PREP BASEBALL: Rain keeps teams in the dugout

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 20, 2018 8:34 PM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

Gray skies are gonna clear up.

When, exactly?

Wayne Country Day head baseball coach Michael Taylor has asked himself that question for the past two days.

Today doesn't look good, either.

Weather forecasts predict widespread rain produced by potential thunderstorms throughout the day and evening hours.

That means another possible postponement.

And it nearly ignited a mad scramble to find a facility to play the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Class 1-A championship series between WCDS and Kerr-Vance Academy.

Since Mother Nature is expected to pitch another shutout, Taylor confirmed the teams will play a "winner-take-all" game Monday at 1 p.m. at Fleming Stadium.

The rain date is Tuesday.

Taylor had anticipated a move to Oakwood School, which played host to state 1-A softball tournament this weekend. Tournament officials changed the format to single elimination to accommodate the inclement weather.

Would they have battled on the Chargers' home diamond?

"That could [have been] a possibility as well, but as of eight o'clock this morning my field was under water," said Taylor, whose team is the No. 1 overall seed.

Wayne Country Day is making its first appearance in the state final since 2012, when it finished runner-up to perennial powerhouse Lawrence Academy. The Chargers won it all in 2007.

"This group has been fighting for the last three years for this opportunity," Taylor said. "The seniors have really shown leadership [and] have been on those last two teams that have come oh so close.

"Some of them have played big roles and some have not played big roles at all [in the past]. To see these guys step up this year has just been totally amazing. They do everything together."

The Chargers (18-4 overall) put an eight-game win streak on the line. The closest outcome during the stretch is a one-run triumph over 2-A state qualifier Parrott Academy. WCDS beaten five of its last seven opponents in mercy-rule fashion.

The delay gives both teams a chance to rest their top throwers.

Senior Amane Godo went the distance against Statesville Christian and wasn't expected to throw in the finals. He's 9-1 with a team-best 3.31 earned run average (ERA) in 55 innings of work this season.

At the plate, Godo is hitting a crisp .484 with 31 hits, 42 RBI and 13 extra-base knocks ­-- including four home runs.

WCDS has hit 19 homers as a team. Freshman Carnes Edmondson and Case Kermode each belted a homer against Statesville.

The Chargers and second-seeded Spartans (17-3) split their two-game series during the regular season. KVA holds an 8-2 edge overall since 2008.

"We've got to do the small things right to have a chance to be successful [in the finals]," Taylor said.

(Editor's note: Since the publication of this article, Taylor announced that the championship game has been moved to 4:30 p.m. Monday at Nixon Field on the Barton College campus.)