Cougars cruise past Knights, 13-3
BY MICHAEL LINDSAY
ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
HIGH POINT — High Point Christian needed to go through the order a time or two before it felt comfortable at the plate.
Then, it really got going.
The Cougars edged ahead early, stayed close through the middle innings, then exploded for seven runs in the sixth inning to beat North Raleigh Christian 13-3 in six innings Friday in nonconference baseball at Oak View Baptist Church.
“Their starting pitcher was throwing a really good changeup with some tail, and that kept us off-balance,” HPCA coach Corey Gesell said. “We started to get to him a little bit. The guys had much better approaches the second time through the order.”
Kameron Heath went 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs for the Cougars (3-4), who totaled 15 hits for the game. Josh Nifong also hit a two-run home run, while Caleb Homol had two hits and an RBI. Brody Lawson and Rob Sari each added two hits, including a double.
Nifong got the win on the mound, allowing one run on one hit while striking out five and walking two in three innings. Heath also pitched two strong innings before giving way to Chase Britton for one solid inning.
“We played really good,” said Nifong, a Duke University recruit. “We’re starting to step up the bats a little bit. … I think it was good for our team to see that. We were kind of off-balance with his changeup and his two-seam ran out, so we were chasing some bad pitches. But once we stayed back we were able to drive some fastballs, and it started coming together.”
HPCA scored single runs in the second to lead 1-0 and in the second to lead 2-1 before scoring four runs on three hits in the fourth to lead 6-1. But the Knights (1-5), who were led by Jared Bocanegra and Creighton Ball with a hit and an RBI apiece, answered with single runs in the third, fifth and sixth to stay within 6-3.
The Cougars, however, scored seven runs on seven hits – including two-run home runs by Nifong and Heath – as they brought 10 batters to the plate during the inning and ended the game via the 10-run mercy rule.
“It was definitely good to see,” Gesell said. “We’re just tr ying to work hard at practice, trying to get a little better. When you see the guys swing it like that, it gives them some feedback. They see that their hard work is starting to pay off a little bit.”
HPCA is scheduled to play again Tuesday at Westchester Country Day at 7 p.m.
BY MICHAEL LINDSAY
ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
HIGH POINT — High Point Christian needed to go through the order a time or two before it felt comfortable at the plate.
Then, it really got going.
The Cougars edged ahead early, stayed close through the middle innings, then exploded for seven runs in the sixth inning to beat North Raleigh Christian 13-3 in six innings Friday in nonconference baseball at Oak View Baptist Church.
“Their starting pitcher was throwing a really good changeup with some tail, and that kept us off-balance,” HPCA coach Corey Gesell said. “We started to get to him a little bit. The guys had much better approaches the second time through the order.”
Kameron Heath went 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs for the Cougars (3-4), who totaled 15 hits for the game. Josh Nifong also hit a two-run home run, while Caleb Homol had two hits and an RBI. Brody Lawson and Rob Sari each added two hits, including a double.
Nifong got the win on the mound, allowing one run on one hit while striking out five and walking two in three innings. Heath also pitched two strong innings before giving way to Chase Britton for one solid inning.
“We played really good,” said Nifong, a Duke University recruit. “We’re starting to step up the bats a little bit. … I think it was good for our team to see that. We were kind of off-balance with his changeup and his two-seam ran out, so we were chasing some bad pitches. But once we stayed back we were able to drive some fastballs, and it started coming together.”
HPCA scored single runs in the second to lead 1-0 and in the second to lead 2-1 before scoring four runs on three hits in the fourth to lead 6-1. But the Knights (1-5), who were led by Jared Bocanegra and Creighton Ball with a hit and an RBI apiece, answered with single runs in the third, fifth and sixth to stay within 6-3.
The Cougars, however, scored seven runs on seven hits – including two-run home runs by Nifong and Heath – as they brought 10 batters to the plate during the inning and ended the game via the 10-run mercy rule.
“It was definitely good to see,” Gesell said. “We’re just tr ying to work hard at practice, trying to get a little better. When you see the guys swing it like that, it gives them some feedback. They see that their hard work is starting to pay off a little bit.”
HPCA is scheduled to play again Tuesday at Westchester Country Day at 7 p.m.
