Bailey powers Wesleyan Christian past HPCA
BY MICHAEL LINDSAY
ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITERHIGH POINT —
As it gears up for the state playoffs, WesleyanChristian knows it won’talways have its “A” game. Butit’s finding ways to win regardless.The Trojans jumped ahead inthe first inning, tacked on threeruns late and, boosted by a couplecritical plays at key momentsin the field, held off rival HighPoint Christian 4-0 in NCISAAPACIS 3A baseball Friday onSenior Day at Oak View BaptistChurch.
“We didn’t have our best game,” Wesleyan coach ScottDavis said. “We didn’t play well defensively and we didn’t hit well as a team. They threw four pitchers at us, and it was tough to adjust. ... But, at this time of the year, you have to win whenyou don’t have your best stuff. “Overall, I’m pleased with the win. Especially as the state playoffs
come up, when you might have a game like this that you have to win ugly. And we were able to do that. ... No matter what (HPCA’s) record is, it’s always going to be a dogfight. And this was the kind of game we needed
heading into the playoffs.”
Patrick Bailey went 4 for 4 with a home run, two doubles, a stolen base and two RBIs to lead the Trojans (23-1 overall, 6-0 PACIS), who expect to receive one of the top seeds in the state playoffs. Mark McLamb also had a hit and an RBI, while Nick Boles added a hit as both teams were limited to six hits apiece.
Bailey, as the second batter in the top of the first, roped a solo home run to right field to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead. That margin held into the sixth, when McLamb singled in a run, Bailey doubled in a run, and McLamb scored on a wild pitch to extend Wesleyan’s lead to 4-0.
“It was a good win,” said Bailey, an N.C. State recruit. “We kind of struggled as a team. We didn’t have our best stuff, but championship baseball is going out there and winning when you don’t always have your best stuff. I’m just really proud of the team and proud of the way we came together. “I kind of came out here just trying to square the ball up,” he said of his home run. “And when I hit it, I knew it was out. I was just glad I was able to put a run on the board for Brett. Brett and Jacob did the job to keep it at zero. We got a couple in the sixth to help us out, but it was just a really good team win.”
The Cougars had their chances— most notably in the third,fourth and fi fth — but came up empty. They had a runner on first with two outs in the third and doubled to the fence in left. But the relay home caught the runner at the plate to end the inning. The next inning, they had a runner on third with one out and grounded out twice.
BY MICHAEL LINDSAY
ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITERHIGH POINT —
As it gears up for the state playoffs, WesleyanChristian knows it won’talways have its “A” game. Butit’s finding ways to win regardless.The Trojans jumped ahead inthe first inning, tacked on threeruns late and, boosted by a couplecritical plays at key momentsin the field, held off rival HighPoint Christian 4-0 in NCISAAPACIS 3A baseball Friday onSenior Day at Oak View BaptistChurch.
“We didn’t have our best game,” Wesleyan coach ScottDavis said. “We didn’t play well defensively and we didn’t hit well as a team. They threw four pitchers at us, and it was tough to adjust. ... But, at this time of the year, you have to win whenyou don’t have your best stuff. “Overall, I’m pleased with the win. Especially as the state playoffs
come up, when you might have a game like this that you have to win ugly. And we were able to do that. ... No matter what (HPCA’s) record is, it’s always going to be a dogfight. And this was the kind of game we needed
heading into the playoffs.”
Patrick Bailey went 4 for 4 with a home run, two doubles, a stolen base and two RBIs to lead the Trojans (23-1 overall, 6-0 PACIS), who expect to receive one of the top seeds in the state playoffs. Mark McLamb also had a hit and an RBI, while Nick Boles added a hit as both teams were limited to six hits apiece.
Bailey, as the second batter in the top of the first, roped a solo home run to right field to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead. That margin held into the sixth, when McLamb singled in a run, Bailey doubled in a run, and McLamb scored on a wild pitch to extend Wesleyan’s lead to 4-0.
“It was a good win,” said Bailey, an N.C. State recruit. “We kind of struggled as a team. We didn’t have our best stuff, but championship baseball is going out there and winning when you don’t always have your best stuff. I’m just really proud of the team and proud of the way we came together. “I kind of came out here just trying to square the ball up,” he said of his home run. “And when I hit it, I knew it was out. I was just glad I was able to put a run on the board for Brett. Brett and Jacob did the job to keep it at zero. We got a couple in the sixth to help us out, but it was just a really good team win.”
The Cougars had their chances— most notably in the third,fourth and fi fth — but came up empty. They had a runner on first with two outs in the third and doubled to the fence in left. But the relay home caught the runner at the plate to end the inning. The next inning, they had a runner on third with one out and grounded out twice.
