Wesleyan caps regular season with big win
Michael Lindsay | Enterprise Sports Writer Apr 30, 2021 Updated 5 hrs ago
HIGH POINT — Wesleyan Christian put the final exclamation point on a strong regular season.
The Trojans capitalized well at the plate during two big innings and, behind a strong complete-game performance by Grant Aycock on the mound, beat Carmel Christian 7-2 in NCISAA baseball Friday evening in front of a big crowd at Wesleyan’s baseball field.
“We’re playing right at the right time,” Wesleyan coach Mo Blakeney said. “It’s been a journey, we’re very young, but I’m very excited about our young players playing and playing in big moments.
“We finally became a team. These guys are finally unselfish in understanding their roles and what they need to do for us to be successful.”
Jacob Cozart went 2 for 3 with a double while Justyn Steens also went 2 for 3 for the Trojans (14-4), ranked No. 8 in the state overall and No. 4 among NCISAA 4A teams by MaxPreps. Aycock added a hit, a sacrifice fly and two RBIs.
Drew Downs, Christian Walker and Josh Jordan each had a hit, a sacrifice and an RBI as Wesleyan totaled 11 hits for the game and posted three runs in the third to lead 3-1 and four in the sixth to lead 7-2.
“I think we played great all around,” Aycock said. “I think it was definitely our best team win of the year. We all fought for each other and did the small stuff that really helped each other win.”
Aycock, getting better as the game went along, struck out six while scattering five hits, three walks and one hit batter. He allowed an unearned run in the third, following a series of miscues, and a manufactured run in the fourth.
Other than that, the Cougars (6-8), ranked No. 25 in the state overall and No. 11 among NCISAA 4A teams, were pretty limited — tallying multiple hits in only one inning and no hits after the fourth inning.
“Pretty much everything felt good — fastball, changeup and my slider,” Aycock said of his mound performance. “All were definitely plus today. It all felt great. Everything pretty much came together and it felt good.”
The Trojans, who won their 11th straight game, pulled ahead in the third. Aycock singled home a run, then, after loading the bases with no outs, Downs and Walker plated runs on back-to-back sacrifice flies.
Wesleyan, leading 3-2, extended its lead in a 10-batter sixth. Jordan roped an RBI single, Aycock had a sacrifice fly, then Jordan and Steens scored on back-to-back errors as the Trojans kept pressure on the defense.
“Getting on base early — leadoff guys getting on,” Aycock said of the big innings. “And the small ball really helps us. Walks, bunts, hit-and-runs — that all helps get guys around so we can get bases. Just playing fundamentally sound.”
Aycock then mowed down the side 1-2-3 — finishing off with a strikeout — in the seventh.
The Trojans now look to carry the momentum into the state playoffs, which will be seeded over the weekend.
“We’ve won 11 games in a row,” Blakeney said. “And sometimes that doesn’t mean anything and sometimes it means a lot. It means a lot for us because we’re growing with each game.
“Each game brings a different scenario with the team that you’re playing, but we’re staying the same with who we are. With the Wesleyan name, people hunt us. But I told them that we’re hunting everyone else.
“Everyone thinks we’re being hunted, but we’re hunting too.”
mlindsay@hpenews.com | 336-888-3526 | @HPEmichael
Michael Lindsay | Enterprise Sports Writer Apr 30, 2021 Updated 5 hrs ago
HIGH POINT — Wesleyan Christian put the final exclamation point on a strong regular season.
The Trojans capitalized well at the plate during two big innings and, behind a strong complete-game performance by Grant Aycock on the mound, beat Carmel Christian 7-2 in NCISAA baseball Friday evening in front of a big crowd at Wesleyan’s baseball field.
“We’re playing right at the right time,” Wesleyan coach Mo Blakeney said. “It’s been a journey, we’re very young, but I’m very excited about our young players playing and playing in big moments.
“We finally became a team. These guys are finally unselfish in understanding their roles and what they need to do for us to be successful.”
Jacob Cozart went 2 for 3 with a double while Justyn Steens also went 2 for 3 for the Trojans (14-4), ranked No. 8 in the state overall and No. 4 among NCISAA 4A teams by MaxPreps. Aycock added a hit, a sacrifice fly and two RBIs.
Drew Downs, Christian Walker and Josh Jordan each had a hit, a sacrifice and an RBI as Wesleyan totaled 11 hits for the game and posted three runs in the third to lead 3-1 and four in the sixth to lead 7-2.
“I think we played great all around,” Aycock said. “I think it was definitely our best team win of the year. We all fought for each other and did the small stuff that really helped each other win.”
Aycock, getting better as the game went along, struck out six while scattering five hits, three walks and one hit batter. He allowed an unearned run in the third, following a series of miscues, and a manufactured run in the fourth.
Other than that, the Cougars (6-8), ranked No. 25 in the state overall and No. 11 among NCISAA 4A teams, were pretty limited — tallying multiple hits in only one inning and no hits after the fourth inning.
“Pretty much everything felt good — fastball, changeup and my slider,” Aycock said of his mound performance. “All were definitely plus today. It all felt great. Everything pretty much came together and it felt good.”
The Trojans, who won their 11th straight game, pulled ahead in the third. Aycock singled home a run, then, after loading the bases with no outs, Downs and Walker plated runs on back-to-back sacrifice flies.
Wesleyan, leading 3-2, extended its lead in a 10-batter sixth. Jordan roped an RBI single, Aycock had a sacrifice fly, then Jordan and Steens scored on back-to-back errors as the Trojans kept pressure on the defense.
“Getting on base early — leadoff guys getting on,” Aycock said of the big innings. “And the small ball really helps us. Walks, bunts, hit-and-runs — that all helps get guys around so we can get bases. Just playing fundamentally sound.”
Aycock then mowed down the side 1-2-3 — finishing off with a strikeout — in the seventh.
The Trojans now look to carry the momentum into the state playoffs, which will be seeded over the weekend.
“We’ve won 11 games in a row,” Blakeney said. “And sometimes that doesn’t mean anything and sometimes it means a lot. It means a lot for us because we’re growing with each game.
“Each game brings a different scenario with the team that you’re playing, but we’re staying the same with who we are. With the Wesleyan name, people hunt us. But I told them that we’re hunting everyone else.
“Everyone thinks we’re being hunted, but we’re hunting too.”
mlindsay@hpenews.com | 336-888-3526 | @HPEmichael
