Wesleyan shuts out
Wake Christian
BY GREER SMITH
HP ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
HIGH POINT — Wesleyan Christian Academy’s of fense wasn’t at its best Friday. The Trojans’ pitching helped make up for it. Brett Kerry and Riley Isenhour held Wake Christian to two hits and the Trojans escaped with a 2-0 victory at Ed Price Field in the quarterfinals of the bNCISAA 3A baseball playoffs.
Wesleyan didn’t pound the ball, either. The Trojans managed just three hits and left the bases loaded twice, unable to take full advantage of the control problems of Wake Christian starter Grayson Williams. But they turned two hits and a walk into two runs in the first inning.
The Trojans, who defeated Wake Christian twice in the regular season, improved to 20-6 and host fifth-seeded CharlotteCountry Day on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Ed Price Field in the
semifinals. Charlotte Country Day advanced with a 5-4 win over fourth seeded Charlotte Christian on Friday.Wake Christian finished 14-7.
“We had some complacency early in the playoffs against a team we had beaten twice already,” Wesleyan coach Scott Davis said. “We weren’t ready offensively to match the kid that they threw. He kept us off balance. We had the bases loaded twice with one out and couldn’t get a big hit. We can give their pitcher credit for getting out of some jams, but we’ve got to be better on our approaches (at the plate) next week.”
Jay Dixon provided what proved to be the game-winning hit, lacing a two-out single that scored Jacob Kohns and Patrick Bailey. Kohns led off the game with one of five walks issued by Williams. With one out, Bailey doubled to the wall in right-center field. Dixon stroked his single up the middle.
“I got a f i r s t - p i t c h changeup,” Dixon said. “I was just tr ying to put something in play. We wanted to jump on them early, coming off two big games (against High Point Christian) last week. We didn’t want them to be the only runs, but it all worked out.”
Wesleyan loaded the bases in the second on a walk, single and another walk. Williams coaxed a fly to center to end the inning.
The Trojans filled the sacks in the fourth on a fielder’s choice andtwo walks. WIlliams got out of the inning by holding Wesleyan to two ground balls to the left side of the infield, the fi rst one resulting in a force out at the plate.
“I think we were overly aggressive,” Dixon said. “We were swinging too hard. He was a solid pitcher with a curve and changeup, and he mixed it up. But it was something we should have handled. We know if we want to win the state championship we have to playbetter.”
Wesleyan did not get a hit after Kohns singled in the second.
“We just couldn’t come up with the big hit,” Davis said. “We do that a couple of times and it’s 8-0.” Kerry and Isenhour each allowed one hit and no other baserunners. Kerry, who went the first four innings and got the win, gave up a leadoff single to center in the second, then ripped off three of his six strikeouts.
Isenhour pitched the final three frames. He allowed an infield single in the seventh and struck out two. “Brett and Riley are our top two pitchers and we wanted to throw them four and three innings, respectively,” Davis said. “We want them fresh for Tuesday and we were able to do that.”
The Trojans were without second baseman Jackson Prillaman, who tore a rotator cuff diving for a ball in a game against High PointChristian last week and is out for the season.
“He’s a huge part of our lineup and that put a damper on us today,” Davis said. “He’s been one of our hottest hitters. So, we’ve got to find some offense to replace him.”
Wake Christian
BY GREER SMITH
HP ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
HIGH POINT — Wesleyan Christian Academy’s of fense wasn’t at its best Friday. The Trojans’ pitching helped make up for it. Brett Kerry and Riley Isenhour held Wake Christian to two hits and the Trojans escaped with a 2-0 victory at Ed Price Field in the quarterfinals of the bNCISAA 3A baseball playoffs.
Wesleyan didn’t pound the ball, either. The Trojans managed just three hits and left the bases loaded twice, unable to take full advantage of the control problems of Wake Christian starter Grayson Williams. But they turned two hits and a walk into two runs in the first inning.
The Trojans, who defeated Wake Christian twice in the regular season, improved to 20-6 and host fifth-seeded CharlotteCountry Day on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Ed Price Field in the
semifinals. Charlotte Country Day advanced with a 5-4 win over fourth seeded Charlotte Christian on Friday.Wake Christian finished 14-7.
“We had some complacency early in the playoffs against a team we had beaten twice already,” Wesleyan coach Scott Davis said. “We weren’t ready offensively to match the kid that they threw. He kept us off balance. We had the bases loaded twice with one out and couldn’t get a big hit. We can give their pitcher credit for getting out of some jams, but we’ve got to be better on our approaches (at the plate) next week.”
Jay Dixon provided what proved to be the game-winning hit, lacing a two-out single that scored Jacob Kohns and Patrick Bailey. Kohns led off the game with one of five walks issued by Williams. With one out, Bailey doubled to the wall in right-center field. Dixon stroked his single up the middle.
“I got a f i r s t - p i t c h changeup,” Dixon said. “I was just tr ying to put something in play. We wanted to jump on them early, coming off two big games (against High Point Christian) last week. We didn’t want them to be the only runs, but it all worked out.”
Wesleyan loaded the bases in the second on a walk, single and another walk. Williams coaxed a fly to center to end the inning.
The Trojans filled the sacks in the fourth on a fielder’s choice andtwo walks. WIlliams got out of the inning by holding Wesleyan to two ground balls to the left side of the infield, the fi rst one resulting in a force out at the plate.
“I think we were overly aggressive,” Dixon said. “We were swinging too hard. He was a solid pitcher with a curve and changeup, and he mixed it up. But it was something we should have handled. We know if we want to win the state championship we have to playbetter.”
Wesleyan did not get a hit after Kohns singled in the second.
“We just couldn’t come up with the big hit,” Davis said. “We do that a couple of times and it’s 8-0.” Kerry and Isenhour each allowed one hit and no other baserunners. Kerry, who went the first four innings and got the win, gave up a leadoff single to center in the second, then ripped off three of his six strikeouts.
Isenhour pitched the final three frames. He allowed an infield single in the seventh and struck out two. “Brett and Riley are our top two pitchers and we wanted to throw them four and three innings, respectively,” Davis said. “We want them fresh for Tuesday and we were able to do that.”
The Trojans were without second baseman Jackson Prillaman, who tore a rotator cuff diving for a ball in a game against High PointChristian last week and is out for the season.
“He’s a huge part of our lineup and that put a damper on us today,” Davis said. “He’s been one of our hottest hitters. So, we’ve got to find some offense to replace him.”
