Down to its last strike, here's how Kings Mountain persevered, kept pace in Big South 3A
BELMONT — Wyatt Davis has never been one lacking in confidence. Trotting to the mound in a tied game, the bases loaded and none out in the seventh, the Kings Mountain pitcher was one in a select few with faith he would navigate the Mountaineers out of trouble.
“Throw strikes, trust my stuff. I know what I’ve been working on all year is going to work when I need it, “ Davis said. “I know if I can throw a strike, my defense will back me up. That’s all the confidence you need, especially when you have such great guys working with and beside you.”
Down to their final strike earlier in the seventh, a Peyton Fisher double allowed the Mountaineers to tie South Point at 1-all. And now with his team in a jam, it was Davis’ time to shine.
The Mountaineers’ junior pitcher struck out two batters and earned a force out on another, getting his team out of a messy situation. Such would come in handy moments later, Kings Mountain scoring four runs in the eighth to claim a gritty 5-1 win over the Red Raiders.
“This was a big game for us. South Point is a really good team,” said Kings Mountain baseball coach Brad Melton. “South Point hits the ball well, has really good pitching. (Matthew Walker) came and pitched his butt off. But this was a big game for where we want and need to be.”
Coming into Friday night, Kings Mountain and rival Crest were tied atop Big South 3A with one loss apiece. South Point found itself two games back of the conference’s co-leaders, needing a win to keep slim hopes of a league championship alive.
And it didn’t take Brad Melton long to take notice.
“South Point fans are mighty loyal, as seen by this crowd (Friday night),” he said. “But (Kings Mountain) people travel too. So this had the feel of a big game, and it delivered.”
Following a Cooper Ray RBI base hit in the first, those clad in South Point red, black and white were feeling pretty good about their chances to nudge back into the title race. However, the game would settle into a pitchers’ duel, South Point’s Walker and Charlie Melton of Kings Mountain matching each other for the better part of seven innings.
Walker went six innings, allowing no runs on three hits. He struck out six. As for Charlie Melton, he allowed one run on six hits in 5.2 innings of work, striking out seven and walking one.
With a runner on second and his team down to its final out, Fisher’s drive to center field caromed off the heel of a South Point player’s glove to bring Jacob Hamrick home for the game-tying run. In the bottom of the frame, Fisher again found himself in the midst of the action.
Pitching in relief of Charlie Melton, Fisher issued two walks and plunked a batter in the seventh. With the game hanging in the balance, Brad Melton turned to Davis hoping he could stop the South Point rally.
Retiring the next three batters in order, an emotional Davis celebrated with teammates on his way to the Kings Mountain dugout. “Knowing I had done what I needed to and helped my team get to where it needed to be, that was everything for me,” he added.
Four errors in the eighth allowed Kings Mountain to run away with the contest, Davis ending his two innings of relief work allowing no runs on one hit. He struck out five.
“We stuck around, hung around until something good happened. That’s how it’s been lately for us,” Brad Melton said.
South Point actually outhit Crest, 7-4. Jake Beaty and Came Ashe each had two hits apiece for the Red Raiders.
Kings Mountain is now tied atop Big South 3A with Crest. Both teams are now 7-1 in the league. South Point is now three games off the pace at 4-4 against conference competition.
Baseball
Friday, April 8
Bessemer City 19, Thomas Jefferson 5: Jashawn Thomas was 2-for-2 with four RBIs and a run scored, while Caleb Summey was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and four runs in a win over Thomas Jefferson. Blake Splawn was 2-for-5 with a run scored, Nik Ellis was 2-for-2 with an RBI and three runs scored, while Zack Badger had a hit, four RBIs and a run scored in a winning effort.
Bunker Hill 2, West Lincoln 1: Noah Gantt was 3-for-3 while Jacob English was 2-for-3 with an RBI in a losing effort for the Rebels. Noah Huss allowed two runs on six hits, striking out five in a complete game effort.
Carolina International at Piedmont Community Charter: No score reported.
Clover 10, Nation Ford 8
Crest 2, North Gaston 1: Connor Gantt had two hits, including a walk-off base hit as the Chargers scored a measure of revenge over North Gaston. Clayton Brown and Brayden Blaylock also had a hit in the Crest win.
Colby Humphries went the distance, allowing two hits in a winning effort.
