MICHAEL LlINDSEY--HP ENTERPRISE
HIGH POINT — It certainly wasn’t its best game, but High Point Christian found ways to win and sweep its first conference series of the season.
The Cougars trailed early but scored six straight runs — highlighted by a four-run second inning — to overtake Greensboro Day and win 8-6 in PACIS 2A/3A baseball Thursday at Oak View Baptist Church.
“They got a couple guys on and hit a home run, and that’s when you see what your team’s made of,” HPCA coach Corey Gesell said. “Whether they’re going to shut down or they’re going to rise to the occasion. The guys did a good job hitting the ball and running the bases, scored some runs and got back in it. …
“They’re teenagers,” he said with a smile, “and sometimes they’ve got to learn that you’ve got to come ready to play every game or you could lose. It’s conference play, and Greensboro Day has some good players who are going to battle. Our guys saw that, and I liked how our guys responded.”
Brody Lawson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs to lead the offense for the Cougars (17-1), who beat the Bengals 10-0 in five innings Tuesday. Shane Harvell and Dylan Wilkinson each added a hit and an RBI.
HPCA trailed 5-2 after Greensboro Day scored five runs, keyed by a three-run home run by Dillon Bowman, in the top of the second. But it quickly answered in the bottom half by getting runners on base and moving them one hitter at a time.
“We just put the ball in play,” said Timmy Fischvogt, a senior catcher and N.C. Central recruit. “That was the main thing, and just running out hits. Whenever it’s on the ground, run it out to first. … We just come out ready and focused and come out with the mindset of putting runs on the board.”
In the second, Harvell singled in one with runners on second and third and nobody out. Fischvogt grounded out to score a run with the bases loaded and nobody out. Heath Hopkins raced home on a two-out wild pitch, and Lawson singled in the inning’s fi nal run with the bases loaded and two outs to lead 6-5.
The Cougars added two runs in the sixth on an infield error and a double-play groundout by Lawson,who also had a sacrifice fly in the first inning to help pull ahead 2-0, to lead 8-5. The Bengals scored once in the seventh on a two-out double and brought the tying run to the plate before HPCA finished off the win.Zach Britton (3-1) got the win in four innings, allowing fi ve runs (none earned) on two hits while striking out six and walking three. Wilkinson picked up his second save with one run on three hits while striking out six – including the first four batters he faced – and walking none in three innings.
“Zach pitched well, although he struggled that one inning,” Gesell said. “But they didn’t get many hits,so our pitchers threw well. They had a few walks. And then Dylan came in and did a good job hitting his spots and getting a couple ground balls and strikeouts.”
Bowman took the loss on the mound for Greensboro Day (8-3),while Davis Shoener had two hits,including a double, and an RBI. The Cougars host the Charlotte Stampede this afternoon at 4:30 beforereturning to PACIS 2A/3A play Tuesday at home against Davidson Day.
HIGH POINT — It certainly wasn’t its best game, but High Point Christian found ways to win and sweep its first conference series of the season.
The Cougars trailed early but scored six straight runs — highlighted by a four-run second inning — to overtake Greensboro Day and win 8-6 in PACIS 2A/3A baseball Thursday at Oak View Baptist Church.
“They got a couple guys on and hit a home run, and that’s when you see what your team’s made of,” HPCA coach Corey Gesell said. “Whether they’re going to shut down or they’re going to rise to the occasion. The guys did a good job hitting the ball and running the bases, scored some runs and got back in it. …
“They’re teenagers,” he said with a smile, “and sometimes they’ve got to learn that you’ve got to come ready to play every game or you could lose. It’s conference play, and Greensboro Day has some good players who are going to battle. Our guys saw that, and I liked how our guys responded.”
Brody Lawson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs to lead the offense for the Cougars (17-1), who beat the Bengals 10-0 in five innings Tuesday. Shane Harvell and Dylan Wilkinson each added a hit and an RBI.
HPCA trailed 5-2 after Greensboro Day scored five runs, keyed by a three-run home run by Dillon Bowman, in the top of the second. But it quickly answered in the bottom half by getting runners on base and moving them one hitter at a time.
“We just put the ball in play,” said Timmy Fischvogt, a senior catcher and N.C. Central recruit. “That was the main thing, and just running out hits. Whenever it’s on the ground, run it out to first. … We just come out ready and focused and come out with the mindset of putting runs on the board.”
In the second, Harvell singled in one with runners on second and third and nobody out. Fischvogt grounded out to score a run with the bases loaded and nobody out. Heath Hopkins raced home on a two-out wild pitch, and Lawson singled in the inning’s fi nal run with the bases loaded and two outs to lead 6-5.
The Cougars added two runs in the sixth on an infield error and a double-play groundout by Lawson,who also had a sacrifice fly in the first inning to help pull ahead 2-0, to lead 8-5. The Bengals scored once in the seventh on a two-out double and brought the tying run to the plate before HPCA finished off the win.Zach Britton (3-1) got the win in four innings, allowing fi ve runs (none earned) on two hits while striking out six and walking three. Wilkinson picked up his second save with one run on three hits while striking out six – including the first four batters he faced – and walking none in three innings.
“Zach pitched well, although he struggled that one inning,” Gesell said. “But they didn’t get many hits,so our pitchers threw well. They had a few walks. And then Dylan came in and did a good job hitting his spots and getting a couple ground balls and strikeouts.”
Bowman took the loss on the mound for Greensboro Day (8-3),while Davis Shoener had two hits,including a double, and an RBI. The Cougars host the Charlotte Stampede this afternoon at 4:30 beforereturning to PACIS 2A/3A play Tuesday at home against Davidson Day.
