North Davidson vs South Caldwell Game 3

Congratulations South Caldwell for making it back to the State Championship 2 years in a row. I also have the ultimate respect for North Davidson's players and coaches. These guys are warriors and they never give up. The majority of the team is back next year so they could be preseason #1.

I loved how both teams after the game gathered in a circle and held hands and got down on 1 knee and prayed. I am so proud of both of these teams and the professionalism and class each displayed.

I had a chance to talk with a few of the ND players and all of them are first class. Believe me the Spartans know we were in for a battle and admire your team. Best luck next year to ND and best luck to the Spartans. Bring back the State Championship to Caldwell County! We are already proud of each SC player and all the coaches no matter what happens from here on out.

 

Boy that was fun to watch. What a gritty performance by both teams. I'll admit I didn't think ND would hang that tough. My hat is off to them. Bumgarner was on tonight striking out 15 and ND still managed to scratch out 2 runs. Very impressive. Chavis hit a bomb again and SC played a good all around game and it is a good thing. I can't wait for Friday. When will the game locations be announced
Oh yea how about that crowd. Unbelievable. I have never seen that many people at a high school sporting event. and the good thing was no problems. I too though the prayer by both teams at the end was terrific. And the good thing was after that the SC and ND players hung out and talked on the field for a long time. Great to see that kind of sportsmanship from both teams. Heck the fans from both teams were even meeting and talking together and shaking hands. That is the way it is supposed to be

 

I watched part of the game Friday nite at N. Davidson. I think ND used their ace. Did S. Caldwell & N. Davidson use their aces tonite?

 

What a performance by both teams over the last 3 days. With SC being the favorite going in to this series I don't think anyone thought it would be this kind of a dog fight. ND is for real. With only 2 starting seniors you better keep an eye on this team next year. Wouldn't surprise me if they are right back in it next year. Great job by the Spartans. You guys make us so proud. I know as a parent of a player I was so proud that we won the regionals at home. Tonight was a special night for all the senior parents. We got to see our sons win at home for the last time. Now we got to go finish what we started. Go get that State Championship that we been talking about for a long time. As other people have said after the game was special also. Both teams praying together after a war like that. Just can't put a price on that. GOOD LUCK SPARTANS.

 

Epic battle tonight. Just like the other two games. No way I thought that Glover (ND's #3) and Pilcher (up from the JV's) would hold down SC as well as they did. Hats off to them, but tonight belonged to the big lefty. He is a much better "pitcher" than I envisioned. Because he was such hard thrower, I figured he was just that - a thrower. Not the case, his command of the zone was impressive. He didn't throw quite as hard as I thought (probably unrealisitic expectations on my part). I stood behind a scout for 2 innings and he was 88-91 in those 2 innings, but what I was impressed with was how he moved his fastball around. No balls were right down the middle. He worked the corners masterfully. He's to total package - talent, body, poise, class. I wish him the best of luck.

It was a fun, fun series. I couldn't be more proud to say that I am a North Davidson baseball alumni. Those kids played hard tonight and played with a tremendous amount of guts all year. Tonight is what high school athletics is all about. Go out there and give it all you have, play til they say the game is over and then look at the scoreboard and see if you won or not. ND lost to a great, great high school baseball team. Hopefully we pushed them hard enough to make them a little better. Hopefully they will fullfill their dreams next week.

Well legion starts tomorrow.......................I love baseball!!!

 

Whoops...double post

 

9nine9, I know you and other ND fans are proud of your team and rightfully so. I have a feeling next year will be the year of the Black Knights. I told several people that ND reminded me of SC last year because most of the starters were underclassmen.

I can't believe the maturity and composure that ND plays with. Also your #3 and #4 pitchers did a great job tonight in a hostile environment. I had a chance to talk with your sophomore SS #6 and Junior Zack White #25 and both are great guys with tremendous talent. I expect both of these guys to be Division 1 prospects at a minimum. Best of luck.

 

Sounds like this game lived up to the hype and then some. From reading these posts, it also sounds like this was the type of game that makes all of us proud to be HS baseball fans. Congrats to BOTH teams and their fans!!!! Class Acts all around from what I can gather.

