How East Gaston proved 'what's old can be new again' in tourney final romp of North Gaston
GASTONIA — Meticulous in his study of opposing batters and their tendencies, East Gaston pitcher Parker Agosta knew what he wanted from Thursday’s start against North Gaston in the Gaston County Easter Baseball Tournament final. According to twin brother Logan Agosta, he said as much in a tidy note delivered less than an hour before first pitch at Sims Legion Park.
“Before the game (Parker Agosta) told me and wrote on a card how he wanted to pitch to them,” Logan Agosta said. “He knows how these players can hit, and he really was excited for the opportunity.”
Parker Agosta’s hunch was correct, striking out 11 and allowing one hit to lead the Warriors past North Gaston 7-0. It was East Gaston’s sixth county championship and first since 2016.
Agosta was named tournament MVP, with teammates Logan Agosta, Dylan Howell and Daniel McClellan earning spots on the all-tournament team.
“It feels great, it’s the last ride we have and this is special. But we’re not done,” Parker Agosta said.
Randy Sellers admits his coaching philosophy hasn’t changed much since the Warriors’ last county championship, long content with its version of small-ball to get the job done.
Much of that was on display in the first inning, East Gaston twice using bunts to move runners over. The first helped the Warriors open scoring in the contest, the other a squeeze play that led to a North Gaston throwing error and a 4-0 East Gaston advantage.
“We’ve had this conversation a couple times, but you know I’m a small-ball guy. I got the personnel and these young men, when we have a man on third base in a close game they expect me to call the squeeze play,” Sellers said. “They are preparing themselves even before then to get the job done. We played good team baseball, what else can I say about (Thursday)?”
After allowing four runs in the first, North Gaston’s Ashton Pope settled in and struck out 11 in six innings.
Logan Agosta led East Gaston by going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored. Daniel McClellan (triple, RBI, two runs), Liam Brady (three RBIs, run) and Dylan Howell (run scored) finished with two hits apiece. Parker Agosta helped himself with a base hit, RBI and a run scored.
North Gaston’s lone base hit came in the second on Houston Rector’s line drive to center.
Thursday’s results
Third place
Forestview 6, Stuart Cramer 5: With Cramer runners at first and third, a pop fly to shallow right field was turned into a game-inning double play, allowing Forestview to turn back a late Storm rally.
Austin Parker was 3-for-4 with a triple, RBI and two runs to lead the Jaguars. Garrison Carpenter and Owen Sloan had two hits and an RBI for Stuart Cramer in the loss.
Fifth place
Ashbrook 10, Highland Tech 1: Manny Watkins was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs to lead Ashbrook on Thursday. Johann Antonio was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while John Ledbetter was 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Green Wave.
Seventh place
Bessemer City 7, Hunter Huss 4: Down 4-3 going into the sixth, four Bessemer City runs put it on top to stay. Blake Splawn was 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored. Nik Ellis had a base hit and two RBIs, while Dylan Towery earned a double and scored a run as well.
Joe Armitage (triple, two runs), Zack Kimmel (two RBIs) and Ben Kimmel (double, RBI) had two hits apiece for Huss.
All-tournament team
East Gaston: Parker Agosta (tournament MVP), Daniel McClellan, Dylan Howell, Logan Agosta; North Gaston: Austin Wood, Ashton Pope; Forestview: Jesse Osborne, Austin Parker; Cramer: Julian Hall, Hunter Reavis; Ashbrook: Johann Antonio; Highland Tech: Gavin Blackwood; Bessemer City: Nik Ellis; Hunter Huss: Ben Kimmel
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Shelby Easter Baseball Tournament
Davis flirts with no-hitter in Kings Mountain romp
Accustomed to coming out of the bullpen, Wyatt Davis found out how the other half lived on Thursday night. Based on the junior hurler’s performance, he obviously likes the view.
Davis came within two outs of earning a no-hitter, Crest’s Colby Humphries denying him of history with a base hit in the seventh. He’d already done enough, though, helping Kings Mountain to an 8-0 win over the rival Chargers to claim the tournament crown.
Davis allowed no runs on two hits in 6.1 innings of work. He struck out 14 and walked two.
Caleb Broome was 2-for-2 with two runs scored, with Colton Mayes and Zane Brockman earning a base hit and two RBIs apiece.
Third place
Burns 7, Shelby 3: Reid Stroupe had a RBI base hit, while Ashton Parker and Josh Powell each added a base hit of their own in a Burns victory. Colby Putnam and Nick Williams scored two runs apiece, with Ben Mauney, Joseph Webb and Cody Mostetler crossing home plate as well.
Shelby was led by Dallas Marzett’s two hits and an RBI, while Cade Ledbetter had a base hit and an RBI as well. Parker Dixon and Steven Spaes each earned a double and scored a run.
Fifth place
Bandys 11, South Caldwell 5
Seventh place
South Point 4, Piedmont 1: Carson Shell’s two-RBI triple was part of a four-run third inning for South Point. Justin Smith was also 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Matthew Walker was stellar for the Red Raiders, allowing one run on three hits and nine strikeouts.
Other area scores
Baseball
North Lincoln 4, East Rutherford 3 (8 innings): Landon Reeves was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Reece Moody had a hit and two RBIs for the Knights. Reeves also pitched in the contest, allowing three runs on seven hits and four strikeouts.
Lincoln Charter 3, Community School of Davidson 1: Runs in the sixth and seventh allowed the Eagles to pull out the win. Mason Smith, Tyler Steele and Matt Cipriano combined to strikeout 15 batters, allowing one run on two hits.
Cipriano finished with two base hits and an RBI, with Gavin Williams adding two hits of his own. Brady Swadley wound up with a hit, RBI and a run scored.
SouthLake Christian 3, Gaston Christian 2: Meridian Leffew, Stephen Stroupe (double, RBI) and David Nicks (double, run) earned two hits apiece for the Eagles.
Nicks pitched five innings, allowing three runs on two hits. He struck out 10 batters and walked seven.
Softball
Gaston Christian 21, SouthLake Christian 0
Lincoln Charter at Community School of Davidson: No score reported.
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: 'Old School' East Gaston reigns supreme in Gaston baseball final
