3A state baseball finals: Wotell shuts down CBA offense

By Cam Ellis
Published in Sports on June 7, 2015 1:52 AM

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cellis@newsargus.com

RALEIGH -- Charles B. Aycock players talked all week about not being intimidated by Marvin Ridge starting pitcher Max Wotell.

It was easier said than done.

Wotell, the North Carolina Gatorade player-of-the-year, threw a complete-game shutout -- a 2-0 decision over the Golden Falcons in Game 1 of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A baseball championships series at Doak Field on the N.C. State campus.

The Marvin Ridge senior had a few control issues throughout the game, but that was the only blemish on a remarkable outing on high school's biggest stage. Wotell struck out nine and walked two.

"That kid is pretty doggone good," Aycock head coach Charles Davis said. "Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to a person and say, 'you know, you beat us today.'"

The loss ended the CBA's 14-game winning streak.

Golden Falcons senior Bobby Hampton, whose own gem was overshadowed by Wotell, went the distance as well. The Appalachian State signee allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits, walked two and struck out seven.

The Mavericks (28-5 overall) broke through in the third inning when Alex Leshock singled up the middle before he took on a throwing error by Hampton. Jason Curtis, grounded out to first, but Leshock slid under the tag at the plate on Aycock's double-play attempt.

Marvin Ridge scored again in the fourth on Chandler Castleberry's RBI triple that plated Hunter Colonna, who doubled.

The two runs would be enough for Wotell and his teammates.

"Yeah, he was good," Hampton said. "He threw the ball well and kept us off guard. We only had one or two hits, so he did his job."

Earlier in the week, head coach Charles Davis talked about wanting to challenge Wotell by getting him to pitch out of the stretch, but didn't see it much. The Golden Falcons had just four base runners, none after the fourth inning.