1A Baseball Championship Game 2: Uwharrie Charter wins first Baseball State Championship with 10-2 Game 2 victory and sweep of Rosewood
ZEBULON, NC – The Uwharrie Charter Eagles exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to jump out to a 9-1 lead, eventually extending that to 10-2 as they cruised to a Game 2 victory and sweep of Rosewood in the 1A Baseball State Championship.
Series Most Valuable Player Spencer Lanier went 2 for 4 with three RBI’s in the Game 2 win, adding to his 4 for 4, 2 RBI performance in the opening game. Lanier gave Uwharrie the lead for the first time in Game 2 as he ripped a 2-RBI single to right to push Uwharrie ahead 2-1. He added an RBI single in the fourth that extended the Uwharrie advantage to 6-1.
Uwharrie broke the game open in the fourth, scoring seven runs as Braylen Hayes led off the inning with a single. After Hunter Hill struck out for the first out of the inning, five straight batters reached for Uwharrie as they tacked on four more runs without recording an out. With two down in the inning, Lanier stole second and on an errant throw on the play Tyler Campbell touched the plate to go up 7-1. Then, Johnathan Weaver ripped a double to right to bring home Lanier and Hayes singled home the pinch runner to push the Uwharrie lead to 9-1.
Mason Little had a dominant outing on the mound for Uwharrie Charter throwing a complete game in the win. He allowed two runs, both unearned, while smothering Rosewood’s offense who mustered just one hit in the game. Little struck out six while issuing four walks.
Rosewood finished the season with a record of 23-6. They won the Eastern Regional Championship for the first time in program history and made the school’s first appearance in the NCHSAA Baseball State Championship Series.
Uwharrie Charter wrapped up the year 26-5 on the season. They won the Western Regional Championship for the first time in school history and claimed the school’s first NCHSAA Baseball State Championship.
1A Baseball Championship Game 1: Uwharrie Charter holds off Rosewood 6-4 to take Game 1
ZEBULON, NC – After sleeping on a 2-0 lead overnight during the suspension of play for inclement weather, Uwharrie Charter fell behind early after the resumption of play when Rosewood tacked on three runs in the first two innings played on Saturday. Uwharrie Charter responded with a pair of runs in the fifth and another two in the seventh to hold off Rosewood 6-4 and take Game 1 of the 2019 NCHSAA 1A Baseball Championship Series.
Uwharrie jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as a pair of one-out walks came around to score on a Lanier double to the gap in right center. Play was then suspended for the night after inclement weather moved into the area following the completion of the top of the second.
After the resumption of play on Saturday, Rosewood started quickly, picking up a run in the bottom of the second as Jones doubled home Albert to trim the Uwharrie lead to 2-1. Rosewood took the lead for the only time in the game in the bottom of the third when Capps singled to left knocking in Price to tie the game. Then Merritt slapped a single to right to bring Harris around and make it 3-2 Rosewood.
Uwharrie Charter surged back in front in the fifth as Lanier led off the inning with a triple, coming home on a wild pitch that tied the game at 3. Then Johnathan Weaver came around to score on an RBI double by Hayes. Uwharrie added another pair of runs in the top of the seventh when Hamlet homered to right field bringing in Lanier to push the Uwharrie lead to 6-3.
Rosewood managed to make things interesting in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff double by Price ratcheting up the pressure to close the game out. Price came home on a error by third baseman Little allowed Merritt to reach with two outs, trimming the Uwharrie lead to 6-4. Albert managed to reach, beating out an infield single and putting the tying run on base before Hamlet induced a pop fly to left by Jones to end the game.
Hamlet went the distance for Uwharrie Charter on the mound, allowing four runs, three earned, while scattering eight hits and three walks in the outing. He struck out 11 to pick up the complete game win. Tanner McKeel was tagged with the loss for Rosewood, giving up four runs, three earned, while he allowed eight hits, five walks while striking out seven in his six innings of work.
