'Four years went into that swing': Burns' Webb delivers in clutch for dramatic win in SPC final

LAWNDALE — Even before taking his first varsity hacks at “The Dog Lot,” Joseph Webb felt he was being groomed for a leadership role on the Burns High baseball team. Four years later, the senior infielder can be regularly at the center of team huddles, rarely needing coach Alex Leonhardt’s cue to rally the troops.

On Thursday, Webb was at the center of another type of huddle, this one far less tense than most during the 2022 campaign.

Webb’s opposite-field base hit with two outs in the seventh allowed Burns to walk off with a 4-3 win over Cherryville, giving his team the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A tournament title. The Bulldogs claimed the conference’s regular-season championship the previous week at rival Shelby.

“We kept getting base runners and couldn’t get them in, and it hurts the kids knowing there’s still work to do. It can be discouraging at times,” Leonhardt said. “But you have to move on to the next pitch, the next inning. And they continued to push despite the circumstances.”

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Webb was particularly tested on Thursday. After teammate Josh Powell’s home run staked Burns to a 1-0 lead, the senior hurler watched helplessly as a Will Fowler three-run homer settled into a sea of trees beyond the left field fence.

Burns needed little time in pulling even, capitalizing on Cherryville miscues to tie the game at 3-all. Despite that, Webb believed his team could’ve been well ahead if not for a bevy of missed opportunities.

“We are a couple of swings from having this game busted open,” Webb said to Burns teammates between the fifth and sixth innings.

After the Bulldogs quickly exhausted their first two outs of the seventh, it didn’t seem as if Webb would get another chance to make amends for the earlier home run unless it came in extra innings. Following two walks and a hit batsman sandwiched between, the senior stepped in for the opportunity to be a hero.

And on this occasion, Webb made sure he didn’t miss.

“Four years went into that swing right there. We’ve been working four years trying to get a good win and earn some respect for ourselves,” he said. “We’ve had three down years around here, it felt great to drive in the winning run and a conference championship.”

By virtue of its win, Burns remains No. 3 in 2A West according to the NCHSAA’s baseball RPI standings. Cherryville’s position also improved despite the loss, moving up a spot to No. 4 in 1A West.

Though leaving Lawndale with a loss, Cherryville skipper Scott Heavner left with a ton of confidence about his team’s chances in the upcoming playoffs.

“I told my guys, ‘We’re ready to go some places. We’re ready to go on a journey,’” he said. “To play like this against one of the best in 2A, it says a lot about who you are as a team.”

Baseball

Thursday, May 5

Big South 3A

Ashbrook 11, Hunter Huss 4: Joe Armitage was 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs, while Ulises Atilano added an RBI base hit for Huss in a losing cause.

Crest 7, Kings Mountain 4: Connor Gantt was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Colby Humphries, Tucker McSwain and Zack Rayfield each had RBI base hits for the Chargers. Humphries also pitched 5.2 innings, allowing three runs (none earned) on eight hits and struck out seven. Ryan Ropp earned the game’s last four outs for Crest, allowing a run on one hit along with a strikeout.

Kings Mountain’s Caleb Broome finished 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and a run scored. Jack Toney added two hits and an RBI. Cole Irby was 3-for-4 as well.

Forestview 12, Stuart Cramer 3: Jesse Osborne and Austin Parker each finished 3-for-5, while Tripp Dow (two doubles, four RBI, two runs) and Cooper Botts (RBI, two runs) added two hits apiece. Landon Jenkins had an RBI double while Carson Adams also had an RBI base hit for Forestview.

Stuart Cramer’s Julian Hall brought in two with a triple. Nathan Brittain also had an RBI base hit.

South Point 7, North Gaston 5: Down four runs after four innings, South Point scored in each of its last three at-bats to take its regular season finale at North Gaston. Justin Smith was 3-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and three runs scored. He also walked twice.

Cooper Ray (double, two RBIs, run) and Ryan Harris (double, RBI) had two hits apiece.

Ashton Pope hit a solo home run for the Wildcats along with a double, while Houston Rector had two hits. Austin Wood and Chase Sharpe each had RBI base hits as well.

S.C. Class 5A playoffs

Clover 9, Spartanburg 3: Sam Czyz threw 5.1 innings, allowing two runs with three strikeouts. Cooper Zohner was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, while Elijah Krause was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Clover again looks to stave off elimination Saturday against either Rock Hill or T.L. Hanna (Anderson).

