, an RBI, a sacrifice hit, and a stolen base. Kallie Bass contributed at the plate with a single and a double, while Holland Davis added an RBI single and a walk. Addison Wilcox displayed patience and poise, recording a single, two walks, and scoring a run to spark the offense.

Marlene Crabtree, one of the team’s seniors, turned in a strong final showing—going six innings in the circle, allowing eight hits and five runs, but just two of them earned. She also reached base twice and crossed the plate once.

Brenna Hester reached on a pair of errors and came around to score, while Natalee Sykes added a stolen base after getting aboard. Lauren Douglas wreaked havoc on the basepaths with two steals. Bristol Allen and Marlie Walters stepped up with competitive at-bats, while Abigail Dew added a stolen base of her own in the late innings.

The loss brings the Lady Knights’ season to a close with a 10-8 overall record and a 7-3 mark in Southeastern Athletic Conference play. It’s a record that reflects the fight, chemistry, and consistent growth this team showed throughout the spring.

More importantly, the game marked the final outing for six impactful seniors—Laci Buffkin, Marlie Walters, Marlene Crabtree, Kallie Bass, Holland Davis, and Lauren Douglas—whose leadership and contributions on and off the field have left a lasting legacy within the program. Their presence will be deeply missed.

As the curtain falls on this season, the future still holds plenty of promise. Returning players like Abigail Dew, Chloe Walters, Allison Hickman, Kali Allen, Brenna Hester, Natalee Sykes, Addison Wilcox, Jahyrah Priest, Diyari McKoy, and Bristol Allen represent a talented and determined core moving forward.

While their playoff run may have ended sooner than hoped, the 2025 Lady Knights walk away with heads held high. They competed with heart, represented their school with pride, and wrote another meaningful chapter in West Bladen softball history!

---

West Bladen Softball’s Season Ends in Hard-Fought NCHSAA Playoff Battle Against Bunn