Wesleyan gains split with HPCA
May. 01, 2015 @ 01:22 AM
Michael Lindsay
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Michael Lindsay | HPE
Wesleyan Christian's Jay Dixon (18) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a home run during the Trojans' 6-2 win against High Point Christian on Thursday at Oak View Baptist Church.
Michael Lindsay | HPE
High Point Christian's Shane Harvell, left, tries to turn a double play ahead of Wesleyan Christian's Jake Moebius during Thursday's game at Oak View Baptist Church.
Michael Lindsay | HPE
Wesleyan Christian's Riley Isenhour throws a pitch during the Trojans' 6-2 win against High Point Christian on Thursday at Oak View Baptist Church.
Michael Lindsay | HPE
Wesleyan Christian shortstop Adam Lassiter, right, turns a double play ahead of High Point Christian's Timmy Fischvogt during Thursday's game at Oak View Baptist Church.
More Fewer photos
HIGH POINT —
HIGH POINT – Wesleyan Christian came right back and got the win it needed to contend for the conference championship and one of the top seeds in the state playoffs.
The Trojans scored the first four runs of the game to grab the lead and, behind a complete game by pitcher Riley Isenhour, held off rival High Point Christian to win 6-2 in PACIS 2A/3A baseball Thursday at Oak View Baptist Church.
Click here for more photos from Thursday's game.
Wesleyan (16-1 overall, 8-1 PACIS), after losing the series’ first game Tuesday, pulled back even with the Cougars (20-2-1, 9-1) in the loss column. The teams would tie for the conference championship if the Trojans defeat Greensboro Day today.
The meeting to determine the seedings for the state playoffs will be Sunday. Wesleyan is No. 1 in the latest NCISAA 3A rankings, followed by Charlotte Christian, last year’s champion, and High Point Christian, last year’s runner-up.
“We feel great about it,” Trojans coach Scott Davis said. “They smacked us in the mouth the other night. I told our guys: It’s not the loss; it’s how you respond. And our guys were up to the challenge today. I was proud of them jumping out here in a tough environment. They have a heckuva ball team.
“Riley threw a great game, and we got the big hits when we needed them. … We talked before the game about needing to set the tone early like they did against us, and we did. (Josh) Nifong did a fantastic job and had us handcuffed early. But were able to get enough across, Riley gave us a nice game, and we played well today.”
Nate Blakeney went 2 for 3 with an RBI for Wesleyan, while Adam Lassiter had a key two-run double in the fourth inning. Jay Dixon hit a solo home run in the sixth, and A.J. Steindel also had two hits.
With no score in the fourth, the Trojans had runners on first and second with one out. Justin Olczak hit an infield grounder on which the Cougars tried to turn a double-play. But the toss to second base skipped into the outfield, allowing a run to score.
Then, two batters later, Lassiter drilled a double off the wall in left field to score two more runs and give Wesleyan a 3-0 lead. An inning later, Blakeney blooped a single into shallow center field to score another run.
“I just wanted to put a good swing on the ball, try to put something in play and help the team,” Lassiter said. “… It was a great win for us. We just wanted to come out here with intensity, play well as a team and get the win. It’s always an important game. They have a great team, and we always love to compete against them.”
HPCA scored two runs in the fifth, on an infield single by Ryan Hopkins and a sacrifice fly by Zach McLean, to pull within 4-2. But it couldn’t get any closer, as Dixon homered to center in the sixth and the Trojans scored off another error in the seventh.
Isenhour (6-0) held the Cougars in check much of the afternoon. He allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out three. Josh Nifong (8-1) took the loss with five runs (two earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out seven in six innings.
But it was largely the defensive miscues that proved costly for HPCA.
“We didn’t play our best,” Cougars coach Corey Gesell said. “The defense gave them some runs on some simple plays. Normally, we make those plays. So, the guys are disappointed. We feel like if we make a couple plays, then it’s a different ballgame. But that’s baseball.
“Riley’s a good pitcher. He throws three pitches for strikes, and we were just missing it. We popped up a few, hit a few ground balls, and the few balls we hit hard they caught in the outfield. So, that’s the way it is some days.”
Luke Gesell went 2 for 3 with a double for HPCA, which plays a nonconference game Saturday. Nifong also had a double, while McLean and Hopkins each had an RBI.
