Sports - June 2003

Post 100 pitcher blanks Hickory

Published June 11, 2003

Justice shines in 11-0 victory

By MIKE POWELL, LTN correspondent

HICKORY--Every move Bobby Reynolds makes these days turns to gold.

After coaching East Rutherford to the state 2A championship over the weekend, Reynolds returned to his job as Cherryville Post 100 coach just in time for Tuesday's huge road game against Hickory.

Reynolds was faced with another decision--whether to start his best pitcher, Chris Mason (2-0 with two complete games), against Post 48 ace Brock Thornburg, or save Mason for Thursday night at Shelby.

The Post 100 mentor opted to bump Mason from his regular turn and open with Steve Justice, who had been used primarily as a middle-inning reliever.

Once again, Reynolds guessed right. Justice blew Hickory away with a three-hit, eight strikeout performance, and Cherryville won 11-0 in eight innings.

Justice did not walk a batter and allowed only five Hickory baserunners. The right-hander did not need much in the way of support, but he got plenty.

Cherryville (6-4) hit Thornburg as if he were tossing batting practice. He exited after five tough innings with the score 7-0 in Cherryville's favor.

It all started in the second inning when Brock Alexander sent a Thornburg  curveball over the left field fence for a two-run homer. After scoring an unearned in the third, Post 100 finished off Thornburg with four more runs in the fifth.

Six players had two hits apiece for Cherryville, which banged out 15 hits for the game. Lincolnton High product Brandon Hurt (2-for-4 with three RBI) singled in a run in the fifth and lined a two-run homer to right in the eighth to complete the Post 100 scoring.

Other Cherryville players with two hits were Jay Heafner (2-for-5), Mason (2-for-5 with two RBI), David Wise (2-for-4), Matt Craig (2-for-5) and Travis Walls (2-for-4).

"Swinging bats are dangerous," Reynolds said. "We had been letting too many pitches go by, but we swung the bats tonight and put it in play."

Reynolds was smiling about his decision to go with Justice.

"He changed speeds well, he worked fast, and threw all his pitches for strikes," Reynolds said of Justice.

Come to think of it, Reynolds said the same thing about Mason after his two complete game wins.

Post 100 notes: Reynolds confirmed that Cherryville High product Josh McSwain (broken wrist) has been given medical clearance to return to action. The defensive specialist can fill in at third, short or second and can also help in the outfield... Alexander and Hurt are tied for second on the team in homers with three each.

Cville   021  042 02--11 15 2

Hick     000     000     00--  0   3   3

W--Justice. L--Thornburg. HRs, Cherryville, Alexander, Hurt.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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