Senior leadership bolsters Christ School's state title hopes
Waking up at 6 a.m. to get in shape may not sound like much fun to the average teenager.
Whether or not members of Christ School’s baseball team looked forward to — or enjoyed — their early morning workouts, the Greenies can accurately trace a good bit of this season’s success back to their offseason dedication.
“I would say this year is different than any of my other years at Christ School,” senior pitcher Chad Treadway said. “Our team chemistry comparatively is much higher. We spent a lot of time together before this season working out at 6 a.m. to try and get better as a team. We expect the best out of each other, and we’re each other’s biggest fan.”
That’s something coach Cody Geyer’s troops have done a lot of this season. Despite dropping two of their last three games, they will take an 18-4 mark into their final regular season game May 4 at Charlotte Country Day.
The winning percentage isn’t too different from a year ago, when the Greenies went 22-3, but the way they’re doing it this spring has the team thinking a state title might be within reach.
Less than two weeks ago, they earned the program’s first-ever win over powerhouse Wesleyan Christian. And on April 6, Treadway notched his first career no-hitter — and came within a third-inning walk of a perfect game — in an 11-0 rout of Providence Day.
“It was a surreal feeling,” he recalled. “Something I’ll never forget.”
Treadway and classmate Hunter Macomber, an Appalachian State recruit, hold sub-2.00 ERA's, and each has at least 50 strikeouts in exactly 32 innings.
Also, Treadway carries a .355 batting average with seven extra-base hits and 13 RBIs.
Senior Max LeCroy, who’s committed to Lenoir-Rhyne, leads the Greenies with 27 base hits and holds a .355 batting average with 15 RBIs. Also making a college commitment is senior Mac Gortney, who’s going to Sewanee.
“Our seniors have done a lot for us this year,” Geyer said. “We have really leaned on those four guys in some big games and big situations. Their leadership, the chemistry, the standard they bring to the team have been the biggest thing for us. Those four on and off the field have done an awesome job of setting the bar for our expectations and the atmosphere for our team.”
hrist School anticipates a boost heading into the postseason as sophomore leading hitter Andrew Grande (.525 batting average) is expected back from an unspecified minor injury suffered in mid-April.
“I would say our potential is a state championship,” Treadway said. “The sky’s the limit for this team when we come to play. I think we can make a serious run. I hope that we come out and play our game. We’ll definitely bring energy. I think we are poised for a deep run, for sure.”
readway’s known Geyer since long before they arrived at Christ School in time for the 2017 season. Treadway’s older brother, Phillip, was a standout at Reynolds back when Geyer was crushing home runs for North Buncombe.
Geyer arrived at Christ School after spending five seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ minor league system, and the younger Treadway’s been around to observe the coaching evolution.
“He lets us play our game and guides us along the way, and we have fun as a team,” Chad Treadway said. “I think he’s learning how to get the most out of guys.”
Though a 4-2 loss May 1 at Charlotte Christian snapped Christ School’s 15-game winning streak, Treadway said the Greenies took away some positives from the experience.
“Charlotte Christian has won a lot of state championships, so that was a big-time atmosphere,” said Treadway, who’s committed to play his college ball for Georgia State. “We had a bad day, but we were still able to keep it close on the road against a great program. We saw their best pitcher. It’s good for us to have that kind of wake-up call, and to get back to work and get better.”
Waking up at 6 a.m. to get in shape may not sound like much fun to the average teenager.
Whether or not members of Christ School’s baseball team looked forward to — or enjoyed — their early morning workouts, the Greenies can accurately trace a good bit of this season’s success back to their offseason dedication.
“I would say this year is different than any of my other years at Christ School,” senior pitcher Chad Treadway said. “Our team chemistry comparatively is much higher. We spent a lot of time together before this season working out at 6 a.m. to try and get better as a team. We expect the best out of each other, and we’re each other’s biggest fan.”
That’s something coach Cody Geyer’s troops have done a lot of this season. Despite dropping two of their last three games, they will take an 18-4 mark into their final regular season game May 4 at Charlotte Country Day.
The winning percentage isn’t too different from a year ago, when the Greenies went 22-3, but the way they’re doing it this spring has the team thinking a state title might be within reach.
Less than two weeks ago, they earned the program’s first-ever win over powerhouse Wesleyan Christian. And on April 6, Treadway notched his first career no-hitter — and came within a third-inning walk of a perfect game — in an 11-0 rout of Providence Day.
“It was a surreal feeling,” he recalled. “Something I’ll never forget.”
Treadway and classmate Hunter Macomber, an Appalachian State recruit, hold sub-2.00 ERA's, and each has at least 50 strikeouts in exactly 32 innings.
Also, Treadway carries a .355 batting average with seven extra-base hits and 13 RBIs.
Senior Max LeCroy, who’s committed to Lenoir-Rhyne, leads the Greenies with 27 base hits and holds a .355 batting average with 15 RBIs. Also making a college commitment is senior Mac Gortney, who’s going to Sewanee.
“Our seniors have done a lot for us this year,” Geyer said. “We have really leaned on those four guys in some big games and big situations. Their leadership, the chemistry, the standard they bring to the team have been the biggest thing for us. Those four on and off the field have done an awesome job of setting the bar for our expectations and the atmosphere for our team.”
hrist School anticipates a boost heading into the postseason as sophomore leading hitter Andrew Grande (.525 batting average) is expected back from an unspecified minor injury suffered in mid-April.
“I would say our potential is a state championship,” Treadway said. “The sky’s the limit for this team when we come to play. I think we can make a serious run. I hope that we come out and play our game. We’ll definitely bring energy. I think we are poised for a deep run, for sure.”
readway’s known Geyer since long before they arrived at Christ School in time for the 2017 season. Treadway’s older brother, Phillip, was a standout at Reynolds back when Geyer was crushing home runs for North Buncombe.
Geyer arrived at Christ School after spending five seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ minor league system, and the younger Treadway’s been around to observe the coaching evolution.
“He lets us play our game and guides us along the way, and we have fun as a team,” Chad Treadway said. “I think he’s learning how to get the most out of guys.”
Though a 4-2 loss May 1 at Charlotte Christian snapped Christ School’s 15-game winning streak, Treadway said the Greenies took away some positives from the experience.
“Charlotte Christian has won a lot of state championships, so that was a big-time atmosphere,” said Treadway, who’s committed to play his college ball for Georgia State. “We had a bad day, but we were still able to keep it close on the road against a great program. We saw their best pitcher. It’s good for us to have that kind of wake-up call, and to get back to work and get better.”