May. 01, 2015 @ 01:22 AM
Michael Lindsay
Login
Michael Lindsay | HPE
Wesleyan Christian's Jay Dixon (18) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a home run during the Trojans' 6-2 win against High Point Christian on Thursday at Oak View Baptist Church.
Michael Lindsay | HPE
High Point Christian's Shane Harvell, left, tries to turn a double play ahead of Wesleyan Christian's Jake Moebius during Thursday's game at Oak View Baptist Church.
Michael Lindsay | HPE
Wesleyan Christian's Riley Isenhour throws a pitch during the Trojans' 6-2 win against High Point Christian on Thursday at Oak View Baptist Church.
Michael Lindsay | HPE
Wesleyan Christian shortstop Adam Lassiter, right, turns a double play ahead of High Point Christian's Timmy Fischvogt during Thursday's game at Oak View Baptist Church.
More Fewer photos
HIGH POINT —
HIGH POINT – Wesleyan Christian came right back and got the win it needed to contend for the conference championship and one of the top seeds in the state playoffs.
The Trojans scored the first four runs of the game to grab the lead and, behind a complete game by pitcher Riley Isenhour, held off rival High Point Christian to win 6-2 in PACIS 2A/3A baseball Thursday at Oak View Baptist Church.
Click here for more photos from Thursday's game.
Wesleyan (16-1 overall, 8-1 PACIS), after losing the series’ first game Tuesday, pulled back even with the Cougars (20-2-1, 9-1) in the loss column. The teams would tie for the conference championship if the Trojans defeat Greensboro Day today.
The meeting to determine the seedings for the state playoffs will be Sunday. Wesleyan is No. 1 in the latest NCISAA 3A rankings, followed by Charlotte Christian, last year’s champion, and High Point Christian, last year’s runner-up.
“We feel great about it,” Trojans coach Scott Davis said. “They smacked us in the mouth the other night. I told our guys: It’s not the loss; it’s how you respond. And our guys were up to the challenge today. I was proud of them jumping out here in a tough environment. They have a heckuva ball team.
“Riley threw a great game, and we got the big hits when we needed them. … We talked before the game about needing to set the tone early like they did against us, and we did. (Josh) Nifong did a fantastic job and had us handcuffed early. But were able to get enough across, Riley gave us a nice game, and we played well today.”
Nate Blakeney went 2 for 3 with an RBI for Wesleyan, while Adam Lassiter had a key two-run double in the fourth inning. Jay Dixon hit a solo home run in the sixth, and A.J. Steindel also had two hits.
With no score in the fourth, the Trojans had runners on first and second with one out. Justin Olczak hit an infield grounder on which the Cougars tried to turn a double-play. But the toss to second base skipped into the outfield, allowing a run to score.
Then, two batters later, Lassiter drilled a double off the wall in left field to score two more runs and give Wesleyan a 3-0 lead. An inning later, Blakeney blooped a single into shallow center field to score another run.
“I just wanted to put a good swing on the ball, try to put something in play and help the team,” Lassiter said. “… It was a great win for us. We just wanted to come out here with intensity, play well as a team and get the win. It’s always an important game. They have a great team, and we always love to compete against them.”
HPCA scored two runs in the fifth, on an infield single by Ryan Hopkins and a sacrifice fly by Zach McLean, to pull within 4-2. But it couldn’t get any closer, as Dixon homered to center in the sixth and the Trojans scored off another error in the seventh.
Isenhour (6-0) held the Cougars in check much of the afternoon. He allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out three. Josh Nifong (8-1) took the loss with five runs (two earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out seven in six innings.
But it was largely the defensive miscues that proved costly for HPCA.
“We didn’t play our best,” Cougars coach Corey Gesell said. “The defense gave them some runs on some simple plays. Normally, we make those plays. So, the guys are disappointed. We feel like if we make a couple plays, then it’s a different ballgame. But that’s baseball.
“Riley’s a good pitcher. He throws three pitches for strikes, and we were just missing it. We popped up a few, hit a few ground balls, and the few balls we hit hard they caught in the outfield. So, that’s the way it is some days.”
Luke Gesell went 2 for 3 with a double for HPCA, which plays a nonconference game Saturday. Nifong also had a double, while McLean and Hopkins each had an RBI.
