Fifth-inning errors spell trouble for Wayne Christian

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 17, 2015 1:48 PM

• Print
• Email

rcoggins@newsargus.com

"We allow the big inning."

That's the message Curt Hinton delivered to his Wayne Christian baseball team after its 12-11, non-conference loss to perennial Christian schools power Wilson Christian Academy on Monday evening.

But the Eagles gave the Chargers too many second chances -- especially in the fifth inning. Five defensive bobbles, all in the infield, allowed the Chargers to push across six unearned runs.

"The biggest lesson to take from this game is you can't give up the big inning," said Hinton. "You can't compile one error after another. Let's get the out no matter where it's at (on the field). We didn't do that and it made a big difference."

Overall, the Eagles permitted nine unearned runs on six errors.

But Wayne Christian (2-1 overall) didn't give up.

Down 12-4 and facing a possible mercy-rule loss after the disastrous fifth inning, Brandon Price breathed some life into his teammates. Trey Hinton connected on a two-out single and trotted home on Price's home run that easily cleared the left-field fence.

Price ended the night 2-for-4 with four RBI after going hitless in his first two at-bats.

"That provided some energy," coach Hinton said.

After relief pitcher Tanner Rose silenced the Chargers in the top half of the sixth, the Eagles continued their comeback bid. Mason White, Austin Howell and Holden Foster loaded the bases on three consecutive walks.

Hunter Byrd plated White with a sacrifice fly to left field. Tanner Rose knocked in Howell. Foster and Rose scampered home on Price's two-RBI single, and Tyler Mozingo (3-for-3) raced to the plate on a wild pitch.

Wayne Christian trailed 12-11.

"Brandon found his groove, so did Tyler," Hinton said.

The Chargers, the reigning N.C. Christian Schools Association 2-A state champs, threatened in the seventh but stranded a runner at third.

Hinton felt good about his team's chances in the seventh. The top part of his lineup was due at the plate. However, WCA reliever Max Brown -- one of four seniors -- retired the side in order to preserve the Chargers' road win.

"They had their top (of the order) up and that's where you want to be as a home team because when you're down by one, you feel like you've got a chance to win," WCA head coach Ty Bissette said. "That was big for our kid (Brown) to come in and close the game for us. I was just proud of our guys for staying focused."

The teams combined to use nine pitchers in the game. Jon Denton claimed the mound win for WCA, which has played for the NCCSA 2-A state crown three times in the last four years.

Ted Suggs took the loss for Wayne Christian.