Rosewood and Uwharrie Charter will continue the series with Game 2 scheduled for this afternoon at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, following the conclusion of Game 1 of the 3A Championship Series between New Hanover and Marvin Ridge, which is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. All games of the NCHSAA Baseball Championship Series are being streamed live on the NFHS Network (www.NFHSNetwork.com).
2A Baseball Championship Game 2: North Lincoln storms back to stun Randleman 9-7 in Game 2 and sweeps series
GREENSBORO, NC – North Lincoln found themselves in a huge hole in the fifth inning, trailing 6-2 heading to the fourth inning, but that is when the Knights’ bats came alive, reeling off seven runs in the final four frames to stun Randleman 9-7 and sweep the 2A Baseball State Championship Series. The win gave the Knights their first State Baseball Championship.
Trailing 6-2, the Knights clawed back into the game in the top of the fourth as they pushed across three runs in the inning. Landon Reeves opened the frame by drawing a walk, before a one-out single to center by Matt Heavner. With two away, Jake Soorus reached on an error that allowed Reeves to score from second and Heavner to advance to third. Then Jake Quilla came through with a two-out, two RBI single to right, closing the Tigers’ lead to 6-5.
Randleman added a run in the fifth, as Dominick Poole drove in Matt Kemp with a two-out single to right that gave the Tigers a 7-5 lead. However, the advantage was short-lived with North Lincoln knotting the game at seven with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. Sam Brady led off reaching base after being hit by a pitch, then Heavner doubled to left. Brady came across the plate on a sacrifice fly by Seth Whitley to cut the lead to 7-6 before Soorus’ RBI groundout to score Heavner and tie the game.
Randleman pushed a runner to third in the bottom half of the sixth, but Dawson Edwards grounded into a double play to end the threat. With two away in the top of the seventh, Daniel Carter reached on an error by Randleman, their third of the game. Carter stole second base and came around to score on an RBI single to center by Reeves. Then Brady doubled to left to bring Reeves around and stretch the North Lincoln lead to 9-7.
Randleman finished the year 27-6. The Tigers won the Regional Championship for the fifth time in program history. They made their first appearance in an NCHSAA Baseball State Championship Series since 2015.
North Lincoln finished the year 26-6. The Knights won the Western Regional Championship for the first time in program history. They claimed the school’s first State Baseball Championship. The series Most Valuable Player award went to Game 1 starting pitcher, Joey Cobb, who threw a complete game, four-hit shutout that saw him strike out 11 Tiger batsmen while issuing just three walks.
2A Baseball Championship Game 1: North Lincoln outduels Randleman 2-0 to take Game 1
GREENSBORO, NC – In a tightly played pitcher’s duel, it was a 2-RBI single in the bottom of the third inning by North Lincoln’s Jake Soorus that gave the Knights the separation they needed to earn a Game 1 victory over Randleman 2-0.
Joey Cobb was stellar on the mound for North Lincoln, spinning a complete game, four hit, shutout while striking out 11 Tigers and walking only three. Cobb outdueled Tigers’ starter, Matt Kemp, who allowed just three hits, but gave up two runs, one earned, while striking out 11 and walking four in his five innings of work.
The Knights struck the decisive blow in the third inning, as Landon Reeves worked a leadoff walk to set up the inning. Sam Brady sacrificed him into scoring position before Matt Heavner singled on a fly ball to left that held Reeves up at second. The two runners advanced into scoring position on a passed ball before Soorus delivered a ground ball through the left side plating the only two runs of the game.
North Lincoln will attempt to close out the best-of-three series with a victory in Game 2 as Randleman attempts to extend the series to a third and decisive game with a win. Game 2 is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. this evening at UNCG Baseball Stadium. All games of the 2019 NCHSAA Baseball State Championships are streaming live through the NFHS Network (www.NFHSNetwork.com).
3A Baseball State Championship Game 2: New Hanover wins back-to-back titles with 4-0 win in Game 2 and sweep of Marvin Ridge
ZEBULON, NC – The New Hanover Wildcats claimed their second straight NCHSAA 3A Baseball State Championship as they closed out the series against Marvin Ridge with a 4-0 win in Game 2. Alex Sniffen was electric on the mound in the series finale, posting a complete game shutout, scattering six hits and a walk while striking out nine.
