The No. 22-seeded North Stanly Comets led through most of the road game, but a late rally by the No. 6-seeded Bandys Trojans eliminated North from the playoffs, 6-2.

Kylie Speight went the distance for North, allowing four earned runs with one walk and three strikeouts.

MaKaylah Barger led the Comets with two hits and two RBIs. Georgia Mullis, Callie Parker and Bre Speight each added a hit.

North finished the season with a 12-9 record, having gotten the team’s first playoff win since 2019 when the Comets won on the road at No. 11 West Davidson, 11-3.

“I am proud of the girls and the strides and progress they made as individual players as well as the team,” North head coach Phillip Speight said. “They worked hard all year and had an attitude of team first. Getting North Stanly softball back in the state playoffs and reaching the second round is a good sign of things to come.”