Spartans shine in opening win
May 2—SAWMILLS — South Caldwell's baseball team continued its late season roll, and cruised in Monday night's opening round of the Northwestern 3A/4A Conference tournament.
The Spartans disposed of Morganton Freedom 8-0 at Lanford Field.
"We've just got to keep playing clean baseball," South coach Jeff Parham said. "If we can play clean baseball, we've got a chance."
The Spartans (16-7) won their fifth straight, and moved onto Tuesday's semifinals at M.S. Deal Stadium in Granite Falls against Watauga (17-5).
Connor Setzer picked up his fourth pitching victory with no losses. The sophomore, in 4 2/3 shutout innings, struck out seven with one walk and a hit batter while scattering four hits.
"I thought Connor helped us going to the mound, and getting another varsity experience, varsity start," Parham said. "I thought he did a heck of a job."
Dylan Duva was on the hill 1 2/3 innings and allowed one hit and fanned two with a walk. Davis Smith closed the final inning, striking out one and hitting a batter.
The Spartans assumed a 1-0 advantage in the first inning on Mason Reising's run-scoring double. A pair of runners crossed in the second on a throwing error in the Freedom infield, and the cushion was 3-0.
Setzer got the hook with two out in the fifth. He hit a batter, but proceeded to gun him down on a fielder's choice at second base.
After a strikeout and walk, Setzer was relieved by Dula — who threw one pitch for a fly-out and third out.
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The bottom half saw Luke Williams deliver a run-scoring double. Davis Brown plated a score with a sacrifice bunt, before Walker Hartley stole home.
Chase Johnson legged out a run-scoring triple, and Elias Morales ripped run-scoring single to complete the onslaught.
Freedom's Kyle Self hurled four innings and served up four hits with one earned run, while walking eight and fanning two with a wild pitch. Carson Dyson pitched an inning and yielded three hits, four earned runs and three walks with a strikeout and wild pitch..
Anthony Frasco retired the Spartans in order in his one inning.
South stranded 11 baserunners. Tristan Mearns batted 2 for 3.
Easton King stole three bases. Johnson, Morales and Davis Brown hooked up for a double play to retire the Patriots in the second.
Freedom opened the third with a pair of hits, before Brown, Williams and Morales turned a double play to kill that momentum.
"We rolled two double plays," Parham said. "We got some timely hitting, at the time."
The Patriots (4-20) closed on a seven-game skid.
