Wesleyan softball falls to Metrolina
BY MICHAEL LINDSAY
ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
RALEIGH — Wesleyan Christian, try as it did, couldn’t go any further.
Fatigued after being whittled down to basically 10 players, the top-seeded Trojans struggled early, fought to keep pace but ultimately fell to fifth-seeded Metrolina Christian 6-2 on Saturday and was eliminated from the NCISAA 3A tournament at Wake Christian.
Wesleyan, with a very young team this year after winning the state title last year with a veteran group, finished with one win and two losses in the double-elimination portion of the playoffs. Second-seeded Hickory Grove then defeated Metrolina 7-0 in the following game to capture the state championship.
“We didn’t have our best game,” Trojans coach Donald Brewer said. “We were out-matched. But I’m proud of the way we played all year.”
Wesleyan, which finished the season 14-5, trailed from the start. The Warriors scored three runs in the top of the first without a hit — getting runners on with a dropped third strike, a walk, an outfield error and a sacrifice fly. The Trojans answered with two runs in the bottom half but couldn’t overcome the deficit.
Peyton Day, a sophomore, hit a two-run home run down the left-field line to pull Wesleyan within 3-2. Reagan Neal and Chandler Deese then followed with back-to-back singles to keep the rally going, but the Trojans couldn’t sustain it — placing no more than one runner on base at any point the rest of the game.
“We battled back — we battled back all year,” Brewer said. “All year we beat (all the top teams) when it came to a one-game shootout. We knew coming into the tournament that it’d be tough for us to play three or four games in a row and be at our best. We about had to go undefeated to have a chance to win it.”
Day went 3 for 3 to lead the Trojans, who graduate their only senior, Kayla Brewer, and should return a host of young players — including seven underclassmen and middle schoolers who were in Saturday’s starting lineup. Neal, Deese, Kayla Darr and Nati Diaz each added a hit.
Kayla Brewer took the complete game loss for Wesleyan, allowing eight hits and three walks while striking out seven, while Logan Bjorson got the win for Metrolina, giving up seven hits and one walk while striking out three. Leah Mabry led the Warriors at the plate with a triple, sacrifice fl y and three RBIs.
And while the Trojans were a bit tearful after their season-ending loss, they were proud of what they accomplished, which included setting a school record for 21 shutout innings that lasted through Friday’s first game (a 3-0 win over Metrolina), and hopeful for what’s to come with such a young, talented group.
“We beat everybody here this year,” Coach Brewer said. “So, I’m very proud — we did super. To go from just wanting to make the tournament at the beginning of the year to being the No. 1 team means a lot. This was a rebuilding year, and to come into the tournament No. 1 — our future is looking good.”
BY MICHAEL LINDSAY
ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
RALEIGH — Wesleyan Christian, try as it did, couldn’t go any further.
Fatigued after being whittled down to basically 10 players, the top-seeded Trojans struggled early, fought to keep pace but ultimately fell to fifth-seeded Metrolina Christian 6-2 on Saturday and was eliminated from the NCISAA 3A tournament at Wake Christian.
Wesleyan, with a very young team this year after winning the state title last year with a veteran group, finished with one win and two losses in the double-elimination portion of the playoffs. Second-seeded Hickory Grove then defeated Metrolina 7-0 in the following game to capture the state championship.
“We didn’t have our best game,” Trojans coach Donald Brewer said. “We were out-matched. But I’m proud of the way we played all year.”
Wesleyan, which finished the season 14-5, trailed from the start. The Warriors scored three runs in the top of the first without a hit — getting runners on with a dropped third strike, a walk, an outfield error and a sacrifice fly. The Trojans answered with two runs in the bottom half but couldn’t overcome the deficit.
Peyton Day, a sophomore, hit a two-run home run down the left-field line to pull Wesleyan within 3-2. Reagan Neal and Chandler Deese then followed with back-to-back singles to keep the rally going, but the Trojans couldn’t sustain it — placing no more than one runner on base at any point the rest of the game.
“We battled back — we battled back all year,” Brewer said. “All year we beat (all the top teams) when it came to a one-game shootout. We knew coming into the tournament that it’d be tough for us to play three or four games in a row and be at our best. We about had to go undefeated to have a chance to win it.”
Day went 3 for 3 to lead the Trojans, who graduate their only senior, Kayla Brewer, and should return a host of young players — including seven underclassmen and middle schoolers who were in Saturday’s starting lineup. Neal, Deese, Kayla Darr and Nati Diaz each added a hit.
Kayla Brewer took the complete game loss for Wesleyan, allowing eight hits and three walks while striking out seven, while Logan Bjorson got the win for Metrolina, giving up seven hits and one walk while striking out three. Leah Mabry led the Warriors at the plate with a triple, sacrifice fl y and three RBIs.
And while the Trojans were a bit tearful after their season-ending loss, they were proud of what they accomplished, which included setting a school record for 21 shutout innings that lasted through Friday’s first game (a 3-0 win over Metrolina), and hopeful for what’s to come with such a young, talented group.
“We beat everybody here this year,” Coach Brewer said. “So, I’m very proud — we did super. To go from just wanting to make the tournament at the beginning of the year to being the No. 1 team means a lot. This was a rebuilding year, and to come into the tournament No. 1 — our future is looking good.”