Wednesday, May 4

Southern Piedmont 1A/2A

Burns 19, Shelby 3: After Shelby took a 3-0 lead in the first, Burns scored the game’s final 19 runs.

The Bulldogs collected 13 hits, with Ben Mauney leading the way with three. Reid Stroupe, Josh Powell and Ashton Parker had two hits apiece. Colby Putnam and Powell hit home runs in the contest.

Luke Williams was 2-for-3 for Shelby in the loss.

Cherryville 9, East Gaston 5: Cherryville scored seven in the first to cruise past East Gaston. Chase Miller was 4-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Landon Hahn was 3-for-4 with a double, four RBIs and a run scored. Collin Huss had a hit, two RBIs and a run scored.

Jaxson Cogdill (RBI, run) and Ben Summey (run) each finished two hits for East Gaston.

Catawba Shores 1A/2A

Lincoln Charter 16, Langtree Charter 4: Mason Smith was 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored for the Eagles. Jacob Smith added two hits, two RBIs and a run, with Nick Sumiguit hitting a home run and two RBIs in the contest.

Metro Eight 1A

Piedmont Community Charter 7, Bradford Prep 5

Western Foothills 3A

Foard 10, North Lincoln 3: Trailing 3-0 after one, Foard scored runs in the final four innings to claim its spot in the Western Foothills 3A tournament title game.

St. Stephens 9, East Lincoln 6: Despite going up 4-0 in the first, East Lincoln was unable to hold the lead in a loss to St. Stephens. Graham Smiley was 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Garrett Michel was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, while Trey Spees added two hits and an RBI. Evan Matile brought in two with a base hit.

Softball

Thursday, May 5

Big South 3A

Crest 3, Kings Mountain 2: Crest rallied in the seventh with two runs to stun Kings Mountain. Aidan Ledbetter allowed two runs on five hits, striking out 12 and walking one. Jaylen Ledbetter and Mackenzie Luckenbaugh each had an RBI base hit for Crest.

Kali Weaver allowed three runs (none earned) on six hits in seven innings, striking out three. Austyn Dixon was 3-for-3 with a double, home run and two runs. Paige Flemming also had an RBI base hit.

Hunter Huss 21, Ashbrook 11: Madison Lackey was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored as Hunter Huss earned its first win of the season.

North Gaston 24, South Point 13: Skylar Smith (double, four RBIs, four runs), Alaina Love (two RBIs, four runs), Madison Sipe (three RBIs, run) and Elissa Rich (double, home run, six RBIs, three runs) finished with four hits apiece for the Lady Wildcats. Gracie Nichols (double, four RBIs, three runs), Leeza Rhyne (two RBIs, two runs) and Megan Towery (double, home run, three RBIs, three runs) each had three hits in the win.

Jordan Coffey was 2-for-2 with three RBIs and a run scored for South Point.

Stuart Cramer 6, Forestview 5 (9 innings): Madison Lee hit a home run, while Hadley Womack and Payton Conroy each had doubles, all three bringing in two runs apiece in a two-hit night for each. Andrea Detweiler and Braley Hamilton also had two hits apiece.

Southern Piedmont 1A/2A

Burns 12, East Gaston 0: Sayge Strange threw a one-hitter, striking out six and walking one to lead Burns to a Southern Piedmont 1A/2A tournament championship. Jaycee Bivins capped the night with a walk-off grand slam, part of a 2-for-3, six-RBI night. Maura Pendleton (two RBIs, three runs), Hunter Morgan (three RBIs) and Laylah Haynes (two runs) added two hits apiece.

Catawba Shores 1A/2A

Lincoln Charter 8, Mountain Island Charter 3: Kaylan Brown was 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored, while Aubrey White was 2-for-3 in a losing cause. Camden Gerland also brought in three with an RBI double.

Catawba Valley 2A

Bandys 7, West Lincoln 1: Lady Rebels unable to get anything going in a loss to Bandys.

Metro Eight 1A

Queen’s Grant 21, Piedmont Community Charter 9: Grace East was 4-for-4 with a double and three runs scored for Piedmont Community Charter. Teammates Julianna East (two doubles, three RBIs, two runs), Abigale Harris double, (two RBIs, two runs) and Ashton Kenna (double, two RBIs, run) contributed two hits apiece in the loss.

