April 27, 2017
EAGLES WIN FIRST BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP!
The Northwood Temple Eagles win their first Baseball Championship in School History by defeating Grace Christian of Sanford NC, 4-3 in eight innings. Senior pitcher Chance Chavis had another dominating performance allowing 2 earned runs on 2 hits, while striking out 20 batters.
It was going to another classic pitching duel between Dean Carver and Chance Chavis. Chavis struck out seven of the first eight batters he faced before allowing a walk. Dean Carver got the first hit of the day in third and later scored on a pass ball to make the score 2-0. Carvers base hit scored Gavin who drew the first walk of the day. Grace later scored in the fourth when Jordan Bussy was hit by the pitch and Chavis loaded the bases allowing two more walks. Carver came up to face Chavis with the bases loaded and struck out swinging.
Northwood tried to get things rolling thru the first four innings but could not get anything going because Carver fanned 11 batters and stranding 5 Eagle batters. Then the bats came alive in the bottom of the fifth when leadoff hitter Jay Hickman launched a double down the left field line, and scored on Noah Wingate’s base hit up the middle. Both teams could not get anything going in the sixth. Then came the do or die for Northwood. Bottom of the seventh the Eagles started with leadoff hitter Hickman again and gets a base hit up the middle. Steals second and advance to third when the catcher allowed the ball to get away from him. Wingate and Canady both struck out and with two outs Grace intentionally walk Chance Chavis to set up First and Third for centerfielder Ben Hernandez. Hernandez hit a 0-1 pitch in the gap to right center for a triple but went for the win and tried to score when the throw was bobbled by the first baseman. Eli Riddle recovered and threw a bullet to the catcher to Hernandez on a close play at the plate.
Heading to the bottom of eight right fielder Zac Williams hits a double to left center with 1 out. Grayson Dworkin worked Carver hard by fouling off 5 straight pitches. The first pitch strike got by the catcher which allowed Williams to third. Then a high fastball got away and Zac Williams scored the game winner for Northwood!
This win gave Northwood their First Ever Baseball Championship in School History! The program started in 1995 and their first winning season came in 1997 with a 15-3 record and a Runner-up in the standings of the SEIC Conference. The Eagles have finished second the last three seasons before winning the Regular Season in 2017. This win gives the Eagles an automatic bid in the NCISSA State Tournament. The Eagles next game is in the first round of the Carolina Christian Conference to be played at Lee Christian School on Thursday 5PM against Cape Fear Christian the number four seed. Number two and three seeds Lee Christian and Grace Christian will play Thursday at 2PM at Lee.
David Huff--Northwood Temple