 

Classy comment by Madison below. The North Davidson kids will remember his compliment when he's playing for pay on TV.

Sunday, May 27, 2007 Winston Salem Journal

Black Knights beaten in regional

Madison Bumgarner is considered to be the one of the best high-school baseball players in the state. Last night, he showed North Davidson why by pitching South Caldwell to a 3-2 win in the deciding game of the best-of-three NCHSAA Class 4-A Western Regional.

Bumgarner, who has committed to North Carolina but is projected to be a first round pick in the major-league draft, struck out 15 and allowed three hits to improve to 9-2 on the season. “Anytime Madison’s on the mound, you’re gonna have a chance to win — he’s a great kid and a great player,” Coach Jeff Parham of South Caldwell said.

In the top of the first, leadoff man Levi Michael of North reached second on two errors by South shortstop Josh Shehan, but Luke Wilhelm popped up his sacrifice bunt attempt for the first out. Bumgarner then struck out Daniel Kassouf and Zach White to end the inning.

Bumgarner helped his own cause by drawing a one out walk in the bottom of the first. Dom Dibernardi ran for him, and after two hit batters by North pitcher Ryan Glover loaded the bases, Shane Clawson hit a two-out single that scored Dibernardi to make the score 1-0.

North pressured Bumgarner again in the third. Jordan Slate singled to lead off, and a balk by Bumgarner moved him to second. After Trey Briggs struck out, Slate moved to third on a wild pitch. However, Bumgarner got Michael and Wilhelm to strike out to end the threat.

In the bottom of the third, Brad Chavis homered to dead center to increase the Spartans’ lead to 2-0.
South struck again in the bottom of the fourth. Glover walked Joe Stanbury to open the inning, and was relieved by Mike Pilcher. Pilcher’s wild pitch allowed pinch-runner Tyler Dillard to advance to second. A sacrifice bunt by Charles LeProvost moved Dillard to third, and Shehan hit a sacrifice fly to deep left that easily scored Dillard for a 3-0 lead.

“I knew we had to scrap to get runs, and I thought we did a good job with small ball there in the fourth,” Parham said.
North threatened again in the top of the fifth. Slate took a two out walk, and pinch-hitter Zach Joyce singled to right. Right fielder Josh Severt’s throw to third base got by Daniel Coffey, allowing Slate to advance to third and Joyce to second. However, Michael grounded to shortstop to end the inning.

The Black Knights finally broke through against Bumgarner in the top of the sixth. Jay Yount’s groundout to short scored Wilhelm, and then Casey Cox, who was running for White, scored on a passed ball to cut the lead to 3-2.
“Honestly, I think we bothered him tooth and nail,” Coach Mike Meadows of North Davidson said. “We definitely had our opportunities against him, but give him credit — he’s a bulldog, and he kept fighting.”

Bumgarner pitched a perfect seventh inning to close it out. “I had to fight and work for it tonight, definitely. They’re probably the best team we’ve faced all year,” Bumgarner said.

Bumgarner’s pitching offset a gritty night from the North pitching staff. With Clay Watson and Zach White unavailable after pitching the two previous games, Glover and Pilcher combined to limit the South offense to three runs in five innings.

Watson came in for a spot relief appearance and got one out in the sixth, and White followed him for the final two outs of the inning.

South improved to 29-3 and will face Wilmington-Ashley this weekend in a best-of-three series for the state championship. North finishes its season at 24-9.

North 000 002 0 — 2 3 2
South 101 100 x — 3 3 3
Glover, Pilcher (4), Watson (6), White (6) and Ben Redmond; Bumgarner and LeProvost. WP - Bumgarner (9-2). LP - Glover. 2B - ND: White; SC: Stanbury. HR - SC: Chavis. Records - North Davidson 24-9; South Caldwell 29-3. Leading hitters - ND: Slate, 1-2; Joyce, 1-2; White 1-3; SC: Chavis 1-4, run, RBI; Stanbury 1-2; Clawson 1-3, RBI.

http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173351367696&path=%21sports&s=1037645509200

 

wow.....

What a night to remember! Congratulations to ND on a spectacular season and congratulations to SC on winning the west title. Now go bring that state title home!!! See ya in Raliegh!!!