Forestview 9, Hunter Huss 3: Tripp Dow was 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, while Cooper Botts was also 3-for-4 with a double, adding an RBI in a win over Huss. Ethan Bray (triple, three runs) and Jesse Osborne (run, RBI) each finished 2-for-3 for the Jaguars.
Edward Roberts was 3-for-5 with a run scored for Huss, with Zack Kimmel adding two hits and a run of his own. The Huskies’ Benjamin Kimmel had a double and an RBI as well.
Hickory 5, North Lincoln 4: A five-run fourth inning did North Lincoln in on Friday, the Knights losing on the road. Josh Fox had a double and an RBI, while Landon Reeves, Matt Heavner and Trace Dlugolenski each had an RBI base hit.
Lincolnton 6, Bandys 4: Garrett Hedgepeth, Easton Dellinger, Caden Smith and Sam Carpenter each played key roles in the Wolves’ win over Bandys.
Lincoln Charter 8, Langtree Charter 7 (8 innings): Tyler Steele’s base hit with the bases loaded in the eighth allowed Lincoln Charter to walk off with a win over Langtree Charter. Mason Smith was 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored, while Nick Sumiguit and Donovan Davis had two hits of their own. Matt Cipriano and Dylan Verdi also hit home runs for the Eagles in a winning effort.
Pine Lake Prep 8, Mountain Island Charter 6: Tiger Coffin had a double, two RBIs and scored a run, while Cole Hart added a double, RBI and a run of his own in a loss to Pine Lake Prep.
Stuart Cramer 5, Ashbrook 0: Mason Price struck out nine in six innings of work, in addition to going 3-for-3 at the plate in a win over Ashbrook. Mason Craig was also 2-for-4 with two RBIs, a run and stolen base.
Thursday, April 7
Burns 11, Highland Tech 3: Burns chopped out 11 hits as it improved to 13-1 overall and 8-0 in Southern Piedmont 1A/2A play. Ben Mauney was 3-for-4 with a double, triple and three RBIs. Colby Putnam was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, Josh Powell was 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored, along with Joseph Webb going 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Kendall Hale had a hit and an RBI, while Trey Costner had a double for Highland Tech.
Concord Academy 4, Gaston Day 3: Brett Pressley and Jason Johnson each had two hits, including a double and an RBI in a loss to Concord Academy.
East Gaston 8, Cherryville 5: The Warriors needed nine innings to earn its second win over Cherryville in as many days. Logan and Parker Agosta, as well as Jaxon Cogdill had two hits apiece for East Gaston, which moved to 11-4 and 9-1 in Southern Piedmont 1A/2A competition.
East Lincoln 15, Statesville 1: Gavin Houser was 2-for-3 with five RBIs, with Evan Matile and Nate Borchardt earning two hits of their own in a win over Statesville. Garett Michell and Seth Haigler had a hit, two RBIs and two runs scored, with Isaac Armstrong and Landon Burns also part of the East Lincoln hit parade.
Aiden Perkins earned his first varsity win for the Mustangs, striking out five in three innings of work.
Metrolina Christian 11, Gaston Christian 1: Chase Stewart was 2-for-3 with a solo home run for the Eagles in a loss to Metrolina Christian.
Shelby 7, Freedom 1
Stuart Cramer 15, Ashbrook 6: Julian Hall had a triple, home run and three RBIs to lead his team to a win over Ashbrook. Mason Price was 2-for-2 as well, scoring three runs in the process. Carter Jessen earned the win in relief, going five innings and striking out seven Green Wave batters.
Wednesday, April 6
Burns 10, Highland Tech 0: Joseph Webb struck out seven in three innings of work on the mound, allowing one hit. He also hit a solo home run for the Bulldogs in a 10-0 win over Highland Tech. Webb was one of four Burns players with two hits in the contest, joined by Ben Mauney — who hit a three-run homer in the second — along with Cody Mosteller and Reid Stroupe.
Clover 9, Nation Ford 2
East Gaston 6, Cherryville 0: Parker Agosta struck out 11 in six innings of work, as East Gaston shut out Cherryville in Southern Piedmont 1A/2A competition. Logan Agosta, Liam Brady and Dylan Howell
East Lincoln 10, Hickory 3: Seth Haigler was 3-for-3 with two RBIs, two stolen bases and a run scored in a win over Hickory. Trey Spees was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, with Graham Smiley hitting a two-run homer in the sixth. Nate Borchardt had a hit and two RBIs, while Garrett Michel had a hit and scored two runs for the Mustangs.
