Power at the top
Top-heavy WCA pounds Halifax, 6-1
By Tom Ham
Senior Staff Writer WILSON DAILY TIMES
The decidedly heavy top part of the lineup continued to wreak havoc upon the opposition, powering the Wilson Christian Academy softball team to a 6-1 conquest of Halifax Academy on the Turnage Complex diamond Thursday afternoon.
The regular-season finale for both teams was finally stopped after five innings because of inclement weather. Lightning suspended play for approximately 20 minutes before the umpires called the game.
The Lady Chargers, reigning North Carolina Christian School Association 2-A champions and overwhelming favorites to repeat, go into the postseason with a 16-2 record. The second 2016 loss to Wilson Christian left Halifax of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A Eastern Plains Athletic Conference with a 9-7 mark. The Lady Vikings dropped the first encounter, 6-2.
For Wilson Christian, sophomore Haley Bunting in the lead-off spot, freshman McKenna Griffin at No. 2, senior Presley Bissett at No. 3 and sophomore Casey Bunting in the clean-up spot combined to bat 5 for 9, score four runs, drive in three and belt two doubles and a home run.
“We always try to score as many runs as early as we can,” explained first-year Wilson Christian head coach Carrie Reynell. “And if stacking the top of the lineup is the way to do it ... They are all tough outs, hit it hard, don’t strike out and put it in play.”
And each member of the top four possesses long-ball capability as evidenced by Casey Bunting slugging her fourth home run, a two-run shot, in the second inning and first baseman Casey Bunting rapping a pair of doubles.
The Lady Chargers struck for two runs in the bottom of the first. Haley Bunting drew a lead-off walk and stole second. Bunting and Bissett each circled the bases when Bissett singled and the ball got past the Lady Vikings right fielder.
Haley Bunting connected for her homer, a shot over the center-field fence, after freshman left fielder Christy Jones worked losing pitcher Sydney Smith, a sophomore right-hander, for a two-out walk in the second.
Senior second baseman Kristen Raper hit a sacrifice fly in the third and Casey Bunting drove in the final run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
Haley Bunting, a right-hander, was also the winning pitcher, notching her eighth win against one loss. She allowed only a pair of singles while striking out four.
The Lady Vikings, with one senior and three seventh-graders in the lineup, averted a shutout with an unearned run in the fifth. Seventh-grade second baseman Ashlyn Liles led off with a single and, with one out, scored when junior left fielder Karen Alston bounced into a force play.
“We didn’t finish and I was hoping we would,” said disappointed Halifax head coach Steve Hamill. “They’re a good team and you’ve got to score runs to beat them.
“Our conference stuff is over with and we wanted to play good teams to see how the pairings committee feels and get ready for the playoffs.”
Wilson Christian softball continues to be immensely successful with newcomers Raynell, Bissett and the Bunting cousins providing a new look.
“Since last year, we have done a lot better,” contended junior center fielder Sarah Carr. “We are a lot more skilled and a lot more talented. I feel like we play better as one.”
Carr admits she enjoys the home-run potential exhibited by the top four hitters in the lineup. They’ve slugged 15-plus this season.
“It’s exciting,” she declared. “It makes it a lot more fun. We get excited when they go up there to hit.”
And Raynell quipped: “It certainly makes coaching strategy a lot easier. It’s a wonderful asset.”
Carr reasoned that playing good competition is more enjoyable for the team than expectations for the state-championship series scheduled on the Wilson Christian diamond on Friday and Saturday, May 5-6.
Added Raynell: “It’s always good to play tougher competition, and we know Halifax is a good team. It was kind of good to end (the regular season) on a high note.”
Raynell has directed the Lady Chargers to 16 wins in 18 tries her first season, but perhaps she could consider a second career as a meteorologist. She sensed inclement weather might intervene Thursday evening.
“I told the girls stuff was coming in and to get it done quick,” said the smiling Raynell, “and not leave it to chance.”
Not a chance.
hammer@wilsontimes.com | 265-7819
Score by innings:
Halifax 000 01 — 1
Wilson Christian 221 10 — 6
WP-Haley Bunting (8-1) 5 IP 2 H 1 R 0 ER 0 BB 4 SO. LP-Sydney Smith 5 IP 6 H 6 R 5 ER 6 BB 4 SO.
LEADING HITTERS — Halifax: Ashlyn Liles 1-1, R; Emerson Poole 1-2; Wilson Christian: Casey Bunting 2-2, 2 2B, RBI; Haley Bunting 1-2, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R; Presley Bissett 1-2, McKenna Griffin 1-3, Haley Parker 1-3.
