Broughton Defeats Cary

Broughton scored two runs in the bottom of the 7th in dramatic fashion to stun the Imps 6-5. After giving up a run in the top of the 1st, Will Baldwin (Sr. P) led off with a single and stole 2nd. Warren Grady (Jr. CF) walked then Mathis Dean (Soph. 1B) followed with an RBI single to score Baldwin tying the score at one. After a couple of hits by Cary and a couple of stumbles in the field, Broughton found itself trailing 4-1 entering the bottom half of the 3rd. Baldwin singled to start the inning but was thrown out at the plate trying to score on Grady’s double over the right fielder’s head. Cam Epperson (Sr. 3B) was hit by a pitch, then Dean’s second RBI single knocked in Grady pulling the Caps to within two.

After a scoreless 4th for the Imps, Eli DeJesus (Sr. DH) got things started with a single and Harrison Hemric (Soph. 2B) hustled to beat out an infield hit. Baldwin singled to load the bases and Kyle Ehlers (Soph. SS) had an RBI single to plate DeJesus. The Caps left the bases loaded. Grady came on to pitch the 5th and Cary would have added another run if not for a strong throw from Thomas Walden (Sr. CF) to Penn Sealey (Fr. C) to cut down the Imp runner at the plate. This seemed to be the momentum changer. In the Broughton half of 5th, Dean lead off with his 3rd single of the game, stole 2nd, went to 3rd on a nice sacrifice bunt by Dylan Lamm (Sr. LF), and raced home on a wild pitch to tie the score. Cary regained the lead 5-4 in the 6th. In the bottom half, Grady walked and Ehlers had an infield single but both were left stranded.

In the 7th, Jacob McCaslin (Sr. P) took the mound and had another strong outing by retiring the Imps in order. Broughton was down to its final 3 outs. Dean started things off by reaching base for the 4th time, this time walking. Lamm reached on an error so the Caps had 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Walden laid down a gutsy bunt with two strikes knocking in Dean for the tying run. After a nice play by Cary’s shortstop to get a force out at 3rd, McCaslin singled to load the bases. Baldwin followed with his 4th hit of the game to drive in Walden for the winning run.

Defensive highlights: in addition to Walden’s super throw to the plate and Sealey’s tag, Ehlers and Epperson turned a nice 6-5 double play off a line drive.

Next game: Thursday, March 10th @ Knightdale @ 4:00.
Record – Overall (3-1) Conference (0-0)

First Base Stretch