Carson Dahle struck out seven in 5.1 innings of relief work.
Forestview 11, Hunter Huss 0: Tripp Dow threw a no-hitter, striking out 14 and walking one in five innings of work to lead Forestview to a win over Huss.
Austin Parker was 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored, with Jesse Osborne and Landon Jenkins each earning two hits in the contest.
Kings Mountain 9, South Point 1: Kings Mountain scored each of its runs in the first three innings, defeating South Point in the first leg of a key Big South 3A series. Zane Brockman went six innings, allowing one run on three hits and struck out seven. Jack Toney was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, while Charlie Melton was 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI in the contest. Kenton Moore also had a triple, three RBIs and a run scored for the Mountaineers.
Lincoln Charter 8, Langtree Charter 0: Donovan Davis was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, whiloe Matt Cipriano was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs as the Eagles defeated Langtree Charter.
Pine Lake Prep 2, Mountain Island Charter 0: The Raptors managed only three hits in a loss to Pine Lake Prep.
Shelby 19, Ashbrook 1
West Lincoln 12, Maiden 8: Evan Hartsoe, Noah Gantt and Noah Huss had two hits apiece, with Landon Jenkins earning a hit and three RBIs for the Rebels in a win. Jacob English added a double and two RBIs in the West Lincoln victory.
Monday, April 4
Bradford Prep 7, Piedmont Community Charter 5
Burns 6, Patton 4: Colby Putnam was 2-dfor-4 with a double and three RBIs, while Cody Mosteller added two hits and an RBI of his own to help the Bulldogs to a non-conference win over Patton. Joseph Webb also had a double and an RBI for Burns.
Clover 8, Nation Ford 3
Lincolnton 5, Newton-Conover 1
Metrolina Christian 22, Gaston Day 0: The Spartans had three hits in a loss to Metrolina Christian.
North Gaston 2, Crest 1
North Lincoln 14, Statesville 1: Bobby Ellis pitched six innings, allowing one run on one hit and struck out eight in a win over Statesville. Maddux Walker was 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Landon Reeves was 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. Timmy Schafer was 2-for-4 with a triple and three runs scored. Matt Heavner finished with a double, triple and two RBIs, with Jack Weuderman earning two hits and two RBIs. Nate Lykins also hit a home run in a winning effort.
Softball
Friday, April 8
West Lincoln 15, Bunker Hill 0: Harlie Burton hurled a no-hitter, striking out five in three innings of work in a win over Bunker Hill.Chloe Norman was 2-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and two runs, while Etta Godfrey was 2-for-2 with three RBIs and two runs scored for the Lady Rebels. Seven other West Lincoln batters had a hit in the win.
Clover 4, Fort Mill 1
Bandys 11, Lincolnton 5
Bessemer City 7, Thomas Jefferson 5: Sara Duncan, Faith Dawson and Caitlin Duncan had two hits apiece, while Erin Moss earned the win in the circle.
Kings Mountain 15, Hunter Huss 0: Game being played at Kings Mountain due to unplayable field conditions at Hunter Huss. Andrea Melton (double, RBI, two runs) and Alayna Patrick (double, two RBIs) each had two hits to lead the Lady Mountaineers.
Lincoln Charter at Langtree Charter: No score reported.
Mountain Island Charter 4, Pine Lake Prep 3
North Gaston 9, Forestview 3: Megan Towery was 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored, while Elissa RIch was 3-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and three runs scored to lead North Gaston past Forestview. Caroline Allred (double, two runs), Payton Propst (RBI) and Alaina Love had two hits apiece for the Lady Wildcats.
North Lincoln 10, Hickory 1
Stuart Cramer 14, South Point 2: Andrea Detweiler was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs, while Braley Hamilton (two RBIs, three runs) and Addison Marr (two doubles, RBI, run) led the Storm to victory. Payton Conroy also hit a home run to go with four RBIs for the Storm.
Thursday, April 7
Burns 12, Highland Tech 2: Peyton Cook was 3-for-3 with a double, home run and three RBIs, while Jaycee Bivins, Sayge Strange and Hunter Morgan had two hits and RBIs in a win over Highland Tech. Strange also struck out 13.
Emma Ghorley was 2-for-3 with a home run, while Elizabeth Johnson was also 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI for Highland Tech.
