Chargers avenge loss to crosstown archrival

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on April 15, 2012 1:52 AM

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Wayne Country Day exacted some revenge on crosstown rival Wayne Christian and rolled to an 8-2 victory on day two of the Charger Diamond Classic on Friday afternoon.

Motivated by a mercy-rule loss in the season, the Chargers played one their best games of the year in the rematch.

"This was big for our guys because it is a rivalry game and my guys all remember what happened the first time," Wayne Country Day head coach Michael Taylor said. "Today I thought we were locked in at the plate and we showed very good discipline."

Wayne Christian jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Chase Darden hit the first pitch of the game over the left field fence.

Wayne Country Day answered with a run in the bottom of the first and took a 2-1 lead in the second when Cody Neal doubled and plated Trent Proimos.

The Chargers broke the game open in the fourth inning.

Mitchell Turnage drew a lead-off walk and moved to second on John Strickland's sacrifice. Proimos was hit by a pitch and Neal walked to load the bases. Cole Davis was plunked in the back and forced in a run, and Hil Tanner made the score 4-1 when he reached on an error.

Mason Bland delivered the game-breaking hit with a three-run double into the right center-field gap.

"Mason came through with a big shot there and we had three guys on base who can all really run," Taylor said. "That hit and the three hits by Cody Neal were the story of the game for us offensively."

Neal capped the Chargers' tally with a solo home run in the fifth inning to make the score 8-1. Neal also earned the win on the pitcher's mound by going 52/3 innings and allowing two runs on four hits. Cole Davis tossed 11/3 innings of hitless relief.

Chandler Harrell took the loss for Wayne Christian. Harrell tossed 31/3 innings and allowed five runs on three hits. Each team committed four errors in the game.

Wayne Christian (9-4 overall) travels to Epiphany on Monday. Wayne Country Day (7-6) plays host to Greenfield on Tuesday.