DURHAM — Friday night’s battle for first place in the Piedmont Athletic Conference ended on a sour note for the Person High School softball team but it didn’t take away from an otherwise classic contest that lived up to its billing.

A throwing error in the bottom of the eighth inning allowed Riverside to score the winning run in a 4-3 extra-inning final at the Riverside High School Field, as the 10-1 Pirates, who improved to 14-2 overall, pretty much clinched the league title, barring a major upset in their remaining three league games.

As for the Rockets (9-2 in the conference, 11-5 overall), who handed the Pirates their lone conference loss back in March, it looks like they will have to settle for the runner-up spot for the second year in a row.

“They still have to play East Chapel Hill, so maybe we can get some help there,” said Person head coach Mike Shotwell of his team’s chances to overtake Riverside and still finish in first. “But I’m not really counting on that happening.”

East Chapel Hill defeated Person earlier this season before the Rockets went on a 9-1 streak entering Friday’s game, which was, for the most part, a pitching duel between Pirate hurler Jenn Ladd and Rocket lefty Brittany Shotwell.

“Both teams battled through eight innings and made comebacks. The people really got their money’s worth tonight,” Coach Shotwell commented.

Through the first three innings, it appeared the Rockets were going to do nothing against Ladd (20 strikeouts for the game), who fanned eight of the first nine hitters she faced, with the only non-strikeout being an excuse-me topper back to the pitcher.

Meanwhile, the home team reached Brittany Shotwell for a run in the first inning when Christie Thomas walked to lead off and eventually scored on a double by Morgan Robinson that landed just fair down the right field line.

The way Ladd was pitching it seemed as if one run might be enough, but Person produced a two-run rally in the top of the fourth to take the lead.

Erica Reaves got things going by leading off with a bunt single and ended up scoring when Shotwell whacked a triple over the leftfielder’s head. Shotwell then came across on a passed ball later in the frame to give the Rockets a one-run edge.

Ladd retired Person in order over the next two innings, but Shotwell, who struck out 16 hitters and gave up seven hits, matched Ladd by keeping the Pirates at bay until the bottom of the sixth.

A check-swing blooper by Thomas dropped in for a hit to start the inning. Shotwell fanned the next hitter. Then Ladd, who had fanned her first two times at bat, made contact and sent a long shot over the left-center field fence for a two-run homer and a 3-2 Riverside lead.

It was the first home run given up by Shotwell this season.

Person used its aggressive base running to scratch a run across and tie the game in the top of the seventh.

With one out, Sara Wrenn, who’s been Person’s hottest hitter of late, smashed a shot that deflected off the glove of Riverside third baseman Chelsea Taylor for an infield single.

An errant throw past first base on a grounder by Tracey Vaughan then led to Wrenn racing all the way from first to home, making it a 3-3 contest.

Coach Shotwell was proud of his team’s tenacity and refusal to quit despite facing a tough pitcher in Ladd.

“That’s one scrappy bunch over there,” he said, looking over towards his team’s dugout after the game. “They could have folded after Ladd’s home run but they came right back and tied it in the seventh.”

In the bottom of the eighth, there were two outs and no one on base when Riverside’s Chastity Ligon grounded a single into right field. Ladd then reached on a walk to put two runners on. The ensuing pitch to the next batter got past Rocket catcher Reaves, who retrieved the ball and spotted the lead Pirate base runner heading for third.

In an attempt to nab the runner at third, Reaves’ throw sailed over the glove of third baseman Melissa Harris and into left field, and, as a result, the winning run came in to score.

“Erica was just trying to make a play,” said Coach Shotwell of the game-ending play. “It was a good effort. I don’t mind those kinds of mistakes when players are trying to do something to win the game.”

In the first meeting between the two teams back on March 25, Brittany Shotwell fanned 18 hitters in an 8-1 Rocket victory. Thomas was the starting pitcher for Riverside on that day.

Person finished second to Chapel Hill in the PAC-6 in 2007.

Person has three more conference games remaining before the Division 4A playoffs begin. The Rockets travel to play Chapel Hill on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.