BY MICHAEL LINDSAY
ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
GREENSBORO — Wesleyan Christian is looking to use its spring break to gain some momentum into the final two months of the season.
So far, so good.
The Trojans took the lead in the first inning and, behind a complete-game three-hitter by Jacob Kohns, rolled to an 8-0 win Wednesday against Wheatmore in first round of the Farm Bureau Baseball Invitational at NewBridge Bank Park.
“It was a good win,” said Wesleyan coach Scott Davis, whose team won the tournament title last year. “We’re coming off a nice win the other night against SouthLake Christian in which we played very well. And so we’re hitting this tournament at a good time.
“Last year in this tournament, we really took off. We got on a roll and played great the rest of
the season. So, we felt good coming in and we wanted to come over here and win the tournament. We got our pitching in order and brought up some J.V. guys. So, we feel good about it.”
Seth McGee and Nick Caldwell each homered for the Trojans (7-3), who will face Northern Guilford tonight in the tournament semifinals at 6:30. Adam Lassiter also had a double that keyed Wesleyan’s early burst.
Kohns (2-1) struck out four batters and walked one in a solid all-around performance by Wesleyan. He allowed just one hit through the first 18 batters he faced and just one runner to reach second base the entire game.
“It was good (to get the win),” said Lassiter, who also had a walk and a run. “We definitely needed to come out here, just compete a little bit and get into a rhythm for the games coming up.
“It’s always good to come out early so you’re not fighting and clawing as much and you can play a little more comfortable. We just came out ready to compete. That’s what our team does. We love to compete.”
Lassiter’s two-run double into the gap with one out in the top of the first gave Wesleyan a 2-0 advantage. Then, in the fourth, Brett Kerry singled in a run and McGee hit a two-run home run to lead 5-0.
The next inning, the Trojans scored on a stolen base and high throw, followed by a sacrifice fly by Ben Horkey to lead 7-0. Finally, Caldwell led off the sixth with a solo home run to give Wesleyan an 8-0 cushion.
Landen Smith took the loss for the Warriors (2-10), who will take on Reagan this afternoon at 1:30. He struck out four while allowing five hits and three walks before giving way to reliever Aharon Faircloth for the final two innings.
Jonathon Weaver had a double to highlight Wheatmore’s offense.
“I thought we played OK,” Warriors coach Bret Garrett said. “We’ve got to be able to hit the baseball. We had three hits. And when you don’t hit the baseball, you don’t put pressure on their fielders. I thought my starting pitcher threw OK. We had a couple instances where it was 0-2 and the pitch was just too good.
“Other than that, Wesleyan’s pretty tough and you have to play good to have a chance. We take out of this that we were in the ballgame for a good bit of it. And some of their big innings came after errors that opened up the door. So, it was just one of those things.”
ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
GREENSBORO — Wesleyan Christian is looking to use its spring break to gain some momentum into the final two months of the season.
So far, so good.
The Trojans took the lead in the first inning and, behind a complete-game three-hitter by Jacob Kohns, rolled to an 8-0 win Wednesday against Wheatmore in first round of the Farm Bureau Baseball Invitational at NewBridge Bank Park.
“It was a good win,” said Wesleyan coach Scott Davis, whose team won the tournament title last year. “We’re coming off a nice win the other night against SouthLake Christian in which we played very well. And so we’re hitting this tournament at a good time.
“Last year in this tournament, we really took off. We got on a roll and played great the rest of
the season. So, we felt good coming in and we wanted to come over here and win the tournament. We got our pitching in order and brought up some J.V. guys. So, we feel good about it.”
Seth McGee and Nick Caldwell each homered for the Trojans (7-3), who will face Northern Guilford tonight in the tournament semifinals at 6:30. Adam Lassiter also had a double that keyed Wesleyan’s early burst.
Kohns (2-1) struck out four batters and walked one in a solid all-around performance by Wesleyan. He allowed just one hit through the first 18 batters he faced and just one runner to reach second base the entire game.
“It was good (to get the win),” said Lassiter, who also had a walk and a run. “We definitely needed to come out here, just compete a little bit and get into a rhythm for the games coming up.
“It’s always good to come out early so you’re not fighting and clawing as much and you can play a little more comfortable. We just came out ready to compete. That’s what our team does. We love to compete.”
Lassiter’s two-run double into the gap with one out in the top of the first gave Wesleyan a 2-0 advantage. Then, in the fourth, Brett Kerry singled in a run and McGee hit a two-run home run to lead 5-0.
The next inning, the Trojans scored on a stolen base and high throw, followed by a sacrifice fly by Ben Horkey to lead 7-0. Finally, Caldwell led off the sixth with a solo home run to give Wesleyan an 8-0 cushion.
Landen Smith took the loss for the Warriors (2-10), who will take on Reagan this afternoon at 1:30. He struck out four while allowing five hits and three walks before giving way to reliever Aharon Faircloth for the final two innings.
Jonathon Weaver had a double to highlight Wheatmore’s offense.
“I thought we played OK,” Warriors coach Bret Garrett said. “We’ve got to be able to hit the baseball. We had three hits. And when you don’t hit the baseball, you don’t put pressure on their fielders. I thought my starting pitcher threw OK. We had a couple instances where it was 0-2 and the pitch was just too good.
“Other than that, Wesleyan’s pretty tough and you have to play good to have a chance. We take out of this that we were in the ballgame for a good bit of it. And some of their big innings came after errors that opened up the door. So, it was just one of those things.”
