HobbsDailyReport.com
Hot-hitting Tyler McPeak hit two solo home runs and Matty Jorgenson added a two-run shot as North Lincoln High nipped visiting Smoky Mountain 8-6 on Saturday afternoon to reach the West 2A best-of-3 baseball championship series.
The top-seeded Knights (25-2) ran their win streak to 18 games when they got the outs they needed with the tying runs left stranded at second and third base, ending No. 4 Smoky Mountain’s season at 22-3.
North Lincoln will face No. 10 Ledford (26-3) in the West 2A title series that must begin by Tuesday. Game 1 will be at North Lincoln, Game 2 at Ledford and Game 3, if needed, at Ledford with dates and time to be determined.
Ledford advanced with a 2-0 victory on Saturday at No. 3 North Davidson http://www.the-dispatch.com/news/20180519/ledford-blanks-rival-north-davidson-in-fourth-round
The West winner faces either No. 1 Whiteville (25-1) or No. 3 Randleman (23-5) or No. 2 North Lenoir (19-5) in a best-of-3 series June 1-2 for the state 2A title.
Whiteville advanced with a 2-1 victory over No. 4 South Granville and North Lenoir goes to Randleman on Monday night in a fourth-round game.
McPeak hits a solo home run in the first against Smoky Mountain, his seventh of the season, and the Knights added another run in the second inning on a run-scoring single by Reed McRorie.
North Lincoln starter Joey Cobb held Smoky Mountain in check early by striking out five of the first seven batters he faced.
Smoky Mountain pulled within 2-1 in the third inning via a bases-loaded walk drawn by Tristen Kenyon, but the Knights built their lead to 6-1 in the bottom if the inning. That inning was highlighted by Jorgenson’s two-run home run.
When Nick Solomita singled in a run in the fourth inning, North Lincoln had a six-run lead at 7-1.
A five-run fifth inning closed Smoky Mountain within 7-6 before McPeak hit another solo home run – his eighth homer of the year – for an 8-6 lead.
North Lincoln has not lost since falling 6-5 at Bandys in a South Fork 2A regular-season game and its only other loss was to Forestview in a season-opening game.
Head coach Jon Carpenter’s Knights enter the West series hitting .316 as a team with 11 home runs and a pitching staff ERA of 1.64.
The Knights have six hitters hitting from David Borges’ .337 to McPeak’s .407 – Jorgenson (.342), Jake Soorus (.351), Tyler Lilly (.356), and Solomita’s (.371).
Lilly is 10-0 pitching and Cobb is 6-0.
Lincoln Charter 2, East Surry 0
The fourth-seeded Eagles (21-5) nipped the top-seeded Cardinals (23-3) behind Ryan Restino’s pitching and with Spencer Bright going 2-for-3.
Restino (8-2) allowed four hits, walked one and struck out three, gaining a win that lowered his ERA to 0.73.
Bright, who has 24 RBIs this season, is hitting .416 for a team hitting .346.
Eagles head coach Scott Clark’s team faces No. 2 Murphy (25-0) in a West 1A best-of-3 series that must begin by Tuesday. Unless the teams mutually agree to a change, Game 1 will be at Murphy, Game 2 at Lincoln Charter and Game 3 at Murphy.
The East 1A best-of-3 pits No. 6 West Columbus (18-8) against No. 4 Riverside (20-6).
Lincoln Charter’s win streak is a modest three games, those coming in the postseason after Cherryville beat the Eagles to win the South Piedmont 1A tournament title.
Lincoln Charter was 13-2 in league play and won a regular season title, and the Eagles have outscored opponents 205-49.
MORE COVERAGE: https://www.mtairynews.com/sports/61709/cards-upset-by-eagles
SOFTBALL
Bunker Hill starts Tuesday
Bunker Hill (16-6, No. 13 seed) starts the West 2A best-of-3 series on the road on Tuesday at 6 p.m., facing No. 2 Franklin (22-0) https://www.citizen-times.com/story/sports/high-school/hshuddle/2018/05/19/franklin-advances-regional-final-first-time-since-2015/621105002/ on the road.
Game 2 is scheduled Thursday at 6 p.m. at Bunker Hill and, if needed, Game 3 would be Saturday at 6 p.m. at Franklin.
The Bears and Panthers are vying to get a spot opposite No. 2 North Johnston (27-1) or No. 5 Whiteville (23-3) or No. 1 South Granville (22-0) in a best-of-3 series June 1-2 for a state title.
Whiteville travels to South Granville on Monday night.
MORE ON BUNKER HILL AT WEST STANLY: http://www.thesnaponline.com/gallery/colts-fall-in-a-fourth-round-to-bears/article_bdddf054-5ad0-11e8-b241-f7f31c0d64c2.html
Alexander Central opens at home
Third-seeded Alexander Central (24-5) is at home Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the opening game of a best-of-3 West 3A series against No. 4 Carson (20-6). https://www.salisburypost.com/2018/05/17/prep-softball-double-play-propels-carson-to-another-win/
The remainder of the schedule is to be determined.
Teams still alive in the East bracket are No. 5 Cleveland (19-3), No. 19 Greensville Conley (17-8) and No. 2 Western Alamance (23-3).
Conley goes to Western Alamance to play on Monday (6:30 p.m.).
Spartans at home Monday
Second-seeded South Caldwell (25-2) meets No. 3 Mooresville (23-4) in a fourth-round 4A game on Monday at 6 p.m. in Hudson.
The Spartans-Blue Devils winner faces No. 1 Richmond County (24-3) https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/sports/80757/ways-no-no-gets-richmond-softball-past-hickory-ridge-back-into-final-four in a best-of-3 series for the West 4A title. The opener must be played by Tuesday and will be in Rockingham.
Both East fourth-round games – No. 8 Fayetteville Britt (20-5) at No. 4 Wilmington Hoggard (15-10) and No. 3 Heritage (18-1) at No. 2 South Central (22-1) – are scheduled Monday night.
GIRLS SOCCER
Knights face Salisbury
No. 2 seed Lake Norman Charter (21-0-1) will play top-seeded Salisbury (25-0-0) in the West 2A title match in Salisbury. It must be played by Tuesday.
Salisbury advanced Saturday by beating No. 4 Forbush 1-0 in Salisbury. https://www.salisburypost.com/2018/05/19/salisbury-blanks-forbush-
The Tuesday winner advances to the state 2A title match on Saturday against No. 4 Carrboro (17-5-0) or No. 2 First Flight (23-2-1).
Lincoln Charter alive
Third-seeded Lincoln Charter (19-1-1) has a fourth-round match on Monday night at No. 2 South Stokes (14-5-0) in the West 1A bracket.
Monday’s winner will play at top-seeded Union Academy (23-1-0) by Tuesday in the West 1A title match.
The East 1A teams still alive are No. 2 Raleigh Charter (14-6-1) and No. 1 Franklin Academy (21-1-1), who play for an East crown.
The East-West winners go to Raleigh on Saturday for the state 1A championship match.