By David Rogers. TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. — Watauga scored to runs in the top of the 4th inning to take an early, 2-1 lead, but Alexander Central added one more run in each of their half of the 4th and 5th frames to regain their earlier one-run advantage. Back to back singles with one out in the top of the 7th inning by Watauga catcher Chase Gillin and shortstop Evan Burroughs put the potential tying and winning runs on base. Unfortunately for the Pioneers, courtesy runner Miller Hankins was ruled out on the front end of a called double steal when ACHS catcher Graham Hoke made a laser beam throw to nip Hankins sliding into third. Burroughs stole both second and third, but was left stranded when J.J. Everett lofted a fly ball to deep center field to retire the side and preserve the win for the Cougars.
It was the fourth win of the year for Alexander Central against the Pioneers, this one coming in Round 3 of the NCHSAA 6A state playoffs. The encounters were more hotly contested as the season progressed. The Cougars won at home on March 20, 7-2, then doubled up the Pioneers on April 17, 14-2. But a little more than a week later Watauga was hitting its stride, narrowing the gap in the Northwestern Conference tournament to only a 5-3 loss. The 3-2 deficit on May 12 in Round 3 of the playoffs was a lucky break or two away from advancing to Round 4.
“Having coached at Watauga for all those years before moving here, I know how the weather can delay a baseball team coming together, both in hitting and pitching,” said Alexander Central head coach Pete Hardee after the Round 3 game. “It is hard to beat a team three times in a season, much less four times. That is a very good Watauga team and they are exceptionally well coached. (Bryce) Scheffler was powerful as their starter tonight. In those early innings, he kept us off balance. In the bottom of the 4th inning with Watauga leading, 2-1, we got a couple of guys on base then were really lucky when a ground ball took an unusual bounce over the head of Evan Burroughs, the shortstop. That scored they tying run and gave us some momentum.”
Scheffler pitched 4.2 innings as the starter, but gave way to reliever Brett Vannoy after the Cougars’ Gunnar Johnson ripped a double to the fence, scoring senior outfielder Koa Mikeal, who had walked on batter earlier. For his outing, the tall junior righthander allowed three runs on seven hits, striking out two and walking two. Vannoy came on in relieve, going 1.1 innings, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out two Cougar batters while walking three. For Scheffler, 51 of his 83 pitchers were srikes (61.14 [percent).
For Alexander Central, senior hurler Carter Bowman went the distance, allowing two Pioneer runs on five hits, striking out three batters and walking four.
Mikeal, the Cougars’ third baseman, had a big night at the plate, going 2-2, scoring one run and collecting one RBI while walking once. Jude Carter, the Cougars’ designated hitter for this game, was 1-for-2 with one run scored. The big slugger was also intentionally walked in the bottom of the 5th inning, putting Cougar runners on first and second after Johnson’s run-scoring double. The move paid off for the Pioneers when Hoke, the next ACHS batter, flied out to centerfield to end the inning.
Watauga’s offensive effort was led by third baseman Eli Bishop (2-3, one run scored), centerfielder Jake Blanton (1-3, one run scored), second baseman Cade Keller (0-1, 1 RBI, one walk) and left fielder Everett Gryder 0-2, 1 RBI, sacrifice fly). While not contributing to the scoring column, catcher Chase Gillin was 1-2with one walk. On the basepaths, as a team Watauga stole four bases to help put runners in scoring position, Burroughs (2), Bishop and Blanton.
With the loss, Watauga’s season comes to an end. The No. 1 seeded Alexander Central moves on to Round 4 to play a familiar foe in No. 4 seed St. Stephens, which like Watauga is a 6A/7A Northwestern Conference rival. The Indians advance with an 8-4 win in Round 3 over No. 5 seeded Asheville.
“This one stings a little bit,” said Watauga head coach Sean Burroughs after the dust had settled, “but when i have a moment to reflect on our season I will realize it was a pretty good one. Because of the weather in the High Country, we don’t get to work outdoors much early in the season, but both are pitching and hitting improve a lot once we get (more reps) outdoors.”
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