Chargers' chaotic pace bothers Eagles

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on April 29, 2016 1:49 PM

• Print
• Email

jhayes@newsargus.com

Wayne Country Day, emboldened by a chaotic new approach to life on the basepaths, sprinted past county rival Wayne Christian in mercy-rule fashion, 13-0, under threatening skies Thursday evening.

The Chargers improved to 10-6-1 overall this season.

Following a moving senior night presentation honoring Wayne Christian's graduating class, WCDS played the part of rogue visitor, reaching base with alarming regularity and causing bother for Eagles' starter Seth Harrell.

Call it 90 feet of madness.

Call it small-ball with a newly-minted, helter-skelter wrinkle.

Whatever the terminology, it worked.

The Chargers received an RBI double in the first inning from John Strickland, then plated junior Zach Barfield in a methodical second frame. Their version of small ball -- which featured an array of shifty base runners -- peaked, however, in a wild exchange to start a momentum-deciding third inning.

With one out and Strickland again on second, Harrell broke from the mound to address WCD's Patrick Hall, who was leading from first base. The early-steal chaos resulted in a multi-player throwing error to the hot corner, one that allowed Strickland to score and the Chargers to assume a 3-0 advantage.

The mayhem, per WCD skipper Michael Taylor, was very much by design.

"We've had a different mindset over the past two weeks," Taylor noted, "I sped up the routine at practice... point A, point B, point C."

"We're looking to take the extra base."

That notion, mixed with a power-packed lineup card, certainly did nothing to harm the Charger cause.

WCD frustrated Harrell all evening, making his final regular-season start one to forget. The off-speed tossing senior never found a rhythm on the hill, ultimately surrendering nine runs on twelve hits over a four-inning timecard.

For WC lead man Dustin Dupre, the outing was difficult to reconcile.

"I know the type of kid he is, and I have a 100 percent respect for the way he handles himself... he was definitely emotional."

"But we didn't help Seth out, either... it was just a recipe."

Without question.

Country Day staged a titanic offensive clinic over the fourth and fifth frames, banging out eight hits and as many RBI over the two innings. With the dugout eying the mercy-rule number, the Chargers plated a staggering nine runs -- six of which came with two outs in their half of the fourth inning.

The onslaught was more than enough support for WCDS hilltopper Mitch Turnage, who dealt a complete-game gem for the visitors. The junior was simply electric, allowing just three hits and fanning six in his second win of the season.

In total, the rivalry contest was a study in opposites for both ball clubs. While Wayne Country Day has won consecutive ball games, their counterparts dropped their second in a row, and fell to 5-7 on the season.

For both teams, the postseason can't arrive quickly enough.

""We're playing for a berth right now," Taylor said, "every game for us is a playoff-type game. Play or go home."