Sniffen was named the series Most Valuable Player for his contributions in the series. In addition to his pitching line in Game 2, Sniffen was 1 for 4 at the plate in the finale. In the series opener, he was 2 for 3 at the dish, with a walk and an RBI, as he hit a towering homer to left that smashed into the jumbotron about three-quarters of the way up the video board.
New Hanover only managed two hits through the first three innings, without plating a run. However, Marvin Ridge was not able to get anything going during those frames either. In the fourth, New Hanover broke through as Kyle Smith drew a leadoff walk before Sniffen singled to center. Chase Nixon smacked a liner to center with one out to drive in Smith and give New Hanover a 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh as they exploded for three runs. Alec Cortner reached on an error to begin the inning, and after a sacrifice bunt moved him to second, Blake Walston lined a ball over the center fielder to bring him around and put New Hanover up 2-0. Marvin Ridge pulled their starting pitcher, Tyler Hall, replacing him with Drew Cognac. On the next pitch Smith hammered a ball out down the left field line to put New Hanover up 4-0.
Marvin Ridge finished the season 24-8. The Mavericks won the Western Regional Championship for the third time in program history, and first time since back-to-back State Championship wins in 2015 and 2016. They appeared in the program’s third NCHSAA State Championship Series.
New Hanover completed the year 28-2. The Wildcats won the Eastern Regional Championship for the seventh time in program history. They won the school’s fourth State Championship in Baseball, their second in a row. New Hanover made their third consecutive appearance in the NCHSAA State Baseball Championship Series dating back to their 2017 appearance in the 4A Championship Series.
3A Baseball Championship Game 1: New Hanover gets 4 in the sixth to knock out Marvin Ridge 7-3 in Game 1
ZEBULON, NC – New Hanover got four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to grab a 7-3 win over Marvin Ridge in Game 1 of the 2019 NCSHAA 3A Baseball State Championship Series. Jac Croom drove a triple into the gap in right center to bring around two runs and break the game open in the inning.
Blake Walston picked up the win on the mound for New Hanover, pitching 6.2 innings while allowing three runs, all earned. He struck out eight Mavericks and issued three walks while scattering nine hits. Walston was struck on the ankle with a line drive in the top of the seventh, and removed from the game at that time, yielding the mound to Chase Hardee who came on to record a strikeout for the final out and a save.
Alex Sniffen broke the ice in a big way in the bottom of the second inning as he led off the inning with a towering fly ball that hit the jumbotron in left field about three-quarters of the way up the board to put New Hanover up 1-0. Alec Cortner’s two-out double to left plated two more runs for the Wildcats, giving them a 3-0 lead.
Marvin Ridge scratched their way back into the game with single runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings off Walston. The Mavericks loaded the bases in the third with no one out, but only managed one run with a sacrifice fly by Steven Gonzalez that brought home Michael Neal and cut the lead to 3-1. Gonzalez singled to left in the fifth to bring Matt Duggan around and cutting the lead to 3-2. In the sixth, Neal doubled to right on a fly ball that got lost in the sun, allowing Carson Harris to score from first with two way and tie the game at three.
New Hanover got four in the decisive sixth inning to take a 7-3 lead. The Wildcats got the first two men on base thanks to an error and a hit batsman. McCallum Hutchins sacrificed those runners to second and third before Cortner singled to right to score Chase Nixon and give the Wildcats the lead 4-3. Croom’s triple to the gap in right center gave the Wildcats a 6-3 lead plating a pair. Walston then helped his own cause with an RBI-groundout to short, scoring Croom.
New Hanover can close out the best-of-three championship series with a win in Game 2 which is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. tonight at Five County Stadium. Marvin Ridge will attempt to force a third and final game with a victory tonight. All games in the 2019 NCHSAA Baseball State Championship Series can be seen on the NFHS Network (www.NFHSNetwork.com).
