Tommy’s Take:Game Report on Southwest Guilford at North Davidson NCHSAA 4-A Baseball Playoffs with Tommy Michaels

North Davidson Defeats Southwest Guilford in the 3rd Round of the NCHSAA 4A Baseball Playoffs Behind the Relief Pitching from Michael Johnson
from Tommy Michaels(former Southeast Guilford Falcons pitcher and an intern with GreensboroSports.com)

On a cool night in Welcome, NC, the North Davidson Knights defeated the Southwest Guilford Cowboys by a score of 4-2. Michael Johnson came on to get the save pitching 5 great innings of 2 hit baseball allowing no runs. He also struck out one and walked three.

The Cowboys got their bats going early in the second inning. Patrick Callaghan came to the plate and launched a home run to left field hitting a building well beyond the fence. Kyle Blendinger kept the hits coming with a single to left field just beyond the glove of North Davidson shortstop Jackson Meadows. After a Mason Chu single, he was then plated by a sacrifice fly to left from Liam Hales.

In the bottom of the second, the Knights quickly rallied with four runs of their own in part to back-to-back singles to lead the inning off by Michael Johnson and Joe Butts. After a walk to Corey Joyce to load the bases, Jed Bryant laced a double into the left center gap scoring all three Knight base runners. Bryant would then go on to score later in the inning.

North Davidson’s starting pitcher, Cole Beeker lasted just 2+IP but still picked up the win giving up two runs on five hits and striking out one.

The Cowboys starting pitcher, Kyle Blendinger, pitched six innings picking up the loss. He allowed four runs on four hits striking out six in the process. Over the last four innings, however, he only allowed two base runners.

Southwest did seem to have some life in the top of the seventh after a leadoff walk. Jacob Edwards then hit a ground ball deep in the hole to shortstop and UNCW commit Jackson Meadows. He made a fantastic backhanded snag and threw to second to get the lead runner. The Cowboys couldn’t get anything going after that.

North Davidson moves on to the third round to face Butler. This North Davidson team has a real chance to make a run at winning a state championship. If they can get UNC commit Austin Beck back and healthy from a knee injury. Look out.

Stats
WP: Cole Beeker 2+ IP, 2R, 5H, 1K, 2BB
LP: Kyle Blendinger 6 IP, 4R, 4H, 6K, 2BB
S: Michael Johnson 5IP 0R, 2H, 1K, 3BB

Southwest Guilford Leaders:
Kyle Blendinger 2-3 R
Patrick Callaghan 1-4 HR, RBI

North Davidson Leaders:
Jed Bryant 1-3 2B, 3 RBI
Joe Butts 1-3 R