Baseball

4A Baseball Championship: Fuquay-Varina slugs way to 10-6 victory over Ardrey Kell and second state title

ZEBULON – Fuquay-Varina pounded out 13 hits in the decisive game three of the 4A Baseball State Championship Series as the Bengals slugged their way to a 10-6 victory over Ardrey Kell and the program’s second state championship. 

3A Baseball Championship: New Hanover sweeps Crest with a 2-1 game two victory

BURLINGTON – The New Hanover Wildcats claimed their third state championship since play went to four classifications in 1960 with a 2-1 win in game two of the 3A Baseball State Championship. The Wildcats swept the series with the win, earning their first title since back-to-back 4A Championships in 1993 and 1994.

1A Baseball Championship Game 2: Murphy strikes for five in the seventh to stun West Columbus 8-5 and take the school’s first baseball championship

2A Baseball: Whiteville slides by Ledford 6-4 to win second straight championship

ZEBULON – Whiteville used a four run fifth inning to slide by Ledford 6-4 and win the program’s second straight state baseball championship, this one at the 2A level. The Wolfpack took home the 1A Championship a season ago downing Murphy in two games.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Facing a four-run deficit in their final at bat, the Whiteville Wolfpack went to work, sending nine men to the plate before scoring the game-winning fifth run of the inning on a Jake Harwood single to right field. The Wolfpack stunned Murphy 9-8 to take game two and the 1A State Championship series by a 2-0 count to claim the school’s eighth championship.

ZEBULON, N.C. – Holmes got a masterful performance from senior Mathew Benfield who spun a complete game, allowing just two runs, both earned, on four hits, striking out six and working around three walks. Benfield’s steady presence on the mound helped Holmes power their way to a 7-2 victory in game two of the 2A State Championship Series, earning the Aces a sweep and their first ever State Championship.

ZEBULON, N.C. – The Crest Chargers scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth and then made a game-ending double play with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh to take a 4-2 win over Northern Guilford and force a game three in the 3A Baseball State Championship Series.

Crest got a pair of runs in the sixth inning to take the lead for good. The Chargers got a leadoff single by C.J. Mayhue and Harrill followed drawing a walk. Cash bunted the two runners over. An error on the second baseman allowed both runners to cross the plate and gave Crest a 4-2 lead.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A pair of lefty starters weaved their way through the opening four frames scoreless between T.C. Roberson and New Hanover in the 4A Baseball State Championship Series Game 1. While the pitching shined early, it was Collin Watt’s bat that won it, as his two-run homer in the fifth lifted T.C. Roberson to a game one win, 3-1 over New Hanover.

ZEBULON, N.C. – Northern Guilford took game one of the 3A State Championship Series over Crest 4-2 behind a complete game, four-hit performance by Cameron Cotter. Cotter allowed two runs, striking out six with only two walks on the evening.

The Nighthawk offense got going early, scoring in the bottom of the second inning with John Clark Ouzts led off the inning with a single ripped to left. Brandon Bledsoe singled to bring him home and give Northern Guilford a 1-0 lead.

ZEBULON, N.C. – The John A. Holmes Aces found a way to win the opening game of the 2A State Championship Series against R-S Central, 3-1, despite only mustering two hits in the contest.

Dylan Patrick was masterful on the mound for the Aces. Patrick amassed nine strikeouts, holding the Hilltoppers to a single run. He worked around six hits and two walks during his seven innings on the hill.