Bethel Christian takes advantage of strong pitching, Arendell Parrott errors in victory
By Junious Smith III / Sports Editor KINSTON FREE PRESS
Tanner Batchelor wasn’t afraid of the moment.
Pitching his first game in varsity, the sophomore threw a complete game as Bethel Christian defeated Arendell Parrott 7-4 Monday. Batchelor allowed two unearned runs while allowing five hits to help the Trojans (2-1) secure victory against their crosstown rivals.
“I was just throwing strikes and my curveball was working good,” Batchelor said. “I hope to keep pitching like this (the rest of the season.)”
Arendell Parrott (4-3) did get on the board first in the top of the first when Connor Bright started with a single before stealing second and third before Jonah Beaman’s sacrifice fly brought him home for the 1-0 advantage. Bethel Christian struck back later in the frame when Jonathan Truett would get on base and eventually score on a Cole Williams sacrifice fly to tie the score, then an error on a Michael Fulcher flyout plated another run to put the Trojans in front.
Bright would lead the top of the third with a double, then would score on an error from a Matthew Huntley grounder to knot it at 2, but an error on a Chris Blizzard bunt to start the bottom of the third and a Hunter Stephens first-pitch RBI double pushed Bethel Christian back in front. Three batters later, with runners at the corners, Williams appeared to be caught in a pickle between first and second and Stephens took advantage of the distraction, scoring from third to put the Trojans ahead 4-2. Stephens would later add an RBI sacrifice fly in the next inning and an error on a Williams popup brought in another run to stretch the advantage to four.
The Patriots finished with six errors, something head coach Robert Kravitz wasn’t pleased with.
“We weren’t good and we’ve been in a rut lately (losing three straight),” Kravitz said. “We’ll go back to practice and work harder, because right now we’re moving in the wrong direction.”
Batchelor did get into some trouble in the top of the sixth when with two outs, an error on a Reynolds Barringer grounder scored Zach Vendemia before Cole Daniels’ subsequent RBI double brought Arendell Parrott within 6-4. From there, Bethel Christian’s David Whitfield snared a Bright liner to end the threat.
More Video: Arendell Parrott's Savannah Hill hits a 2-run double
Stephens would get an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth and Batchelor was able to get out of the top of the seventh with little difficulty to end the game.
“Pitching was outstanding (Monday),” Bethel Christian coach Kenny Sutton said. “We didn’t give (Batchelor) as much help as we should’ve (with four errors), but offensively we made some timely hits to get the win.”
APA 101 002 0 — 4 5 6
BCA 202 201 X — 7 7 4
APA: Vendemia, Beamon (5) and McLawhorn.
BCA: Batchelor and Daugherty.
By Junious Smith III / Sports Editor KINSTON FREE PRESS
Tanner Batchelor wasn’t afraid of the moment.
Pitching his first game in varsity, the sophomore threw a complete game as Bethel Christian defeated Arendell Parrott 7-4 Monday. Batchelor allowed two unearned runs while allowing five hits to help the Trojans (2-1) secure victory against their crosstown rivals.
“I was just throwing strikes and my curveball was working good,” Batchelor said. “I hope to keep pitching like this (the rest of the season.)”
Arendell Parrott (4-3) did get on the board first in the top of the first when Connor Bright started with a single before stealing second and third before Jonah Beaman’s sacrifice fly brought him home for the 1-0 advantage. Bethel Christian struck back later in the frame when Jonathan Truett would get on base and eventually score on a Cole Williams sacrifice fly to tie the score, then an error on a Michael Fulcher flyout plated another run to put the Trojans in front.
Bright would lead the top of the third with a double, then would score on an error from a Matthew Huntley grounder to knot it at 2, but an error on a Chris Blizzard bunt to start the bottom of the third and a Hunter Stephens first-pitch RBI double pushed Bethel Christian back in front. Three batters later, with runners at the corners, Williams appeared to be caught in a pickle between first and second and Stephens took advantage of the distraction, scoring from third to put the Trojans ahead 4-2. Stephens would later add an RBI sacrifice fly in the next inning and an error on a Williams popup brought in another run to stretch the advantage to four.
The Patriots finished with six errors, something head coach Robert Kravitz wasn’t pleased with.
“We weren’t good and we’ve been in a rut lately (losing three straight),” Kravitz said. “We’ll go back to practice and work harder, because right now we’re moving in the wrong direction.”
Batchelor did get into some trouble in the top of the sixth when with two outs, an error on a Reynolds Barringer grounder scored Zach Vendemia before Cole Daniels’ subsequent RBI double brought Arendell Parrott within 6-4. From there, Bethel Christian’s David Whitfield snared a Bright liner to end the threat.
More Video: Arendell Parrott's Savannah Hill hits a 2-run double
Stephens would get an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth and Batchelor was able to get out of the top of the seventh with little difficulty to end the game.
“Pitching was outstanding (Monday),” Bethel Christian coach Kenny Sutton said. “We didn’t give (Batchelor) as much help as we should’ve (with four errors), but offensively we made some timely hits to get the win.”
APA 101 002 0 — 4 5 6
BCA 202 201 X — 7 7 4
APA: Vendemia, Beamon (5) and McLawhorn.
BCA: Batchelor and Daugherty.
