Rebels, English shut out Wolves----Roundup

A fast start is usually a boost for a team playing on the road, especially if the opponent is a county rival.

That proved to be a winning formula for West Lincoln Tuesday night in an 11-0 Catawba Valley 2A Conference baseball win over Lincolnton at Brookins Field.

The Rebels scored two runs with two outs in the top of the first inning to set the tone for a big night by the hottest team in the conference.

West Lincoln (7-5, 5-2) extended its win streak to six since dropping a one-run decision to Maiden on March 10. The win kept the Rebels one game back of frontrunner Maiden (6-4, 6-1) in the CVAC standings.

West Lincoln coach John Markley pointed to the quick start out of the gate. After Lincolnton starting pitcher Garrett Hedgepeth retired the first two batters, the Rebels strung together three straight hits – a double by Landon Jenkins, a Jacob English single and a two-run double off the bat of Taylor Cook – to go up 2-0.

“The boys did a really good job to score first, getting them with two outs,” Markley said. “That gives your pitcher a little leeway to start the game.”

Not that English, a sophomore righthander, needed much offensive backing. He fashioned a three-hit shutout in going the distance and finished the game with an exclamation point by striking out the side in Lincolnton’s last at-bat.

Starting in the fourth inning, English retired 12 in a row and struck out seven of the last nine batters to face him. He finished the night with 13 strikeouts and one walk.

With only one base on ball allowed, English was able to go the distance and not exceed the pitch count, Markley said.

Ahead 4-0 after three frames, the Rebels broke the game wide open in the latter innings, scoring three in the sixth and four more in the top of the seventh.

Cook went 3-4 with two RBIs to lead the Rebel offense. Zander Harrelson had a hit in two trips with a pair of RBIs, and Evan Hartsoe singled in two runs in West Lincoln’s four-run seventh.

Lincolnton’s only scoring threat came in the fourth when Jacob Driggers reached on an error and Nate Hovis walked to start the inning. However, English retired three in a row to work out of the jam.

“We’re playing good baseball right now,” Markley added. “The boys are excited and playing with energy and effort. They are doing whatever it takes to win.”

W. Lincoln 202 003 4—11 8 1

LHS            000 000 0— 0 3 2

English and Carpenter. Hedgepeth, Driggers (6) and Cloninger.

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Softball-Baseball Roundup

Staff report

Tuesday - Softball

West Lincoln 11, Lincolnton 0

Stacia Cowan pitched a complete game shutout and the Lady Rebels defeated the Lady Wolves 11-0 on Tuesday afternoon. Cowan struck out 7 batters, while walking just one. Cowan also went 3 for 4 at the plate, driving in a pair of runs. Bailey Huss homered and drove in two runs for West Lincoln. Karlie Williams had two hits to lead Lincolnton.

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March 28 scores

Softball

West Lincoln 11, Lincolnton 0

North Lincoln 7, Fred T. Foard 5

Lincoln Charter 10, Pine Lake Prep 0

Maiden 15, Newton-Conover 0

Burns 5, Cherryville 0

West Iredell 12, Hickory 7

Crest 11, North Gaston 2

Highland Tech 6, East Gaston 0

Stuart Cramer 10, Ashbrook 0

Kings Mountain 13, South Point 2

R-S Central 14, Hendersonville 2

Draughn 16, Avery County 5

Patton 6, Polk County 1

East Rutherford 4, Brevard 3

Ashe County 18, Freedom 5

Watauga 13, Hibriten 9

Alexander Central 5, South Caldwell 3

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Baseball

West Lincoln 11, Lincolnton 0

Fred T. Foard 8, North Lincoln 2

Lincoln Charter 12, Pine Lake Prep 0

Cherryville 3, Burns 2

Maiden 15, Newton-Conover 3

Hickory 6, West Iredell 0

South Point 17, Hunter Huss 0

East Gaston 13, Highland Tech 2

Forestview 14, Ashbrook 4

Shelby 14, Thomas Jefferson 1

East Rutherford 11, Brevard 1

Chase 16, Pisgah 1

R-S Central 5, Hendersonville 4

Draughn 19, Avery County 0

Patton 11, Polk County 5

Watauga 10, Hibriten 0

Ashe County 12, Freedom 1

Alexander Central 8, South Caldwell 3

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March 27 scores

Baseball

Highland Tech 15, Ashbrook 4

Patton 9, McDowell 7

Bessemer City 7, Pinnacle Classical 3

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Softball

Lincolnton 7, Bessemer City 4

Shelby 19, Thomas Jefferson 15

(Published March 30, 2023)