BURLINGTON, N.C. – Marvin Ridge slugged three home runs in game two building a 7-0 lead and cruising to the 10-0 win over Topsail to even the best-of-three series and force a decisive game three for the 3A Baseball State Championship. Chandler Castleberry hit two mammoth shots, both solo home runs, one in the fourth and the other in the Mavericks four-run fifth to power the Marvin Ridge attack. Teammate Kevin Dobos added a three-run shot in the fifth. Dobos finished the day with 4 RBI’s.
Topsail only mounted one real threat on the afternoon against the Maverick’s starter Jason Cornatzer. The Pirates pushed runners to the corners with two outs in the fourth, but Cornatzer induced a fly ball to right to end the inning and maintain the shutout.
Cornatzer worked the full seven innings, only allowing five hits on the afternoon with two strikeouts and no walks allowed.
The Mavericks loaded the bases with three straight singles in the seventh then Demarco Reaves slapped a single to left to plate two more runs and build a 9-0 lead. The Mavericks tacked on another run as a fly ball was dropped with one out in the inning and that allowed Stephen Polacek to score making it 10-0.
The 3A Baseball State Championship series will conclude with game three scheduled for after the conclusion of the 2A Championship . Saturday night at Burlington Athletic Park.