NCHSAA 2-A BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP—GAME TWO
CALDWELL’S HIT DRIVES IN WINNING RUNS AS PIEDMONT CLINCHES
ZEBULON—Jonathan Caldwell’s bases loaded single to right field in the bottom of the seventh brought home two runs and lifted Monroe Piedmont to a come-from-behind 9-8 victory over North Brunswick Saturday in the second game of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 2-A baseball championship series at Five County Stadium.
The win gave the Panthers a sweep of the series after taking Friday night’s opener 9-3.
Cameron Price of Piedmont, with three hits and three runs batted in for game two after going three for three in the opener, was voted the championship series Most Valuable Player. He also went the first five innings on the mound for the Panthers in game two, with Colby Barnette getting the win in relief.
The seesaw battle saw Piedmont spurt to a 5-0 lead, North Brunswick tie it with five in third, and then Piedmont went ahead 7-5 with two in the fourth. The Scorpions countered with three in the top of the sixth to hold an 8-7 lead into the final inning.
Colby Barnette and Hunter Jones singled in the seventh for Piedmont and Nigel Hester walked, setting the stage for Caldwell’s game-winner.
Jacob Shumate (3-3) was charged with the loss.
Barnette had three hits and Jones hit safely twice for the winners, who finished 30-3 overall and were back in the NCHSAA baseball finals for the third time but the first time since 1984.
The Scorpions, in the championship series for the first time since 1996, got two hits apiece from Jared Strange and Chris Graham. Strange, Kevon Perkins and Randy Clark each had two RBI for North, which ended the season with a record of 17-13.
This is the 97th year for baseball championships in the NCHSAA.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
STATE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Five County Stadium, Zebulon
Class 2-A: Game Two
North Brunswick 0 0 5 0 0 3 0 – 8 9 1
Monroe Piedmont 3 2 0 2 0 0 2— 9 11 2
One out when winning run scored.
WP—Colby Barnette. LP—Jacob Shumate.
