HobbsDailyReport.com
TAYLORSVILLE – Bryson Hammer drove in two runs, and Alexander Central High again used a 1-2 pitching punch to win and advance out of the second round of the state 3A baseball playoffs on Saturday.
THE COUGARS KEEP MOVIN’
A look the previous trips to the third round in the state baseball playoffs – since 1984 – for Alexander Central High:
Year Opp./Result
1985 Hibriten, L 1-2
1986 S. Meck, W 1-0
1992 A.C. Reynolds, W 4-2
1993 Grbo Page, W 5-2
1997 S. Meck, L 3-4
2000 Butler, L 4-7, 9 inn.
2004 Independence, L 3-5
2007 Butler, L 2-3
Notes: The Cougars reached the semifinals in 1986, falling 11-3 to Greensboro Grimsley … They reached them again in 1992, faling 4-3 to Winston-Salem Glenn… They won the West title in 1993, defeating Davie County 7-3, before falling 13-0 and 8-2 in the state title series to Wilimington New Hanover.
SOURCE: HobbsDailyReport.com research and files.
The eight-seeded Cougars (22-7) edged visiting North Gaston 4-1 to advance to next week’s third round, a game that must be played by Tuesday at West No. 1 seed Crest (23-2).
A game time and date will be announced for Alexander Central’s visit to Boiling Springs, N.C., where Crest punched its third-round ticket on Saturday night by beating No. 6 seed Northwest Cabarrus 6-0.
North Gaston, a No. 9 seed, finished 22-5.
The Cougars wiped out a 1-0 lead by North Gaston with a three-run third inning and stayed in control via the pitching of Dawson Elder (4-0), who went 6 2/3 innings and gave up three hits, one run (unearned) with two walks and eight strikeouts.
As they did their first-round 1-0 home win over Sun Valley, the Cougars turned to reliever Nate Moretz to get the final out Saturday. He delivered, getting a groundball out to pick up his fourth save of the season.
Alexander Central had nine hits, Hammer, Elder and Justin Cook providing two each and Byron Younts, Jeremy Hubbard and Moretz each adding one.
Josh Lafone and Hubbard each drove in a run for the Cougars, who overcame making two errors.
Austin Primm took the loss for North Gaston, going 5 2/3 innings. He gave up nine hits, four runs (all earned), walked two and struck out five.
The Wildcats’ hits were by leadoff man Austin Mitchell, clean-up hitter Jack Lowery and Tyler Bradley, who hit seventh in the batting order. Zach Summerville drove in a run for North Gaston.
Alexander Central is going to the third round for the first time since 2007 – when it was eliminated by a 3-2 loss at Butler – and for the ninth time in its 25 state playoff appearances since 1984 (see graphic).
GIRLS SOCCER
Lake Norman Charter 4, North Davidson 0
All four goals were scored by Ayden Yates as the second-seeded Knights rolled at home in a second round state 2A playoff match.
Lake Norman Charter (19-0-1) has a third-round home match against No. 10 West Davidson (18-4) that must be played by Wednesday.
West Davidson advanced Friday, winning 3-1 at No. 7 Wilkes Central.
Yates scored all of her goals on breakaways against North Davidson’s high-lined defense. Olivia Haradlsson had two assists and Olivia Tanaka and Kirsten Brady added one each for Lake Norman Charter.
Kaela Rasenberger made one save for Lake Norman Charter while Sarah Schlaht had three for North Davidson (14-6-1).