4A Baseball Championship Game 2: Mooresville sweeps Corinth Holders with an 8-2 Game 2 victory
GREENSBORO, NC – The Mooresville Blue Devils swept the school’s first State Championship Series with a pair of come from behind wins to claim the 4A Baseball State Championship. Mooresville scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning to grab the lead 4-2 and never looked back on the way to an 8-2 Game 2 victory.
Corinth Holders jumped out to a 2-0 lead again in Game 2, plating a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. The Pirates got a leadoff single from Dalton Wood and a single by Tanner Smith to open the inning. Then Wood came home on a throwing error by the catcher as Smith attempted to steal second. Five pitches later the Pirates plated another run with Smith crossing the plate on a passed ball to go up 2-0.
Mooresville responded in the third as John Faulkenberry and Jackson Brant both walked to open the inning. Then Trevor McHouell placed a bunt single that loaded the bases and the Blue Devils knotted the score at two on a double to right by Cameron Clonch. Then Davis Turner singled back up the middle to score two more and give Mooresville a 4-2 lead they did not relinquish.
The Blue Devils grabbed two more runs in the fourth, as Tafton Hensley reached on an error to start the inning. Two batters later, after a sacrifice bunt advanced him to third, Brant singled to right to bring him across the plate. Then with two outs, Brant stole second and crossed the plate as Blake Burchett singled to center and lifted Mooresville to a 6-2 advantage. Hensley’s two-RBI double in the fifth closed out the scoring.
Nick Merriman threw a complete game, three-hitter for Mooresville in Game 2. Both runs he allowed were earned as he struck out five while allowing five walks. Game 1 starting pitcher from Mooresville, Justin Poris, was selected as the series Most Valuable Player for his complete game win in the series opener.
Corinth Holders finished the season 23-8. They won the Eastern Regional Championship for the first time in school history, making the school’s first appearance in the NCHSAA Baseball State Championship Series.
Mooresville completed the season 24-9. The Blue Devils won the Western Regional Championship for the first time in program history, and won the school’s first NCHSAA Baseball State Championship.
4A Baseball Championship Game 1: Mooresville takes Game 1 5-2 over Corinth Holders
GREENSBORO, NC – Corinth Holders jumped out to an early lead, but it was Mooresville that had the last word, scoring the last five runs of the game to take Game 1 of the NCHSAA 4A Baseball State Championship Series 5-2.
After a three-up, three-down top of the first for Mooresville, the Pirate offense broke the ice with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Corinth Holders got a leadoff double to right from Tanner Smith. Ty Cummings followed that by ripping an RBI single to right, plating the game’s first run. Then after a ground out to short advanced Cummings to third, Nick Tyler plated him on a sacrifice fly to right to put Corinth Holders up 2-0 early.
Mooresville finally broke through in the third inning, getting their first hit when Jackson Brant led off with a line drive single to left. Brant got to second on a sacrifice bunt and later scored when Cameron Clonch drove a ball through the right side to cut the Pirates lead to 2-1. Then Davis Turner singled through the right side bringing Blake Burchett around to touch the plate and tie the game at two.
The Blue Devils struck the decisive blow in the top of the fifth when Trevor McHouell led off with a single to left. He stole second base and reached third on an error during a bunt play. With a 3-2 count and no one out, Cummings unleashed a wild pitch that allowed McHouell to come home and Burchett to reach third from first. Then Turner grounded out to second, bringing home Burchett and putting the Blue Devils up 4-2. Mooresville added the final run on an RBI single to left by Nick Merriman.
Justin Poris was the winning pitcher for Mooresville, settling into the game nicely after giving up his only two runs of the game, both earned, during the opening frame. Poris struck out five without issuing a walk, scattering six hits across his seven innings. Ty Cummings was tagged with the loss for the Pirates, allowing five runs, three earned, during his five innings. He walked just one while allowing five hits and striking out two.
Mooresville will attempt to close out the 4A Baseball State Championship Series with a win in Game 2 of the best-of-three which is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. this afternoon at UNCG Baseball Stadium in Greensboro. Corinth Holders must win to force a decisive game three. All games of the NCHSAA Baseball State Championship Series can be watched via the NFHS Network’s live video streams (www.NFHSNetwork.com).
