STORY -- Halifax Academy @ WCDS

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 13, 2016 1:47 AM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

His pen tucked inside his hat, Wayne Country Day head baseball coach Michael Taylor pulled his lineup card out of his pocket.

"We left four runners on base the first two innings and I did not like that at all," Taylor said. "Even the third inning when we started coming alive, we still left a runner on base. We still scratched out three (runs) on the board."

Despite leaving seven men on base, the Chargers manufactured a 9-2, non-conference decision over Halifax Academy on day one of the annual Greenfield Invitational. The two-day, four-team event was switched to WCDS since Greenfield could not book Fleming Stadium for the weekend.

The Chargers played Southampton (Va.) on Saturday.

Trailing 1-0 after 21/2 innings, Wayne Country Day finally started showing some poise at the plate. John Strickland delivered the lone hit and Patrick Hall collected an RBI during the three-run, third-inning surge.

The Vikings (1-2 overall) didn't help their cause with a hit batsman, walk and three wild pitches -- two which led to runs.

"(It was) having to wait and stay back on the ball ... just being impatient at the plate and not using the entire field," Taylor said. "That's something we've been preaching all year long. The guys kept battling, stayed focused through the process and got the win.

"Ugly, but we earned the win."

WCDS (3-0-1) chased Halifax starter Evan Dail after he issued a lead-off walk to Drew Barnes in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Vikings committed three errors, while the Chargers got RBI production from Parker Smith, Mitch Turnage and Hall.

Taylor's team led 8-1.

The advantage gave the Chargers' pitching staff plenty of wiggle room. Godo had already departed the mound after permitting two hits and posting four strikeouts in three innings of work.

Hall earned the win in middle relief. The senior right-hander held Halifax hitless and scoreless, and logged four strikeouts for his first decision of the season.

"Patrick came in a did a great job," Taylor said. "Magera came in a did a great job. They got ahead in the count, threw strikes and let the defense work behind them. That's what it's all about."