SANFORD — The game-winning hit by Southern Lee’s Will Shue last Thursday against Western Harnett got a whole lot bigger on Monday afternoon.

That’s because Union Pines suffered its third-straight loss to close out the season, falling to Douglas Byrd 7-1 on the road to finish the regular season a game behind the Cavaliers in the Cape Fear Valley Conference standings.

Down 9-8 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh Thursday, Shue lined a shot up the middle that scored runners from third and second to snatch the win away from the Eagles — and clinch at least a share of the conference title for the Cavaliers.

Southern Lee and Union Pines likely would have played a third game to decide the top seed from the conference if the Vikings had won Monday night.

And because the Cavaliers won the conference outright, they will get to host at least the first two rounds of the NCHSAA 3A state playoffs.

The NCHSAA will most likely release the official playoff brackets later today, but based on preliminary brackets Southern will host the fourth-seed from the Big East Conference — Northern Nash — in round one at 7 p.m. on Friday night.

The Cavaliers finished the season with a 15-8 record overall and 10-2 in CFV Conference play.

The Vikings were 17-7 overall and 9-3 in conference play. They will host the third seed from the Mid-Piedmont conference on Friday night.

Read more: Sanford Herald – Cavs claim CFV title outright