Patriots outlast Eagles in rivalry game
By FOSTER LANDER ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Sports Writer
Familiarity doesn't necessarily breed contempt between Faith Christian and Rocky Mount Academy, but it usually lends itself to tight games between the neighboring schools.
With that in mind, Tuesday's contest at Rocky Mount Academy - decided by one run, in extra innings - went as expected.
After letting a one-run lead slip in the bottom of the seventh, visiting Faith Christian battled back for a 3-2 win in 11 innings.
Faith Christian sophomore Landen Roupp waltzed through six dominant innings of three-hit baseball working with a lively fastball in the mid-80s and a sharp breaking ball that he used for strike three on five of his 13 strikeouts.
"That's what he always does," Faith Christian coach Greg Clifton said. "He's going to be a really good one, and he is already."
Roupp had thrown 98 pitches after six innings, but Clifton said the lanky sophomore demanded the ball for one final inning, especially with Reid Johnston leading off the seventh.
"I knew I couldn't strike everyone out at that point, but I had my defense behind me," Roupp said. "It wasn't really a matter of being tired, but I've been pitching to those kids half my life, so they know what to expect from me."
Roupp was right: Johnston led off with a single off a hanging breaking ball, and Kyle Holland jumped on a changeup Roupp left up in the zone for another single, forcing Clifton to bring in Luke Mills to mitigate the damage.
Mills gave up the tying single to Eagles catcher Collin Richardson, but struck out RJ Mitchell and induced a groundout from Jackson Browder, forcing extra innings.
With Roupp dealing, Faith Christian could have put Rocky Mount Academy away, but the Patriots failed to score with runners on first and third and one out in the sixth, and with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh.
In fact, the Patriots' lone run came in the first inning, when Jacob Pridgen doubled to left-center and scored on a single to left by Ben Lewis.
Pridgen came full circle 10 innings later. Aaron Garganus led off the top of the 11th with a single, moved to second on Eli Ess' sacrifice bunt, and Pridgen - finally, a hit with runners in scoring position - plated Garganus with a sharp line drive past Rocky Mount Academy pitcher Justin Hicks.
Braxton Varnell added what turned out to be a crucial insurance run for Faith Christian, singling to left to plate Pridgen.
Faith Christian ensured Roupp's handiwork - Rocky Mount Academy hitters were swinging at shadows much of the night - didn't go for naught.
"I was frustrated, yeah, but that's why we have Luke (Mills), so I wasn't worried," Roupp said.
When Rocky Mount Academy and Faith Christian get together, expect nothing less.
"In extra innings, when it's cold like this, it was just about who wanted it more," Clifton said.
Faith Christian 3 Rocky Mount Acad. 2, 11 inn.
FCS 100 000 000 02 - 3 10 1
RMA 000 000 100 01 - 2 7 3
WP: Luke Mills (5IP, 2R, 2ER, 4H, 2BB, 6K); LP: Justin Hicks (1IP, 2R, 2ER, 4H, 0BB, 0K).
2B: FCS - Jacob Pridgen; RMA - Kyle Holland.
3B: RMA - Reid Johnston.
By FOSTER LANDER ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Sports Writer
Familiarity doesn't necessarily breed contempt between Faith Christian and Rocky Mount Academy, but it usually lends itself to tight games between the neighboring schools.
With that in mind, Tuesday's contest at Rocky Mount Academy - decided by one run, in extra innings - went as expected.
After letting a one-run lead slip in the bottom of the seventh, visiting Faith Christian battled back for a 3-2 win in 11 innings.
Faith Christian sophomore Landen Roupp waltzed through six dominant innings of three-hit baseball working with a lively fastball in the mid-80s and a sharp breaking ball that he used for strike three on five of his 13 strikeouts.
"That's what he always does," Faith Christian coach Greg Clifton said. "He's going to be a really good one, and he is already."
Roupp had thrown 98 pitches after six innings, but Clifton said the lanky sophomore demanded the ball for one final inning, especially with Reid Johnston leading off the seventh.
"I knew I couldn't strike everyone out at that point, but I had my defense behind me," Roupp said. "It wasn't really a matter of being tired, but I've been pitching to those kids half my life, so they know what to expect from me."
Roupp was right: Johnston led off with a single off a hanging breaking ball, and Kyle Holland jumped on a changeup Roupp left up in the zone for another single, forcing Clifton to bring in Luke Mills to mitigate the damage.
Mills gave up the tying single to Eagles catcher Collin Richardson, but struck out RJ Mitchell and induced a groundout from Jackson Browder, forcing extra innings.
With Roupp dealing, Faith Christian could have put Rocky Mount Academy away, but the Patriots failed to score with runners on first and third and one out in the sixth, and with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh.
In fact, the Patriots' lone run came in the first inning, when Jacob Pridgen doubled to left-center and scored on a single to left by Ben Lewis.
Pridgen came full circle 10 innings later. Aaron Garganus led off the top of the 11th with a single, moved to second on Eli Ess' sacrifice bunt, and Pridgen - finally, a hit with runners in scoring position - plated Garganus with a sharp line drive past Rocky Mount Academy pitcher Justin Hicks.
Braxton Varnell added what turned out to be a crucial insurance run for Faith Christian, singling to left to plate Pridgen.
Faith Christian ensured Roupp's handiwork - Rocky Mount Academy hitters were swinging at shadows much of the night - didn't go for naught.
"I was frustrated, yeah, but that's why we have Luke (Mills), so I wasn't worried," Roupp said.
When Rocky Mount Academy and Faith Christian get together, expect nothing less.
"In extra innings, when it's cold like this, it was just about who wanted it more," Clifton said.
Faith Christian 3 Rocky Mount Acad. 2, 11 inn.
FCS 100 000 000 02 - 3 10 1
RMA 000 000 100 01 - 2 7 3
WP: Luke Mills (5IP, 2R, 2ER, 4H, 2BB, 6K); LP: Justin Hicks (1IP, 2R, 2ER, 4H, 0BB, 0K).
2B: FCS - Jacob Pridgen; RMA - Kyle Holland.
3B: RMA - Reid Johnston.
