Former Fred T. Foard High pitcher Harry Hatcher, a sophomore at Catawba Valley Community College, delivers a pitch in Saturday’s elimination game in Burlington against Southeastern Community College./CVCC PHOTO
HobbsDailyReport.com
BURLINGTON – A World Series berth is still within the sights of the Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) baseball team.
Trailing by six runs on Saturday in the middle of the fifth inning, the Red Hawks rallied to defeated Southeastern Community College (SCC) 9-7 in an elimination game at the Region X/Southeast District baseball tournament at Burlington Athletic Stadium.
Fifth-seeded Brunswick Community College beat CVCC 11-3 in a first-round game late Friday.
CVCC now must win out to capture the tournament’s automatic bid into the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) World Series in Oklahoma.
The next step comes Sunday when fourth-seeded CVCC (40-15) faces No. 3 Pasco-Hernando State College (Fla.) at 1 p.m.
If CVCC wins on Sunday, its next game would be Monday at 2 p.m. in the consolation bracket. The consolation bracket final is Monday at 5 p.m., and that winner goes to the title round on Tuesday at 11 a.m.
CVCC 9, Southeastern 7
David Graves, Cody Payne and Tyler Campbell lead a big comeback by the Red Hawks as they staved off elimination.
CVCC grabbed an early 1-0 lead on a second-inning single by Cory Watt but then fell behind when Southeastern, a No. 8 seed, scored two runs in the third inning, three in the fourth inning and two in the fifth inning to lead 7-1.
David Stowers led Southeastern (17-27-1), driving in two runs on a double and a triple.
With their backs up against the wall, the Red Hawks loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning on a single from Garrison Burress, a walk by Graham Mitchell and a single by Campbell to set up Graves’ two-run double to right field that cut the Rams’ lead to 7-3.
After Southeastern starter J.J. Oxendine was relieved by Arthur Hayes, the Red Hawks re-loaded the bases in the fourth inning when pinch-hitter Trent McKay was hit by a pitch.
Two batters later, Payne singled to right field, scoring Graves and Campbell to make it a 7-5.
CVCC completed the comeback with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jimmy Marcelli started the rally with a single, stole second base and scored on an error.
Campbell’s solo blast to left field — his fifth home run of the season — tied at 7, and after McKay walked and catcher Brett Macchia singled, Payne scored the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice.
Macchia added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on a ground out that scored Rod Munoz, who pinch ran for Graves.
CVCC starting pitcher Harry Hatcher went five innings, giving up nine hits, seven runs (five earned), no walks and struck out three.
After Hatcher exited in the sixth inning, the trio of Thomas Walden, Greg Collins and Nic Messina closed the door for the Red Hawks.
CVCC’s three pitchers combined to give up just three hits, no walks, no runs and struck out three (all by Collins) in four innings.
Walden earned his fifth win of the season, and Messina earned his third save.
Brunswick 11, CVCC 3 (Friday)
The Dolphins scored three runs each in the first, fifth and ninth innings and added two more runs in the seventh inning to down the Red Hawks.
Josh Chunn led Brunswick, driving in a team-high five runs that included a two-RBI double in the fifth inning and a three-run home run in the ninth inning.
Rod Munoz drove in two of the Red Hawks’ three runs, including an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning that scored Graves and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning scoring Mitchell.
Burress drove in the third CVCC run on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the first inning, scoring Watt, and Campbell and Mitchell also had a team-high two hits each.
CVCC starting pitcher Julian Smith suffered just his second loss of the season. He gave up nine hits, six runs (five earned), two walks and struck out six in five innings.
Red Hawks relief pitcher Timothy Davila replaced Smith in the sixth inning and tossed two innings before giving way to Hunter Isaacs in the eighth inning. Connor Hewell and Josh Rice combined to close out the final inning.
Brunswick starting pitcher Trent Joiner went six innings, giving up just five hits, two runs (one earned), two walks and striking out nine.
The game’s finish was delayed for 43 minutes with two outs in the top of the ninth inning due to severe weather, and it resumed at 10 p.m.
REGION X/SOUTHEAST DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
(Friday through Tuesday at Burlington Athletic Park)
Friday’s results
G1: No. 3 Pasco-Hernando (Fla.) 8, No. 6 Wake Tech 7, 11 inn.
G2: No. 2 Patrick Henry 15, No. 7 Bryant & Stratton 4, 5 inn.
G3:- No. 5 Brunswick 11, No. 4 CVCC 3
Saturday’s results
G4:- No. 1 Pitt, No. 8 Southeastern 1, 5 inn.
G5: No. 7 Bryant & Stratton (Va.) 11, No. 6 Wake Tech 8
G6: No. 4 CVCC 9, No. 8 Southeastern 7
G7: No. 2 Patrick Henry (Va.) 8, No. 3 Pasco-Hernando (Fla.) 7
Sunday’s games
G8: No. 1 Pitt vs. No. 4 Brunswick, 10 a.m.
G9: No. 4 CVCC vs. No. 3 Pasco-Hernando (Fla.), 1 p.m.
G10: No. 7 Bryant & Stratton (Va.) vs. Loser G8, 4 p.m.
G11: No. 2 Patrick Henry (Va.) vs. Winner G8, 7 p.m.
Monday’s games
G12: Winner G9 vs. Winner G10, 2 p.m.
G13: Loser G11 vs. Winner G12, 5 p.m. (or at least 45 minutes after G12)
Tuesday’s games
G14, championship: Winner G11 vs. Winner G13, 11 a.m.
G15 (if necessary): If winner of G11 loses G14, 45 minutes following end of G14