NCHSAA unveils state softball playoff brackets

The defending 1A state champion East Surry Cardinals will begin their softball title defense by hosting Alleghany later this week.

East Surry is one of six teams from the Northwest 1A/2A and Mountain Valley 1A/2A conferences to have home games to start the state playoffs. North Stokes, East Wilkes, West Wilkes, Starmount and West Stokes also have home-field advantage for first-round action, which is set to start Thursday and Friday.

Other teams making the state softball playoffs from the two local conferences include South Stokes, North Wilkes, Forbush, Surry Central and Wilkes Central.

Below are match-ups involving MVAC and Northwest teams. First-round games will be played Friday at 7 p.m. unless the schools make other arrangements. First-round winners will play again next Tuesday.

1A SOFTBALL
South Stokes (11-11) at South Stanly (19-6)
North Wilkes (8-17) at North Stokes (18-3)
West Montgomery (10-9) at East Wilkes (10-15)
North Rowan (8-11) at West Wilkes (22-4)
Alleghany (10-14) at East Surry (15-8)

2A SOFTBALL
Forbush (16-9) at Draughn (19-4)
Surry Central (13-11) at Randleman (19-4)
Wilkes Central (14-7) at Wheatmore (20-4)
Carver (5-9) at Starmount (17-5), 5 p.m. start
Maiden (14-8) at West Stokes (16-11)

There are two first-round match-ups involving MVAC teams vs. Northwest teams. North Wilkes will travel to North Stokes in addition to the Alleghany-East Surry contest in the 1A bracket. If Starmount and West Stokes win their openers, the teams will play each other in the second round.