NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

STATE 1-A BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES—GAME TWO

CHERRYVILLE SWEEPS TOPSAIL, TAKES CHAMPIONSHIP

GREENSBORO — Bryan DaCanal was a perfect four for four and Seth Freeman added three hits as Cherryville pounded Hampstead Topsail 11-0 in the second game of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 1-A baseball championship series at UNCG Baseball Stadium on Saturday.

The victory gave the Ironmen a sweep of the best of three series. Cherryville had taken the opening game on Friday night by a 2-0 count, with Nate Thornburg’s two-run double in the fourth driving in the only runs of the game.

Freeman, who was five for seven in the series and pitched a complete-game victory Friday night, was named the Most Valuable Player.

Cherryville jumped on top with three in the first, keyed by a two-run triple by DaCanal, and then blew it open with four in the third. Freeman’s two-run single got that inning going.

The Ironmen pounded out 15 hits off four Topsail pitchers, with starter Brock Jaeger, who left the game in the third, taking the loss. Thomas Bess, who pitched the first five innings for Cherryville, was the winner.

No Topsail batter had more than one hit.

Cherryville finished the season 24-7 and won its last 10 in a row en route to its sixth NCHSAA state baseball championship since 1980 and first since 2001.Topsail ended the year 24-8 overall, its seventh consecutive 20-win season, and made its first trip to a state baseball final.

The Greensboro Sports Commission is assisting with this championship series. Wendy’s and the Carolina Ford Dealers are the presenting sponsors of the NCHSAA sports program.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

STATE 1-A BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES—GAME TWO

UNCG Baseball Stadium. Greensboro

Cherryville 3 0 4 2 0 2 — 11 15 0

Hampstead Topsail 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 6 2

Game called due to 10 run rule.

WP—Thomas Bess. LP—Brock Jaeger.