Strong pitching, timely hitting lift Wildcats
Michael Lindsay | Enterprise Sports Writer May 1, 2021 Updated 3 hrs ago
HIGH POINT – All Westchester Country Day needed was a couple runs, given how well its pitching performed.
The offense scored three runs in the third, Josh Hammond pitched five strong innings and the Wildcats beat rival Caldwell 3-0 in PTAC baseball Friday night on homecoming at Westchester.
“A win is a win,” Westchester coach Devin McLemore said. “It’s a great response. We had our guy on the mound this game, and they had their guy on the mound Tuesday (in Caldwell’s 10-0 win). Our guy performed, and Carson (Daniel) came in and performed as well.
“I’d like to see us come up with some more situational hits throughout the game to give us a little bit more of a cushion. But at this point with this team, finding a way and grinding out a win is more important. There were chances in there where we could’ve folded, but we stayed strong and had fight.”
Tate Volger had a key two-run double and Austin Melton drove in a run on a fielder’s choice to highlight the offense for the Wildcats (7-5 overall, 6-4 conference), who finished third in the PTAC.
Hammond also doubled, while Bryce Hooker and Trey Johnson each added a hit as Westchester totaled five hits for the game. With the bases loaded and one out in the third, the Wildcats capitalized on their opportunity.
Melton’s fly ball to shallow center found the grass, scoring a run as Caldwell picked up an out on the basepaths. Then, Vogler ripped a double deep off the center-field wall to plate two more runs.
“I say this a lot – it’s a crazy game,” McLemore said. “Certain situations come up for the same guys over and over again, and I couldn’t be happier for Tate because he had that situation earlier in the game – runners on first and second and two out and he struck out.
“Again, it’s a crazy game. He came right back up his next at-bat with runners at first and second and two out and he came up with a huge double. And, really, that was the difference in the game because no one scored other than in that one inning. I think for him that’s a big confidence boost and will get him rolling.”
That lead was enough for Hammond – an eighth-grader whose dad, Joey, used to coach at Westchester and now coaches at Wake Forest. Hammond struck out eight while scattering four hits and three walks over five innings.
He escaped a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the first, then didn’t allow a runner to reach third the rest of his outing. Carson Daniel pitched the final two innings to earn the save – getting a line-out with the bases loaded to end the game.
Westchester will next play in the NCISAA 2A state playoffs, which will be seeded over the weekend.
“It should set us up nicely for the playoffs,” McLemore said. “If we can get a bye on Tuesday, then that’d be huge for us. That could set up some pitching for us and give us a full week of quality practice, which I think is what we need, and just get ready for that moment.”
mlindsay@hpenews.com | 336-888-3526 | @HPEmichael
Michael Lindsay | Enterprise Sports Writer May 1, 2021 Updated 3 hrs ago
HIGH POINT – All Westchester Country Day needed was a couple runs, given how well its pitching performed.
The offense scored three runs in the third, Josh Hammond pitched five strong innings and the Wildcats beat rival Caldwell 3-0 in PTAC baseball Friday night on homecoming at Westchester.
“A win is a win,” Westchester coach Devin McLemore said. “It’s a great response. We had our guy on the mound this game, and they had their guy on the mound Tuesday (in Caldwell’s 10-0 win). Our guy performed, and Carson (Daniel) came in and performed as well.
“I’d like to see us come up with some more situational hits throughout the game to give us a little bit more of a cushion. But at this point with this team, finding a way and grinding out a win is more important. There were chances in there where we could’ve folded, but we stayed strong and had fight.”
Tate Volger had a key two-run double and Austin Melton drove in a run on a fielder’s choice to highlight the offense for the Wildcats (7-5 overall, 6-4 conference), who finished third in the PTAC.
Hammond also doubled, while Bryce Hooker and Trey Johnson each added a hit as Westchester totaled five hits for the game. With the bases loaded and one out in the third, the Wildcats capitalized on their opportunity.
Melton’s fly ball to shallow center found the grass, scoring a run as Caldwell picked up an out on the basepaths. Then, Vogler ripped a double deep off the center-field wall to plate two more runs.
“I say this a lot – it’s a crazy game,” McLemore said. “Certain situations come up for the same guys over and over again, and I couldn’t be happier for Tate because he had that situation earlier in the game – runners on first and second and two out and he struck out.
“Again, it’s a crazy game. He came right back up his next at-bat with runners at first and second and two out and he came up with a huge double. And, really, that was the difference in the game because no one scored other than in that one inning. I think for him that’s a big confidence boost and will get him rolling.”
That lead was enough for Hammond – an eighth-grader whose dad, Joey, used to coach at Westchester and now coaches at Wake Forest. Hammond struck out eight while scattering four hits and three walks over five innings.
He escaped a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the first, then didn’t allow a runner to reach third the rest of his outing. Carson Daniel pitched the final two innings to earn the save – getting a line-out with the bases loaded to end the game.
Westchester will next play in the NCISAA 2A state playoffs, which will be seeded over the weekend.
“It should set us up nicely for the playoffs,” McLemore said. “If we can get a bye on Tuesday, then that’d be huge for us. That could set up some pitching for us and give us a full week of quality practice, which I think is what we need, and just get ready for that moment.”
mlindsay@hpenews.com | 336-888-3526 | @HPEmichael