Garrison Burress collects a hit in Catawba Valley Community College’s first-game victory in a doubleheader on Saturday over Patrick Henry Community College at the Legion Fairgrounds./CVCC PHOTO
HobbsDailyReport.com
NEWTON – Patrick Henry Community College (PHCC) spoiled the final home game of 17 departing Catawba Valley Community (CVCC) players on Sunday, dropping the Red Hawks 6-2 at Legion Fairgrounds on Sophomore Day.
CVCC won the series, though, after sweeping a doubleheader on Saturday with wins of 5-1 and 16-6 in six innings at Henkel-Alley Field.
After Sunday’s game, all of CVCC’s departing players were honored at home plate with their families, receiving hugs and handshakes from Red Hawks head coach pitching coach Kris Harvey and hitting coach Colby Dishmond.
CVCC has two games left in the regular season, playing a weekend series against New River Community College in Dublin, Va.
The Red Hawks and Muskies will play a nine-inning and a seven-inning game on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. before playing a nine-inning game on Sunday at noon.
CVCC — ranked No. 14 by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) — has won 12 of its series this season.
Patrick Henry 6, CVCC 2
Sophomores Jimmy Marcelli and Graham Mitchell led CVCC (36-14, 15-7).
Mitchell drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning, while Marcelli connected on his second career home run — a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning.
CVCC otherwise struggled, eventually stranding 12 runners on base and striking out 12 times.
PHCC starting pitcher Danny Hosley allowed four hits, two earned runs, five walks and struck out 10 to pick up his third win.
Red Hawks starting pitcher Thomas Walden allowed three hits, three earned runs, two walks and struck out two in his final home outing.
Matthew Dailey, Hunter Isaacs, Will Angel, Tyler Nigro, Connor Hewell, Josh Rice, Nic Messina and Greg Collins all pitched in relief for the Red Hawks. They combined close out the final seven innings and gave up four hits, three runs, walked six and struck out nine.
The Patriots improved to 31-14-1 and 13-5-1 in Region X.
CVCC 5, Patrick Henry 1 (Saturday)
Behind dominant pitching by Julian Smith in the final home start of his CVCC career, the Red Hawks defeated the Patriots in a series opener.
Smith allowed three hits and walked two in a seven-inning appearance. He also struck out seven, recording his seventh win and tying for the second-most wins in a season in CVCC history.
Catcher Brett Macchia and shortstop Garrison Burress led the Red Hawks by driving in two runs each while center fielder Cory Watt scored three runs and stole four bases.
Burress’ RBI single in the bottom of the first inning scored Watt to open the game’s scoring, and Macchia added a two-RBI double down the right-field line in the second inning to make it a 3-0.
An RBI double by Burress in the bottom of the fifth inning scored Watt, and second baseman Marcelli capped the Red Hawks’ scoring with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning that scored Watt for a third time.
Patriots designated hitter Josh Nellis broke up a potential shut out with a two-out solo home run in the top of the ninth inning, but CVCC relief pitcher Timothy Davila was able to notch a strikeout with two runners on base to seal a victory.
CVCC 16, Patrick Henry 6, 6 inn. (Saturday)
The Red Hawks run-ruled the Patriots in the second game of a twin bill, ralling from a 5-1 deficit through three innings.
Marcelli and Burress led CVCC with two hits and four RBIs and three hits and three RBIs, respectively.
Burress scored Watt on a single in the bottom of the first inning to open the scoring.
PHCC responded in the top of the third inning, gaining its first lead of the day with a grand slam by Josh Brammell. The Patriots added an RBI single by Garrett Jones for a 5-1 lead.
Surging back into the lead, CVCC scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, including a two-RBI single by Burress, and run-scoring singles by Tyler Campbell and Willie Gordon and an RBI sacrifice fly by Cody Payne, to go ahead 7-5.
An RBI fielder’s choice by Peter Brown in the top of the fifth inning cut the Patriots’ deficit to 7-6, but CVCC added four runs in the bottom half of the inning, including two-RBI doubles by Watt and Marcelli.
The Red Hawks capped their mercy rule win with five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, including an RBI single by Gordon, an RBI fielder’s choice by Payne and a second two-run double for Marcelli.
CVCC starting pitcher Harry Hatcher allowed four hits, two earned runs, three walks and struck out four in his final home appearance.
Trae Starnes relieved Hatcher in the fourth inning. Starnes allowed three hits, one earned run, one walk and struck out two to earn his fifth win of the season.
— Reported by CVCC Sports Information