Crest 17, Ashbrook 0: Aidan Ledbetter and Riley Parker pitched Crest to a shutout win on Thursday. Ella Shope had three hits, while Alexis Shope and Parker had two hits. Sara Rose Warlick and Taylor Black also earned a hit apiece.
East Gaston at Cherryville: Postponed until April 28.
East Lincoln 23, Statesville 1: Betsy Eatmon hit two home runs and had two doubles on her way to eight RBIs in a dominant East Lincoln win. Hannah Cox also had four hits and three RBIs; Morgan Summey was 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs; Bailey Hardin was 3-for-5 with a double, home run and an RBI; Taliyah Thomas had two doubles, a triple and two RBIs; while Val Lohr and Emilee Phuntek had two hits apiece.
Leah Correll allowed one run on one hit for East Lincoln.
Metrolina Christian 12, Gaston Christian 7
Wednesday, April 6
Ashbrook 21, Hunter Huss 6
Burns 3, Highland Tech 2: Peyton Cook was 2-for-3 with a double, with Meah Ivie earning a triple and an RBI in a Burns win. Sayge Strange had a double and a run scored, in addition to striking out 17 in a complete game effort. She allowed two runs on four hits.
Emma Ghorley had a double and a run scored for Highland Tech in a losing cause.
Cherryville 11, East Gaston 0
Crest 5, Kings Mountain 0: Aidan Ledbetter allowed no runs on one hit and struck out 12 to lead Crest past Kings Mountain. Riley Parker had a triple and three RBIs, with Alexis Shope adding two hits of her own. Reese Gettys, Molly Beam and Makenzie Clark also earned a hit apiece.
East Lincoln 12, Hickory 0: Leah Correll allowed no runs on one hit and struck out seven in a win over Hickory.
Taliyah Thomas was 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double and seven RBIs for the Lady Mustangs. Taniyah Thomas was 4-for-4 with three runs scored, while Madison Currence and Betsy Eatmon had two hits apiece, the latter hitting a home run.
Newton-Conover at Lincolnton: Game postponed due to unplayable field conditions.
Queen’s Grant 20, Piedmont Community Charter 1
Stuart Cramer 5, Forestview 3: Three early runs helped the Storm to a roaring start, tacking on runs in the second and fourth to claim a win at Forestview. Payton Conroy had a home run and three RBIs in the contest, with Hadley Womack earning two doubles and scoring twice. Andrea Detweiler also was 2-for-4 in the game with two runs scored. Emma Donaldson struck out seven in a complete game effort.
Carson Upton was 2-for-3 with an RBI, with Blair Riley going 2-for-4 with a double for Forestview.
West Lincoln 6, Maiden 4: Farrah Richardson was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, while Gracie Elmore was 3-for-4 with a double to lead the Lady Rebels past Maiden. Carolina Robinson was 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs, with Chloe Norman going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Monday, April 4
Bessemer City 18, Hunter Huss 3: MaKenzie Harris and Riley Royer each went 2-for-2, with Megan Sliney and Erin Moss each earning a hit of their own in a win over Huss. Moss also picked up the win inside the circle.
North Gaston 10, South Point 0: Elissa Rich hurled a no-hitter, striking out 13 and walking one in a five-inning victory over South Point. Gracie Nichols was 2-for-3 with two doubles and four RBIs, while Caroline Allred was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Alaina Love had two hits and an RBI, Madison Sipe was 2-for-3 with two RBIs while Madison Sipe was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
North Lincoln 25, Statesville 0: Lilly Stump hit three home runs as part of an 8-RBI night to lead North Lincoln to a big win. Olivia Quilla was 4-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored. Clara Grace Dellinger was 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs; Ellie Huss was 3-for-4 with three doubles and three RBIs; Ellie Rinkus was 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored; Tessa Hunt was 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored; with Skyla Morrison going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Aubrie Cada added two doubles and an RBI.
Piedmont Community Charter 18, Langtree Charter 3
Stuart Cramer 8, East Gaston 1: Madison Lee was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Hadley Womack was 2-for-4 with two runs as the Storm downed East Gaston. Emma Donadson had a hit and two RBIs, along with striking out five in four innings of work.
West Caldwell 2, Lincolnton 0
You can reach Joe Hughes at 704-914-8138, email jhughes@gastongazette.com and follow on Twitter @JoeLHughesII.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Kings Mountain baseball perseveres, keeps pace in Big South 3A
