Spartans fall in state title series. But, here’s why they expect to be back next season
Times-News
The Burlington School baseball team poses with the NCISAA Class 2-A state runner-up trophy after losing to Wayne Country Day 15-1 in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday.
GOLDSBORO — A pair of lopsided losses in the NCISAA Class 2-A state championship series may have dampened The Burlington School baseball team’s mood for the team being, but it hasn’t affected the Spartans’ outlook on what they believe is a bright future ahead.
North Carolina State commit Garrett Moffett homered and drove in four runs to help host Wayne Country Day School defeat the Spartans 15-1 in Game 2 to earn the state championship Saturday afternoon.
“We came down here with a plan to win the state championship and we just saw a good team and they played better than us for two games,” TBS coach Chad Holland said. “We had a great season — something not to lose sight of. At the end of the day, we made it to the last game of the season and that was a goal of ours. We just didn’t get the final goal done.”
Saturday’s loss comes on the heels of the Spartans (11-10-1) dropping Friday’s Game 1 to Wayne Country Day 12-0 in five innings.
With just one senior, Cole Powers, on this season’s squad, Holland believes The Burlington School is still firmly on an upward trajectory with the goal of getting back to next season’s title series and winning it.
“We got guys coming back and plenty to look forward to for next year,” he said.
Headlining a long list of returnees are sophomore pitcher / first baseman Tucker Holland and junior pitcher / outfielder Wagner Morrissette, both of whom are committed to play college ball at Maryland.
“We’re in Year 2 of our baseball program and we’re playing in a state championship series,” TBS athletics director Ryan Bernardi said. “That’s a huge credit to Coach Chad, what he does in the offseason. There’s so much work that’s been done in the offseason that people don’t see behind the scenes that Coach Chad is all about. We’re really proud of him and our team for being here in Year 2, but there’s more to be accomplished.”
Also set to return are sophomore Zack Cimino, who leads the team in home runs with three, including a solo blast in Game 2 against Wayne Country Day, freshman Landon Parker, who leads the team with a .394 batting average and 28 hits, and junior Will Stadler, who was tops on the squad with 26 runs scored.
“Going forward from this point, we got our work cut out because we feel like we’re going to be back here next year,” Holland said.
Making it to the state championship series in the second full year of the program makes for a high standard moving forward.
“We experienced that with our basketball program,” said Bernardi, who also coaches the school’s boys’ basketball team. “We lost in the state championship two years ago and it’s the only thing you think about. There’s no worse feeling than coming up short when the season comes to an end.
"I imagine that Coach Chad and the team will be motivated here in the offseason and come back next year with a chip on their shoulder and remember this feeling and be ready to go win it.”
For now, its off to summer ball for Spartans players, where individual improvements are sure to be made.
“We just got to get better in the offseason and summer ball,” Holland said. “These guys go and play and when we get back together in the offseason, we just got to get better, come back here more prepared and a little older and with more confidence. Come back and get the job done the next time.”
Morrissette started the game for the Spartans and pitched 3 1/3 innings, giving up five earned runs and walking six with four strikeouts.
Morrissette, whose fastball reached the low 90s, pitched three scoreless innings before running into trouble in the fourth and relieved. The Chargers (19-1) would go on to plate nine runs on eight walks and two hits in the frame.
Cimino and Parker recorded one hit apiece.
Moffett earned the victory on the mound, allowing two hits, including Cimino’s homer, and striking out 10 batters. Rowan Watt drove in three runs for Wayne Country Day.
David Kehrli is a sports reporter at the Burlington Times-News and USA Today Network. You can reach him at david.kehrli@thetimesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @D
Times-News
The Burlington School baseball team poses with the NCISAA Class 2-A state runner-up trophy after losing to Wayne Country Day 15-1 in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday.
GOLDSBORO — A pair of lopsided losses in the NCISAA Class 2-A state championship series may have dampened The Burlington School baseball team’s mood for the team being, but it hasn’t affected the Spartans’ outlook on what they believe is a bright future ahead.
North Carolina State commit Garrett Moffett homered and drove in four runs to help host Wayne Country Day School defeat the Spartans 15-1 in Game 2 to earn the state championship Saturday afternoon.
“We came down here with a plan to win the state championship and we just saw a good team and they played better than us for two games,” TBS coach Chad Holland said. “We had a great season — something not to lose sight of. At the end of the day, we made it to the last game of the season and that was a goal of ours. We just didn’t get the final goal done.”
Saturday’s loss comes on the heels of the Spartans (11-10-1) dropping Friday’s Game 1 to Wayne Country Day 12-0 in five innings.
With just one senior, Cole Powers, on this season’s squad, Holland believes The Burlington School is still firmly on an upward trajectory with the goal of getting back to next season’s title series and winning it.
“We got guys coming back and plenty to look forward to for next year,” he said.
Headlining a long list of returnees are sophomore pitcher / first baseman Tucker Holland and junior pitcher / outfielder Wagner Morrissette, both of whom are committed to play college ball at Maryland.
“We’re in Year 2 of our baseball program and we’re playing in a state championship series,” TBS athletics director Ryan Bernardi said. “That’s a huge credit to Coach Chad, what he does in the offseason. There’s so much work that’s been done in the offseason that people don’t see behind the scenes that Coach Chad is all about. We’re really proud of him and our team for being here in Year 2, but there’s more to be accomplished.”
Also set to return are sophomore Zack Cimino, who leads the team in home runs with three, including a solo blast in Game 2 against Wayne Country Day, freshman Landon Parker, who leads the team with a .394 batting average and 28 hits, and junior Will Stadler, who was tops on the squad with 26 runs scored.
“Going forward from this point, we got our work cut out because we feel like we’re going to be back here next year,” Holland said.
Making it to the state championship series in the second full year of the program makes for a high standard moving forward.
“We experienced that with our basketball program,” said Bernardi, who also coaches the school’s boys’ basketball team. “We lost in the state championship two years ago and it’s the only thing you think about. There’s no worse feeling than coming up short when the season comes to an end.
"I imagine that Coach Chad and the team will be motivated here in the offseason and come back next year with a chip on their shoulder and remember this feeling and be ready to go win it.”
For now, its off to summer ball for Spartans players, where individual improvements are sure to be made.
“We just got to get better in the offseason and summer ball,” Holland said. “These guys go and play and when we get back together in the offseason, we just got to get better, come back here more prepared and a little older and with more confidence. Come back and get the job done the next time.”
Morrissette started the game for the Spartans and pitched 3 1/3 innings, giving up five earned runs and walking six with four strikeouts.
Morrissette, whose fastball reached the low 90s, pitched three scoreless innings before running into trouble in the fourth and relieved. The Chargers (19-1) would go on to plate nine runs on eight walks and two hits in the frame.
Cimino and Parker recorded one hit apiece.
Moffett earned the victory on the mound, allowing two hits, including Cimino’s homer, and striking out 10 batters. Rowan Watt drove in three runs for Wayne Country Day.
David Kehrli is a sports reporter at the Burlington Times-News and USA Today Network. You can reach him at david.kehrli@thetimesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @D