Western Foothills 3A

East Lincoln 6, North Lincoln 0: Taniyah Thomas was 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and a run scored, while Taliyah Thomas (triple, home run, two RBIs, two runs) and Betsy Eatmon (RBI) finished with two hits apiece as East Lincoln claimed the Western Foothills 3A tournament title. Emery Pethel and Jaelyn Freeston also had an RBI base hit in the game.

Leah Correll allowed three hits in the game and struck out seven.

Wednesday, May 4

Southern Piedmont 1A/2A

Burns 12, Highland Tech 0: Sayge Strange allowed one hit and struck out 12 in a shutout of Highland Tech. She also was 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored. Maura Pendleton was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, with Meah Ivie (double, two RBIs, run) and Laylah Haynes (home run, five RBIs, two runs) each contributed two hits.

East Gaston 6, Cherryville 4

Catawba Shores 1A/2A

Lincoln Charter 12, Community School of Davidson 0: Leah Lyerly was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, with Maggie Pannone contributing a double and two RBIs. Sarah Terrell had a double and an RBI, while Caitlin Houser and Hailey Fiora drove in a run apiece.

Mountain Island Charter 11, Pine Lake Prep 9: Camden Gerland was 3-for-3 with a double, four RBIs and two runs scored, with Nora Bryant going 2-for-4 with a triple, three RBIs and two runs scored for the Raptors. Lilyan Helms also brought in two runs.

Western Foothills 3A

East Lincoln 10, Foard 1: Betsy Eatmon was 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs, while Tatum Martin went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Mustangs. Taliyah Thomas had two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored, while Jaelyn Freeston also had two hits and an RBI.

North Lincoln 4, St. Stephens 2

Track and field

Big South 3A

Boys: Kings Mountain 205, South Point 113.5, Ashbrook 106, Stuart Cramer 90, Forestview 74.5, Hunter Huss 39, Crest 35, North Gaston 9

100-meter dash: Sincere Moss, Ashbrook; 200-meter dash: Sincere Moss, Ashbrook; 400-meter dash: Allen Archer, Ashbrook; 800-meter run: Austin Brotemarkle, Forestview; 1,600-meter run: Austin Brotemarkle, Forestview; 3,200-meter run: Austin Brotemarkle, Forestview; 110-meter hurdles: Andre Willis, Kings Mountain; 300-meter hurdles: Andre Willis, Kings Mountain; 4x100-meter relay: Kings Mountain; 4x200-meter relay: Ashbrook; 4x400-meter relay: Ashbrook; 4x800-meter relay: Kings Mountain; High jump: Tre Meeks, Forestview; Long jump: Taelan Whitley, Stuart Cramer; Triple jump: D’Andre Hoyle, Kings Mountain; Pole vault: Nicolas Harrison, Kings Mountain; Discus: Jackson Blee, South Point; Shot put: Jackson Blee, South Point.

Girls: Stuart Cramer 144, Kings Mountain 136, South Point 127, Ashbrook 75, Forestview 64, Hunter Huss 48, Crest 45, North Gaston 22

100-meter dash: Paris Turner, Crest; 200-meter dash: Zaniya Littlejohn, Stuart Cramer; 400-meter dash: Rachel Tolbert, South Point; 800-meter run: Rachel Tolbert, South Point; 1,600-meter run: Divinity Ervin, Kings Mountain; 3,200-meter run: Divinity Ervin, Kings Mountain; 100-meter hurdles: Victoria Mills, Forestview; 300-meter hurdles: Victoria Mills, Forestview; 4x100-meter relay: Crest; 4x200-meter relay: Stuart Cramer; 4x400-meter relay: Stuart Cramer; 4x800-meter relay: Kings Mountain; High jump: Ava Cooper, Stuart Cramer; Long jump: Alexis Willis, Stuart Cramer; Triple jump: Alexis Willis, Stuart Cramer; Pole vault: Hannah Thaggard, South Point; Discus: Gianna Brown, North Gaston; Shot put: Ariyah Graham, Hunter Huss.

