Charlotte Christian: State Champs

My alma matter won their 3rd straight state title today, beating High Point Weslyan twice. I'll let Dynasty do the rest of the talking.

 

Wow....waiting for the details

 

Wow, what an intense an exciting state championship! Christian beat Wesleyan 2-1 in a 3 game set to take home their 3rd straight crown. Tempers flared in a battle royal between 2 of the tops teams around.

Game 1 (Friday night): Wesleyan takes game 1 with an 8-3 win Friday night. since the lights wouldnt turn on at Leonard Park they had to move the game to a different field after the 1 inning. they didnt get finished till around 12:30. Chris Engle, who was 9-0, (NC St.) was on the mound and was straight nasty to the lefty's of CC and controlled the game. Christian made around 6 errors but still was in the game when they brought the score to 5-3. Wesleyan continue to crush the ball and then handed the ball to Travis High (NC St.) to close christian out and to take the win. Coach simmons got the ejection around the middle of the game over some very questionable umpiring. The fans of Wesleyan were rowdy and loud, hammering coach simmons and the players of CC.

Game 2 (Saturday morning): Christian finally got to face a righty in Wes Wrenn who was 9-0 with an incredible ERA under 1.00. they put together a series of hits and went ahead 4-0 early. Christian had ace Michael Najaka on the bump and he went all 7 and pitched wonderfully against the potent Wesleyan lineup. Wesleyan made 3 errors i believe as Wrenn began to get questionable on the hill. Christian continued to pound Wesleyan and soon gave them their fist loss in 25 games. Christian takes game 2, 7-1, and quiets the fans and players of Wesleyan.

Game 3 (Saturday afternoon): After throwing 110+ pitched the very day before, Wesleyan ace Chris Engle is back out on the hill to start the final game 3, i am telling u, this kid is a warrior and has a rubber arm, he was still pumping his fastball up there mid to upper 80's with his disgusting slider and curve. Christian put Kyle Barthleson, who threw only 10 innings before this game the whole year because of control issues got the start for christian. This game was very intense and emotions ran high on both squads. The game was scoreless going into the 4th inning. With bases loaded an 2 outs, christian draws a walk and takes the lead 1-0. Next batter, sophomore Mason McVerry comes up and takes a first pitch fastball from engle deep into the gap in leftcenter for a bases clearing double, christian takes the lead 4-0. Engle was forced to come out after that inning b/c you can only throw 10 innings in this tournament or im sure he would hgave stayed in. So who do you think Wesleyan puts in, Righthanded stud, Travis High to try to hold christian. In the bottom of the 4th, wesleyan gets two runs back on a double by the right fielder. the score is 4-2 christian. in the top of the 6th, christian got and insurance run off of High when Griffin McGuirt laced a double down the line to put christian up 5-2. It's the bottom of the 7th and Christian brings in ace Michael Najaka to close out the Trojans. He shuts them down 1-2-3 and the dogpile begins. Christian wins their 3rd state championship 5-2 in an incredible series.

Against all odds and all the adversity this squad has gone threw this year, with everyone telling them how this wasn't their year, christian rose up and defeated a VERY VERY talented Wesleyan team. Wesleyan went 27-3 this year. Christian finished 28-10-1 and captured their 3rd state championship. if you ask any of the players they would say this year was the sweetest of them all b/c of all the hardships they went threw throughout the year. Congradulations Knights and next year they shouldn't lose much, even though with all the seniors leaving (Fronk, Bost, Najaka, Caldwell, Watson, etc...) they return lots of young guys mwho can flat out play. Way to go fellas!

(here is a good article from the greensboro newspaper http://www.news-record.com/sports/preps/ncisaabaseball_051604.htm )

 

The Wesleyan/Christian series was unbelievable! There were a lot of stars in this series. There were some very heated moments! It was a great way to end the year for Christian. Not so much for Wesleyan.

 

Great report Dynasty!!! Your Knights exceeded all expectations, thus the feelings of winning your 3rd title makes this one all the more rewarding. Although, I am happy for all of you guys, I am extremely happy for Mason McVerry. A great kid from a great family...I'm sure his grandfather "Pete Maynard" is smiling down at him.

 

nature of the battle

with a 4 game, 2 day schedule, the championship series became a contest of TEAMs as opposed to individuals. While Weslyan has great players and what was essentially home court advantage, CCS proved they were deeper and in the end, the better team this year.

Coach Simmons put together a greuling schedule. Among its losses, CCS went down to the #2 public school in SC, the #10 team in the nation (FL). These experiences led to humility and, to the boys credit, toughness. In the 2nd game of the finals, a must win for CCS, every senior in the lineup delivered. In the championship game a junior (Bartleson) and sophmore (McVerry) delivered. Up and down the lineup and into the dugout, that's what championships are about!

Engle was ever the competitor challenging one of the CCS players that he needed to "Go on home" after taking a called third strike. Well, they did and with the championship trophy!

 

The remaining RBI's were delivered by Griffin McGuirt (Jr.) on a two out bases loaded 7 pitch at bat that resulted in a walk and the go ahead run which was immediately followed by McVerry's bases loaded 2 out full count blast to deep left center-which measures 380 - he must of hit it 375. In the 6th, McGuirt hit a 1st pitch double to left off Travis High scoring the runner from 2nd. The mid season slump is over.-----proud dad.

Christian reloads for '05 with plent of talent moving up from JV to complement the returning players. Could it be 4 in a row?!!

 

Better be four in a row!!

 

with the talented 05's, like McGuirt, Hill, and Barthleson. And the very talented class of 06, christian should be back and better than ever. Theres no doubt in my mind that it will be 4 in a row, then 5 in a row.

Go Knights.

 

The Mom

Congratulations to all our friends and baseball family at Charlotte Christian. We are proud of all of you!!