NW4A

ACHS @ WHS

WHS 5
ACHS 0

Hollifield and Kinnard both yielded two-run jacks to Holder and J. Greene, respectively as Watauga finished the regular season 7-5 in the NW4A. Nigro pitched 6 shutout frames and Leyshon mopped up on senior night in Boone.

An assist goes to the grounds crew who miraculously revived a flooded field to get this one in. Despite having the worst weather in the league (think rain is bad, try removing snow from the diamond), WHS had just one rain/snow out all year. Who says you can't play baseball in the mountains?

 

With Alexander's loss at Watauga, South Caldwell only needs to win one of their two games to be conference champions. Their first oppertunity to win the title is Wednesday Night at home vs AC Reynolds.

Heres a senerio to think about. If ALexander loses BOTH games (East Burke/South Caldwell), McDowell splits their last two (Freedom/Reynocls)... there is a three way tie for second place at 7-5. THEN WHAT?!?!

Thats all for the fun and games part. There is something serious to discuss within the conference. Last year's starting centerfielder for South Caldwell was Kevin Franks who graduated last year. Kevin was killed over the weekend while riding his motorcycle in Hickory in a terrible accident.

I'm sure everyone on the board is with me as I wish the Franks family all the best and give our deepest sympathies

 

I think under that scenario the first tiebreaker would be head-to-head between the three teams. Mcdowell swept ACHS and split with WHS, so they'd be 3-1 and get the No. 2 seed for the conference tournament. WHS split with both so they'd be 2-2 and seeded No. 3. ACHS would have a 1-3 record and drop to 4th for conference tournament seeding purposes.

The only other way it could work would be to see who has the best record against SC -- but I think it goes head-to-head first. I believe AC is the only one of the three teams to have a win over SC so obviously it would be to their advantage if the tiebreaker worked that way. It really doesn't matter too much because the 2-4 seeds all get a home game in the first round and only the No. 1 from the regular season is comfy because the league only gets two teams in the state playoffs.

I do offer condolensces to the Franks family -- definitely a shame when life is lost, especially one so young.

 

Its almost tourney time and its getting real interesting in the NW4A.

Today, East Burke upset Alexander Central. That gives South Caldwell the conference title. So they are the only team definately in the NC State Playoffs.

Now, it gets really fun. Next week is the conference tournament. Round one is at the higher seeded teams home... then the semis and finals are at South Caldwell.

Its WIDE WIDE open. Right now there are two maybe three teams that can be in that second spot for the playoffs. Basically its winner take all for the conference tourney unless SOuth wins the tourney too then WOW who knows.

 

Come on guys ... a score would be nice .....

 

East Burke 3
ACHS 1

WP: Stewart
LP: Hefner

 

My mistake NCBBallFan... I thought the score was already posted on the board.

I haven't heard anything from the McDowell area though. Anyone tell me if they have played Freedom yet?

 

McDowell won 9-3. Not sure who pitched for either team.