Southern Piedmont 1A/2A

Boys: Cherryville 140.5, Burns 137, Thomas Jefferson 130.5, Shelby 120, Highland Tech and East Gaston 41, Bessemer City 28

100-meter dash: Bricen Kee, Shelby; 200-meter dash: Jackson Owens, Cherryville; 400-meter dash: Jackson Owens, Cherryville; 800-meter run: Carson Gilliam, Thomas Jefferson; 1,600-meter run: Carson Gilliam, Thomas Jefferson; 3,200-meter run: Carson Gilliam, Thomas Jefferson; 110-meter hurdles: Graham Warlick, Burns; 300-meter hurdles: Graham Warlick, Burns; 4x100-meter relay: Shelby; 4x200-meter relay: Thomas Jefferson; 4x400-meter relay: Cherryville; 4x800-meter relay: Thomas Jefferson; High jump: L.J. Allen, Burns; Long jump: L.J. Allen, Burns; Triple jump: Camden McGill, Shelby; Discus: Justice Ellis, Bessemer City; Shot put: Cooper Sloan, Cherryville.

Girls: Burns 158, Shelby and Thomas Jefferson 136.5, Highland Tech 89.5, Cherryville 76, Bessemer City 21.5, East Gaston 18

100-yard dash: Lauren Tolbert, Highland Tech; 200-meter dash: Lauren Tolbert, Highland Tech; 400-meter dash: Lauren Tolbert, Highland Tech; 800-meter run: Lauren Tolbert, Highland Tech; 1,600-meter run: Sophia Smart, Thomas Jefferson; 3,200-meter run: Kaitlyn Rowe, Thomas Jefferson; 100-meter hurdles; Hannah Dover, Burns; 300-meter hurdles: Hannah Dover, Burns; 4x100-meter relay: Burns; 4x200-meter relay: Burns; 4x400-meter relay: Burns; 4x800-meter relay: Thomas Jefferson; High jump: Rylee-Grace Burgis, Cherryville; Long jump: Ma’Kaiyah Ross, Burns; Triple jump: A’ariona Burris, Burns; Discus: Kaniyah Hopper, Shelby; Shot put: Yahreia Peeler, Shelby.

Western Foothills 3A

Boys: North Lincoln 192, Hickory 121.5, North Iredell 112, East Lincoln 90, Foard 75, West Iredell 44, Statesville 38.5, St. Stephens 24

100-meter dash: Dontae Baker, Hickory; 200-meter dash: Dontae Baker, Hickory; 400-meter dash: Kolton Hodges, North Lincoln; 800-meter run: Stephen Fernetti, North Lincoln; 1,600-meter run: Connor Bagwell, North Lincoln; 3,200-meter run: Phillip Riddle, North Iredell; 110-meter hurdle: Liam Sutton, North Lincoln; 300-meter hurdles: Liam Sutton, North Lincoln; 4x100-meter relay: East Lincoln; 4x200-meter relay: East Lincoln; 4x400-meter relay: North Lincoln; 4x800-meter relay: North Lincoln; High jump: Jackson Hawkins, North Iredell; Long jump: John Jackson, North Iredell; Triple jump: Kwan Oates, Hickory; Pole Vault: Brian Schoellner, Hickory; Discus: Jake Price, Hickory; Shot put: Kristjan Snyder, North Lincoln.

Girls: North Lincoln 233, North Iredell 127, West Iredell 73, Statesville 58, St. Stephens 52, Foard 46, East Lincoln 33, Hickory 30

100-meter dash: Alaya Gillespie, West Iredell; 200-meter dash: Alaya Gillespie, West Iredell; 400-meter dash: Alaya Gillespie, West Iredell; 800-meter run: Cara Castro, North Lincoln; 1,600-meter run: Cara Castro, North Lincoln; 3,200-meter run: Bella Wood, North Lincoln; 100-meter hurdles: Haylee Gibson, North Lincoln; 300-meter hurdles: Haylee Gibson; 4x100-meter relay: North Lincoln; 4x200-meter relay: North Lincoln; 4x800-meter relay: North Lincoln; High jump: Emily Campbell, North Iredell; Long jump: Alaya Gillespie, West Iredell; Triple jump: Angely Soto, North Lincoln; Pole vault: Chloe Soorus, North Lincoln; Discus: Carly Correll, North Lincoln; Shot put: Rilee Speaks, West Iredell.

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: Burns baseball's senior leader Webb delivers in clutch for SPC title