CHARGER DIAMOND CLASSIC: Wayne Country Day defeats Wayne Christian

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on April 5, 2016 5:56 AM

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By JUSTIN HAYES

jhayes@newsargus.com

Group therapy.

Following a listless, mercy-rule loss to North Raleigh Christian Academy on Thursday, Wayne Country Day skipper Michael Taylor challenged his ball club to be mindful of habits that breed success on the baseball field.

The Chargers did just that, responding with poise on the mound and during a dramatic sixth inning, five-run rally to edge rival Wayne Christian School, 6-4, in Friday's final round of the ninth annual Charger Diamond Classic.

Call it running poles for nearly half an hour.

Call it a good old-fashioned chewing out. Twice.

Call it working the field in across-the-board, don't-you-dare-speak silence.

Whatever you call it, the session worked.

Country Day starter Amane Godo, chief among those who struggled in the North Raleigh loss, responded with a solid performance on the hill. The sophomore scattered four runs over five innings, allowing just two walks and striking out three Wayne Christian batters.

The Eagles' Jaxon Anderson was not one of them.

Leading 2-1 in the top of the fourth, the centerfielder bombed a Godo offering over the wall in right field to extend the Eagles' advantage to three runs. Anderson finished the day by going 2-3 at the plate with three RBI.  

The Chargers, meanwhile, were stymied by Wayne Christian senior Seth Harrell. The righty was quietly efficient, holding WCD to a pair of runs in 62⁄3 innings of work -- an effort praised by coach Dustin Dupre.

"He threw an incredible game... a gutsy performance," the coach said, "(and) the sixth inning -- that's unfortunate. Crazy things happen."

And rest assured, they did.  

Senior Hunter Burt, appearing in relief of Harrell with two outs, struggled in his attempt to earn the save. He walked WCD's Zac Barfield, who later scored on a double by shortstop Mitch Turnage.

The big momentum shift, however, occurred next.

Case Kermode's routine gound ball was fielded cleanly by WC's Mason White, but a throwing error allowed the freshman to safely reach first base and the rally to continue.  

Patrick Hall then laced a double to right field, sending Kermode to third and setting the stage for John Strickland, who punctuated the comeback with a two-RBI stinger to deep centerfield.

Wayne Country Day 6, Wayne Christian 4.

Strickland, on for Godo, worked decisively in the top half of the seventh, striking out two and inducing a fly ball to end the game.

It was the response Taylor expected from his club, who moved to 6-4-1 overall on the young season.

"When you're pitching with command, you have a little bit more confidence," he said, "and I thought we had that today."

The Chargers next play host to Grace Christian on Tuesday, while Wayne Christian (2-5 overall) travels to Northwood Temple Academy in Fayetteville.