MARK LINDSEY HP ENTERPRISE
HIGH POINT — Westchester Country Day just about gritted its way into the state semifinals. But it came up just short.
The top-seeded Wildcats trailed big early but chipped its way back within a run in the seventh and moved the tying run into scoring position with two outs. But eighth-seeded Harrells Christian finished off Westchester 10-9 on Monday at Westchester in the quarterfinals of the NCISAA 2A baseball playoffs.
“We knew getting that No. 1 seed we’d have a target on our back, as a No. 1 seed should have,” Wildcats coach Devin McLemore said. “But that’s kind of been our M.O. all year. We’ve been fighting from behind the whole entire year. So, believe it or not, that’s how we drew it up — we’d be fighting until the end.
“Just a couple plays here and there and that’s the difference in any ballgame but especially this ballgame. It’s tough, but I’m definitely proud of the guys for fighting back and not giving up. We could’ve easily given up after the first inning. But they fought, and that’s all you can ask for as a coach.”
Dean Herring, a sophomore, had two hits — including a three-run home run in the seventh — to lead Westchester (5-9), which earned the top seed in large part because of playing in the powerful Piedmont Triad Athletic 2A/3A/4A Conference and a couple of good wins against teams like second-seeded Faith Christian.
Will Herndon, a senior, also had two hits while Ty Choplin, another senior, had a hit and an RBI as the Wildcats, who capitalized on four Crusaders’ errors to score four unearned runs, fell behind six runs three times but kept answering with just enough offense to stay in the ballgame in give them-selves a chance.
“We know we’re undermanned,” McLemore said. “Maybe there’s more teams that have more talent than we have. But, like I tell my team, it doesn’t matter what happens on defense — we always get a chance to swing the sticks. Pretty much ever y inning they scored, we scored as well.
“That’s something I really preach — if they score, we can’t have a shutdown; we have to at least scratch a little bit. So, I’m very, very proud of the way we swung the bat. The difference was that they had a couple big two-out hits, and we came up a little short with two outs and runners in scoring position
.”Grayson Chapman, a freshman, pitched one inning in taking the loss before hand-ing off to eighth-grader Tommy Mattox for four innings. Harrells, which totaled 19 hits, strung together hits and runs to jump ahead. But Choplin struck out five of the seven hitters he faced in two innings and Westchester surged.
The Wildcats, trailing 10-4, loaded the bases with one out in the sixth. Car-son Daniel, an eighth-grader, drew a walk and Caleb Hammond, another eighth-grader, grounded out to each drive in a run. The next inning, Cook Smith reached on an error and Herndon singled before Herring homered to center.
Suddenly, Westchester had a real chance. Chopin reached on another error with two outs and moved to second on a wild pitch. But the Crusaders, who will face fourth-seeded Rocky Mount Academy in the semifinals tonight, got the final out on a fly-out to center to end the game.
Cody Butler went 3 for 5 with two doubles and two RBIs to lead Harrells (8-12), which had lost three of the previous four playoff meetings against Westchester — including the 2014 state championship series.
Aaron Smith and Ashton Smith each went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs.Aaron Smith got the win in four innings pitched.
Three seniors — Choplin, Herndon and Sam Barefoot — finished their careers for the Wildcats, who will return eight sophomores, freshmen and eighth-graders from this year’s 12-player roster.
“We are in the process of rebuilding,” McLemore said. “I started three eighth-graders, a freshman, three sophomores, so I cannot be mad at those guys. They’re gaining a tremendous amount of experience right now. We certainly prepare and play for the present, but we’re very excited about the future.
”mlindsay@hpenews.com@HPEmichael
HARRELLS CHRISTIAN 10, WESTCHESTER CD 9
HC 431 110 0 — 10 19 4
WDS 120 102 3 — 9 8 2
WP — Aa. Smith (4IP, 5K, 5BB, 5H, 4R, 1ER, 3WP, HBP); LP — Chapman (1IP, 0K, 1BB, 5H, 4R, 4ER)
Leading hitters — HC: Butler (3-5, 2 2B, 2RBI), Aa. Smith (3-4, 2B, 2RBI), As. Smith (3-4, 2B, 2RBI); WCDS: Herring (2-3, HR, 3RBI), Herndon (2-5), Choplin (1-4, RBI)
HIGH POINT — Westchester Country Day just about gritted its way into the state semifinals. But it came up just short.
