HobbsDailyReport.com
South Caldwell High posted its sixth shutout win of the season on Wednesday, blanking Shelby 4-0 in a semifinal of the Shelby Easter Tournament behind one-hit pitching by Trenton Black.
The Spartans (13-2) scored a run in the first inning and three in the fourth inning en route to a victory.
South Caldwell meets Burns (10-5) for the tournament title on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Shelby High. Burns advanced by beating previously unbeaten Crest 7-1 in the other Wednesday semifinal.
Tyler Wike had three hits, Jackson Brown had two and Black, Curtis Massagee and Hunter Ingle each drove in a run for the Spartans.
Owen Foxx threw one inning in relief of Black, striking out two, and Spencer Triplett took a loss for the Golden Lions (4-8), who play Crest for third place on Thursday at 4 p.m. Triplett went six innings, giving up eight hits, four runs (two earned) with one walk and four strikeouts.
Brad Proctor had the only Shelby hit.
South Caldwell’s other five shutout wins this season came against Hibriten, Draughn, St. Stephens, West Caldwell and McDowell.
The Spartans return to Northwestern 3A-4A play, where they share the league lead with Alexander Central, on Tuesday when the Cougars visit for a 6:30 p.m. showdown.
CATAWBA COUNTY EASTER CLASSIC
Bunker Hill 4, West Lincoln 2
Freshman Casey Knighton threw a complete game, striking out five, as the No. 2 seed Bears (9-5) won third place in the Classic.
Eli Moser had a run-scoring hit in the first inning for the Bears and doubled in Carrington Chapman, who had doubled, after the fourth-seeded Rebels (7-8) had closed within a run.
Bunker Hill has now finished in the Top 3 at the tournament 15 times (four titles, four second place, six thirds).
The Bears have two non-league games this week, at home against Newton-Conover on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and at Lincolnton on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
West Lincoln plays a South Fork 2A game on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Maiden, faces Fred T. Foard in a non-league game on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Foard, and goes to Newton-Conover for a conference game next Friday at 7 p.m.
TONY CAUSBY CLASSIC
East Burke 7, Draughn 2
Ayden Lail gave up one earned run over 3 2/3 innings and Carter Nichols earned a save as the Cavs (5-9) won third place.
Ben Burns led East Burke with two hits, including a double.
The Cavs, who won only three games a season ago, return to Northwestern Foothills 2A play on Tuesday, playing Draughn at 6:30 p.m. at East Burke.
East Lincoln 9, Chase 6
The Mustangs won for the third time in four games to finish in fifth place.
Derek Martin went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs and picked up a save, throwing two innings. He gave up four runs (one earned), walked two and struck out four after replacing Trenton Wood, who pitched five innings (two runs, one walk, four strikeouts).
East Lincoln (6-9) had 15 hits, four of them doubles, and was up 5-1 through four innings.
Allden Horne, Carter Williamson, Gabe Duncan and Evan Powelowski each added two hits for the Mustangs.
Chase pulled within 7-6 with two runs in the seventh inning.
East Lincoln, which picked up head coach Chris Matile’s 226th career win (13th season), returns to South Fork 2A play on Tuesday at home against Lincolnton (6:30 p.m.).
OTHERS
North Lincoln 4, Hazard, Ky. 0
The Knights (10-2) won their third straight game after scoring two runs in the fifth inning and two in the sixth inning at Conway (S.C.) High.
North Lincoln has won10 of its last 11 games as it plays Thursday against Penn Yan Academy (N.Y.) at Carolina Forest High.
The Knights also play on Friday, at Conway, against Plattsburgh, N.Y.