Diamond Cougars win shutouts to open playoffs
ACHS sophomore Bryson Hammer struck out 10 in Wednesday’s opening round playoff win.
ACHS Teams win post season openers vs. North Gaston and Sun Valley
By D.N. PENNELL, Jr.
The Alexander Central Varsity Softball and Baseball Team opened the NCHSAA 3A playoffs with shutout home wins on Wednesday evening.
The Lady Cougar Softball Team scored eight runs in the first inning and rolled to an 11-0 win over the North Gaston Wildcats at Central Park in Taylorsville.
With the win, ACHS moves into the second round of the 3A playoffs and are tentatively set to host a game at Central Park on Friday, May 11.
Lanie Goforth eludes the North Gaston catcher to score Alexander’s first run Wednesday.
The victory upped Alexander’s record to 21-5 on the season.
Chesney Millsaps earned the win in the pitching circle, tossing a complete game. She allowed just two North Gaston hits and upped her record to 21-5 this spring.
Offensively, Lanie Goforth paced Alexander’s 12 hit attack with three hits. Millsaps, Julie Gast, and Mattie Starnes tallied two RBI each.
Across the street at Bob Gryder Stadium, the ACHS Varsity Baseball Team earned a 1-0 victory over Sun Valley High School at Bob Gryder Stadium.
Sophomore southpaw Bryson Hammer held Sun Valley scoreless over his six innings of work to record the pitching win. The left hander held Sun Valley to two hits and struck out 10.
Nathaniel Moretz connects with a pitch vs. Sun Valley in Wednesday’s opening round win.
Hammer gave way to closer Nathaniel Moretz in the seventh frame. Moretz entered the game with no outs and a runner at first and managed to record three outs to earn his third save.
Sun Valley’s Sam Howell, who has signed to play college football at Florida State, took the loss, working six innings and allowing six Cougar hits.
Alexander scored the lone run of the game in the home half of the fourth frame. Dawson Elder led off the fourth with a ringing double to right field. Bryson Hammer followed with a bunt single, moving Elder to third. Elder scored one batter later when Jeremy Hubbard grounded into a double play. The fourth inning run was all the Cougars would need as they advanced to a second round contest later this week.
According to sources, ACHS is tentatively set to host a second round contest at Gryder Stadium on Saturday, May 13.
The Times will update its website with game times once they are finalized by the ACHS Athletics Department.
Chesney Millsaps picked up her 21st pitching win vs. North Gaston
