Paint Branch advances to the 3A West region semifinals against Tuscarora.
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By Ryan Mink
rmink@digitalsports.com

In one of the more shocking upsets of the regional playoffs this season, Paint Branch’s softball team upended Damascus, 5-3, in the 3A West region quarterfinals.

Paint Branch took an early 2-0 lead but Damascus, who did not receive a top seed because it did not play the required number of games, battled back and led 3-2 in the top of the sixth.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Paint Branch’s Cathleen Carey and Lyssie Parkhurst reached base and Emma Schultz drove them in with a deep triple to center field. Katie Stoner then lined a single off off Damascus pitcher Megan Alexander and Schultz scored the final run for a three-run inning.

Parkhurst and the defense then slammed the door in the top of the seventh.

Offensive leaders were Stoner with a triple and two singles, Schultz with a triple, a single and 3 RBI's. Parhurst pitched seven strong innings, only allowing three runs on six hits.

Damascus Coach Barb King, who guided the Hornets to last year’s 3A state semifinals, will be retiring after this season according to the Damascus school website.

Top-seeded Paint Branch (12-4) moves on to play Tuscarora (4-11) Wednesday at 4 p.m. at home.