Faith Christian's Roupp shuts down RMA
By PATRICK MASON
Sports Writer ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Saturday, April 29, 2017
Sam Mills knew what to expect from Rocky Mount Academy pitcher Reid Johnston, and it wasn’t going to be easy.
Mills, Faith Christian’s leadoff batter, told himself to make contact and work opposite field. Anything more and he knew that Johnston had the ability to make him look silly.
“I kept it simple,” Mills said. “I tried to work the back side of the field, especially against a fast pitcher like Red who throws hard. We know what to expect from him, and we just have to find away.”
The Patriots found a way by taking advantage of a pair of Rocky Mount Academy errors, and rode a stellar outing from starter Landen Roupp to secure a 2-0 win.
Johnston finished with two unearned runs over six innings, with eight strikeouts. Both runs scored on throwing errors, with the first coming in the second inning.
It began when Ben Lewis led off the second with a single, stole second, then moved to third on an Eli Ess single. When Ess was on his way to steal second, and the throw from the Eagles’ catcher soared over the bag, allowing Lewis to come around and score. Faith Christian would later add an insurance run in the sixth when Mills scored from third on a throwing error from the third baseman.
“Being aggressive on the bases and taking an extra base whenever we can is what we’ve been doing all season.” Mills said. “Coach (Greg Clifton) is never upset if we make an aggressive mistake, and I think that’s why we play like that. Things like that are important when you know both pitchers aren’t going to give up anything.”
Roupp dominated after being staked to an early lead. The right-handed University of North Carolina Wilmington recruit struck out nine and allowed just two hits in a complete-game win.
“I tried to mix it up a lot,” Roupp said. “I threw all four pitches tonight, slider, curve, two-seam and four-seam. I located well and found my slider as the game went on.”
Roupp allowed three total baserunners, and just one reached second base. RMA’s Isaiah Thomas led off the game with a double down the left-field line, but was picked off a batter later. N.C. State recruit Reid Johnston had a tough time against Roupp, a longtime friend and offseason teammate.
Johnston hit a line drive to right in the first inning, but was robbed by Mills who made a diving catch. Johnston struck out in his next at-bat, and grounded out to second in his third.
“They have a fast outfield so I knew that wasn’t going to drop,” Johnston said. “Landen kept me off-balance all game. He hit his spots and made the right pitches at the right time.”
By PATRICK MASON
Sports Writer ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Saturday, April 29, 2017
Sam Mills knew what to expect from Rocky Mount Academy pitcher Reid Johnston, and it wasn’t going to be easy.
Mills, Faith Christian’s leadoff batter, told himself to make contact and work opposite field. Anything more and he knew that Johnston had the ability to make him look silly.
“I kept it simple,” Mills said. “I tried to work the back side of the field, especially against a fast pitcher like Red who throws hard. We know what to expect from him, and we just have to find away.”
The Patriots found a way by taking advantage of a pair of Rocky Mount Academy errors, and rode a stellar outing from starter Landen Roupp to secure a 2-0 win.
Johnston finished with two unearned runs over six innings, with eight strikeouts. Both runs scored on throwing errors, with the first coming in the second inning.
It began when Ben Lewis led off the second with a single, stole second, then moved to third on an Eli Ess single. When Ess was on his way to steal second, and the throw from the Eagles’ catcher soared over the bag, allowing Lewis to come around and score. Faith Christian would later add an insurance run in the sixth when Mills scored from third on a throwing error from the third baseman.
“Being aggressive on the bases and taking an extra base whenever we can is what we’ve been doing all season.” Mills said. “Coach (Greg Clifton) is never upset if we make an aggressive mistake, and I think that’s why we play like that. Things like that are important when you know both pitchers aren’t going to give up anything.”
Roupp dominated after being staked to an early lead. The right-handed University of North Carolina Wilmington recruit struck out nine and allowed just two hits in a complete-game win.
“I tried to mix it up a lot,” Roupp said. “I threw all four pitches tonight, slider, curve, two-seam and four-seam. I located well and found my slider as the game went on.”
Roupp allowed three total baserunners, and just one reached second base. RMA’s Isaiah Thomas led off the game with a double down the left-field line, but was picked off a batter later. N.C. State recruit Reid Johnston had a tough time against Roupp, a longtime friend and offseason teammate.
Johnston hit a line drive to right in the first inning, but was robbed by Mills who made a diving catch. Johnston struck out in his next at-bat, and grounded out to second in his third.
“They have a fast outfield so I knew that wasn’t going to drop,” Johnston said. “Landen kept me off-balance all game. He hit his spots and made the right pitches at the right time.”
