Region title in sight for 'Pack

Greenbrier softball coach Garrett Black probably has the line memorized.

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Or it might be written on an index card somewhere he can review it each year.

He had occasion to use it again Wednesday.

"It's nice knowing we control our own destiny," Black said after his team beat Harlem 8-0. "We don't have to depend on anybody but ourselves."

The Wolfpack have only one regular-season region game remaining, a Tuesday meeting with Newton. A win there -- the Wolfpack probably won't even need it -- and Black's team will have locked up the No. 1 seed in Region 2-AAAAA.

The Wolfpack would then have the inside track on a 13th consecutive region title -- one for each year the program has existed.

"We just want to win and go in on a positive," Black said.

Black said he's still comfortable with the two-pitcher rotation of Savanah Koon and Katie Tracy. Tracy struck out 15 Bulldogs on Wednesday and allowed just one hit.

Black said there was no competition between the two girls, but that they complemented one another.

And he's confident two solid starters will be necessary in the upcoming region and state playoffs.

"We feel like we have two kids capable of going out and beating anybody on a given night," Black said. "The way (state) sectionals and the region tournament is set up, if you get in the loser's bracket, it could be a long day."

Koon had the night off in the circle against Harlem, but she drove in three runs at the plate. The Wolfpack opened with three runs in the bottom of the first and closed the game an inning early.

The 8-0 loss was Harlem's second to Greenbrier this season. But Black and Harlem coach Mike Leverett both saw an improved Bulldogs team Wednesday.

Harlem pitchers Kaleigh McNair and Kristen Mills pitched carefully to the heart of the Wolfpack order, walking Greenbrier standouts Kaila Hunt and Ashlyn Masters a combined five times. The Wolfpack managed nine hits, but Leverett was glad to see his defense make them work more than the first meeting.

"The girls played better tonight, even though we didn't hit the ball," Leverett said. "As long as we get better on defense, we'll be OK."

Defense has been a point of pride for Greenbrier, and it was on display again. Tracy didn't give the Bulldogs much to hit, and Hunt made two impressive plays from shortstop.

"That was worth the cost of admission right there," Black said.