The top-seeded Wildcats trailed big early but chipped its way back within a run in the seventh and moved the tying run into scoring position with two outs. But eighth-seeded Harrells Christian finished off Westchester 10-9 on Monday at Westchester in the quarterfinals of the NCISAA 2A baseball playoffs.
“We knew getting that No. 1 seed we’d have a target on our back, as a No. 1 seed should have,” Wildcats coach Devin McLemore said. “But that’s kind of been our M.O. all year. We’ve been fighting from behind the whole entire year. So, believe it or not, that’s how we drew it up — we’d be fighting until the end.
“Just a couple plays here and there and that’s the difference in any ballgame but especially this ballgame. It’s tough, but I’m definitely proud of the guys for fighting back and not giving up. We could’ve easily given up after the first inning. But they fought, and that’s all you can ask for as a coach.”
Dean Herring, a sophomore, had two hits — including a three-run home run in the seventh — to lead Westchester (5-9), which earned the top seed in large part because of playing in the powerful Piedmont Triad Athletic 2A/3A/4A Conference and a couple of good wins against teams like second-seeded Faith Christian.
Will Herndon, a senior, also had two hits while Ty Choplin, another senior, had a hit and an RBI as the Wildcats, who capitalized on four Crusaders’ errors to score four unearned runs, fell behind six runs three times but kept answering with just enough offense to stay in the ballgame in give them-selves a chance.
“We know we’re undermanned,” McLemore said. “Maybe there’s more teams that have more talent than we have. But, like I tell my team, it doesn’t matter what happens on defense — we always get a chance to swing the sticks. Pretty much ever y inning they scored, we scored as well.
“That’s something I really preach — if they score, we can’t have a shutdown; we have to at least scratch a little bit. So, I’m very, very proud of the way we swung the bat. The difference was that they had a couple big two-out hits, and we came up a little short with two outs and runners in scoring position
.”Grayson Chapman, a freshman, pitched one inning in taking the loss before hand-ing off to eighth-grader Tommy Mattox for four innings. Harrells, which totaled 19 hits, strung together hits and runs to jump ahead. But Choplin struck out five of the seven hitters he faced in two innings and Westchester surged.
The Wildcats, trailing 10-4, loaded the bases with one out in the sixth. Car-son Daniel, an eighth-grader, drew a walk and Caleb Hammond, another eighth-grader, grounded out to each drive in a run. The next inning, Cook Smith reached on an error and Herndon singled before Herring homered to center.
Suddenly, Westchester had a real chance. Chopin reached on another error with two outs and moved to second on a wild pitch. But the Crusaders, who will face fourth-seeded Rocky Mount Academy in the semifinals tonight, got the final out on a fly-out to center to end the game.
Cody Butler went 3 for 5 with two doubles and two RBIs to lead Harrells (8-12), which had lost three of the previous four playoff meetings against Westchester — including the 2014 state championship series.
Aaron Smith and Ashton Smith each went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs.Aaron Smith got the win in four innings pitched.
Three seniors — Choplin, Herndon and Sam Barefoot — finished their careers for the Wildcats, who will return eight sophomores, freshmen and eighth-graders from this year’s 12-player roster.
“We are in the process of rebuilding,” McLemore said. “I started three eighth-graders, a freshman, three sophomores, so I cannot be mad at those guys. They’re gaining a tremendous amount of experience right now. We certainly prepare and play for the present, but we’re very excited about the future.
”mlindsay@hpenews.com@HPEmichael
HARRELLS CHRISTIAN 10, WESTCHESTER CD 9
HC 431 110 0 — 10 19 4
WDS 120 102 3 — 9 8 2
WP — Aa. Smith (4IP, 5K, 5BB, 5H, 4R, 1ER, 3WP, HBP); LP — Chapman (1IP, 0K, 1BB, 5H, 4R, 4ER)
Leading hitters — HC: Butler (3-5, 2 2B, 2RBI), Aa. Smith (3-4, 2B, 2RBI), As. Smith (3-4, 2B, 2RBI); WCDS: Herring (2-3, HR, 3RBI), Herndon (2-5), Choplin (1-4, RBI)
