HobbsDailyReport.com
MOORESVILLE – The two hottest teams in North Piedmont 3A-4A baseball are heading into a showdown on Thursday night for the conference tournament title.
The 7 p.m. game at Mooresville will pit No. 2 Alexander Central (18-8), riding a five-game win streak, against top-seeded Lake Norman (20-3), riding an eight-game win streak.
Alexander Central advanced by snapping third-seeded South Iredell’s win streak at five, 5-1, on Wednesday in the first semifinal at Mooresville.
In the nightcap semifinal, Lake Norman extended its streak with an 8-3 win over No. 5 North Lincoln (14-7).
Lake Norman finished a game ahead of Alexander Central in the regular season, so the outcome on Thursday won’t change anything about the seeding process into the state 4A bracket.
Zach Brzycky (8-2) threw a complete game, giving up three hits, one run (earned) with one walk and 10 strikeouts as Alexander Central eliminated South Iredell.
The Cougars had 11 hits – two each by Rhyne Johnson, Grayson Chapman and Matt Wilkinson – and leadoff hitter Keegan Nimblett had two of the Vikings’ three hits.
Alexander Central trailed 1-0 until the bottom of the fourth inning when it scored for a 1-all tie. The Cougars added two runs in the fifth and two in the sixth.
Trae Starnes, Johnson, Wilkinson, Justin Cook and Daniel Dessecker drove in a run each for Alexander Central.
Hunter Dula took the loss for South Iredell afer going three innings. He gave up four hits, one run (earned) with two walks and four strikeouts.
The Cougars and Lake Norman split in the regular season, with Lake Norman winning 5-4 at Lake Norman and Alexander Central winning 3-2 in Taylorsville.
Alexander Central’s win streak began after a one-run loss to St. Stephens in the Catawba Valley Easter Baseball Classic’s second round.
Lake Norman’s streak began after its one-run loss to Alexander Central on the road.
Alexander Central is now within striking range of reaching 20 wins for the third time in five seasons. The Cougars went 40-14 over a two-year run before going 7-18 and 13-13 before this season.
— Reported by Jonathan Watts, Alexander Central Sports Information