CHARGER DIAMOND CLASSIC: Wayne Christian defeats Halifax Academy

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on April 1, 2016 1:48 PM

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bdavis@newsargus.com

Starting for the first time this season, pitcher Jaxon Anderson had a choice to make.

He could remain nervous after his first walk he allowed in the second inning, or he could hold his opponent to a mere two runs.

Anderson chose the latter, and Wayne Christian School defeated Halifax Academy, 7-2, on Thursday afternoon during the Charger Diamond Classic at Wayne Country Day School.

"When I threw four straight balls, I was nervous," Anderson said. "It was the first time starting this year, (but) I threw five strikeouts, and they (Eagles) helped on defense."

The Vikings went scoreless for three innings due to Anderson's three strikeouts and the Eagles' smothering defense on the field. Halifax loaded the bases in the bottom of the second, but Eagles third baseman Ryan Kennedy threw a runner out at first base.

WCS showed it possessed powerful offense as well.

Senior catcher Hunter Burt squared the ball up and delivered it to left field for the Eagles' first run of the game, which scored freshman Will White. Burt stole home, giving his team a two-run advantage over the Vikings in the second inning.

Anderson took a break from the mound and stepped up to home plate in the bottom of the third. He hit the ball with such precision as if he was pitching. The ball flew over the fence for a two-RBI home run.

Kennedy found center field after his hit, and he brought in Burt. The Eagles led, 5-0, over the Knights going into the fourth.

Halifax junior Larry West knocked the ball to center field, and junior Reid Lynch put the Knights on the scoreboard.

In the bottom of the sixth, White tapped a bouncer to the shortstop, and freshman Corbett Schaefer and senior Seth Harrell gave the Eagles a chance to improve their record.

The Knights answered back at the top of the seventh with a hit from sophomore Evan Dail to second base. Senior Eric Hackaday scored. Dail raced to first base with two outs facing Halifax, but an error handed Dail the keys to first.

Knights senior Logan King landed on first base after another error, which prolonged the inning. That was until Anderson closed out the game with a strikeout.

"I told them (Eagles) that was the best defensive game all year," WCS head coach Dustin Dupre said. "He's (Anderson) had limited time on the mound this year just with the way things have been, but we told him he'd be starting today. He was ready to go."

The Eagles (3-4 overall) face Wayne Country Day today at 4 p.m.