North Lenoir Rallies to Knock Off Camden County, Advances to Fourth Round for First Time Since 2005 Title Run
Camden, N.C. — North Lenoir didn’t just win a playoff game Wednesday night—they reclaimed a piece of their legacy.
In a third-round showdown that delivered every ounce of postseason drama, No. 15 seed North Lenoir rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat No. 7 Camden County, 5-4, and advance to the fourth round of the NCHSAA 2A State Playoffs for the first time since their 2005 state championship run.
This wasn’t just another win. It was a long-overdue breakthrough for a program that had endured years of early exits and near-misses. Since 2011, North Lenoir had stumbled out in the first round seven times. But not this year. Not this team.
Camden County came in as one of the most dangerous offensive units in the East, scoring over 220 runs on the season while defending their home turf with an 8-2 record. And for the early innings, the Bruins looked the part—capitalizing on a hit-by-pitch and a groundout to take a 2-0 lead in the third.
But the Hawks didn’t flinch.
In the top of the fifth, North Lenoir flipped the game on its head. A bases-loaded walk put the Hawks on the board, and then Maddie Rouse delivered the swing that turned the tide—a two-run double that shot into the outfield and sent the visiting dugout into a frenzy. Alyssa Hatcher followed with an RBI groundout to give North Lenoir a 4-2 lead.
Camden responded in the bottom half as Kaitlynn Barnes connected on a game-tying home run, but the momentum didn’t shift for long. In the seventh, a Camden error allowed the go-ahead run to score—and the Hawks made it stand.
Rouse, who went the distance in the circle, threw 119 pitches, striking out six and scattering five hits over seven innings. Her poise under pressure anchored a defense that turned a key double play and outlasted one of the East’s most consistent playoff contenders.
Offensively, North Lenoir found production throughout the lineup. Haley Hemby tallied two of the team’s six hits, including a critical single during the middle innings. Rouse finished with two RBIs and a double, and the Hawks worked three walks to keep the pressure on Camden’s pitching staff.
This win meant more than a trip to the next round. It marked a return to form for a program that once stood atop the state—now reaching the fourth round for the first time since their 2005 state title.
The Hawks (17-3) now turn their attention to a fourth-round matchup against No. 3 Martin County (22-4), a powerhouse that reached the East Regional final a season ago and brings one of the state’s most dominant pitchers into the circle. But momentum can be a dangerous thing in the playoffs.
And right now, North Lenoir is riding a wave that’s been building for nearly two decades.