Top-heavy WCA pounds Halifax, 6-1
By Tom Ham
Senior Staff Writer WILSON DAILY TIMES
The decidedly heavy top part of the lineup continued to wreak havoc upon the opposition, powering the Wilson Christian Academy softball team to a 6-1 conquest of Halifax Academy on the Turnage Complex diamond Thursday afternoon.
The regular-season finale for both teams was finally stopped after five innings because of inclement weather. Lightning suspended play for approximately 20 minutes before the umpires called the game.
The Lady Chargers, reigning North Carolina Christian School Association 2-A champions and overwhelming favorites to repeat, go into the postseason with a 16-2 record. The second 2016 loss to Wilson Christian left Halifax of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A Eastern Plains Athletic Conference with a 9-7 mark. The Lady Vikings dropped the first encounter, 6-2.
For Wilson Christian, sophomore Haley Bunting in the lead-off spot, freshman McKenna Griffin at No. 2, senior Presley Bissett at No. 3 and sophomore Casey Bunting in the clean-up spot combined to bat 5 for 9, score four runs, drive in three and belt two doubles and a home run.
“We always try to score as many runs as early as we can,” explained first-year Wilson Christian head coach Carrie Reynell. “And if stacking the top of the lineup is the way to do it ... They are all tough outs, hit it hard, don’t strike out and put it in play.”
And each member of the top four possesses long-ball capability as evidenced by Casey Bunting slugging her fourth home run, a two-run shot, in the second inning and first baseman Casey Bunting rapping a pair of doubles.
The Lady Chargers struck for two runs in the bottom of the first. Haley Bunting drew a lead-off walk and stole second. Bunting and Bissett each circled the bases when Bissett singled and the ball got past the Lady Vikings right fielder.
Haley Bunting connected for her homer, a shot over the center-field fence, after freshman left fielder Christy Jones worked losing pitcher Sydney Smith, a sophomore right-hander, for a two-out walk in the second.
Senior second baseman Kristen Raper hit a sacrifice fly in the third and Casey Bunting drove in the final run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
Haley Bunting, a right-hander, was also the winning pitcher, notching her eighth win against one loss. She allowed only a pair of singles while striking out four.
The Lady Vikings, with one senior and three seventh-graders in the lineup, averted a shutout with an unearned run in the fifth. Seventh-grade second baseman Ashlyn Liles led off with a single and, with one out, scored when junior left fielder Karen Alston bounced into a force play.
“We didn’t finish and I was hoping we would,” said disappointed Halifax head coach Steve Hamill. “They’re a good team and you’ve got to score runs to beat them.
“Our conference stuff is over with and we wanted to play good teams to see how the pairings committee feels and get ready for the playoffs.”
Wilson Christian softball continues to be immensely successful with newcomers Raynell, Bissett and the Bunting cousins providing a new look.
“Since last year, we have done a lot better,” contended junior center fielder Sarah Carr. “We are a lot more skilled and a lot more talented. I feel like we play better as one.”
Carr admits she enjoys the home-run potential exhibited by the top four hitters in the lineup. They’ve slugged 15-plus this season.
“It’s exciting,” she declared. “It makes it a lot more fun. We get excited when they go up there to hit.”
And Raynell quipped: “It certainly makes coaching strategy a lot easier. It’s a wonderful asset.”
Carr reasoned that playing good competition is more enjoyable for the team than expectations for the state-championship series scheduled on the Wilson Christian diamond on Friday and Saturday, May 5-6.
Added Raynell: “It’s always good to play tougher competition, and we know Halifax is a good team. It was kind of good to end (the regular season) on a high note.”
Raynell has directed the Lady Chargers to 16 wins in 18 tries her first season, but perhaps she could consider a second career as a meteorologist. She sensed inclement weather might intervene Thursday evening.
“I told the girls stuff was coming in and to get it done quick,” said the smiling Raynell, “and not leave it to chance.”
Not a chance.
hammer@wilsontimes.com | 265-7819
Score by innings:
Halifax 000 01 — 1
Wilson Christian 221 10 — 6
WP-Haley Bunting (8-1) 5 IP 2 H 1 R 0 ER 0 BB 4 SO. LP-Sydney Smith 5 IP 6 H 6 R 5 ER 6 BB 4 SO.
LEADING HITTERS — Halifax: Ashlyn Liles 1-1, R; Emerson Poole 1-2; Wilson Christian: Casey Bunting 2-2, 2 2B, RBI; Haley Bunting 1-2, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R; Presley Bissett 1-2, McKenna Griffin 1-3, Haley Parker 1-3.
