Concord Robinson handles Hough for 4A tournament championship

If there’s been a baseball team that has given Hough High fits this season, it’s been Concord Robinson.

The Bulldogs showed why Thursday at Hopewell High School, powering ahead late to take an 8-4 victory over the Huskies in the MECKA 4A tournament’s championship game.

Michael Young, named the tournament’s most valuable player, had three hits and drove in three runs for third-seeded Robinson (16-8), which scored six runs over the final three innings to improve to 2-1 this season against Hough (20-7).

“I don’t know what it’s been,” Bulldogs coach Jason Sarvis said. “But we’re a lot better ballclub than when we played them the first time, which seems like forever ago.

“The guys have come together as a family, they’re playing with confidence and playing loose. Tonight, we were so aggressive, fouling balls off and battling.”

While Robinson starting pitcher Tyler Kocher wasn’t overpowering, he did keep the Huskies’ batters off-balance for most of the game. Kocher got the win, allowing just six hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings with one strikeout.

Still, Hough had its chances, stranding nine runners on base – seven of those in scoring position – and was ahead 3-2 through three innings before Robinson broke loose.

The Bulldogs scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead, then added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings.

“They played a perfect game tonight,” Huskies coach Jimmy Cochran said. “They hit with runners in scoring position all night, had big two-out hits, while we left some guys on base.”

Quote

“Moreso what we didn’t do well is what they did right. They made all the plays defensively, and got the clutch hits when they needed to.” – Cochran.

Worth mentioning

Hough saw its 11-game winning streak snapped and starting pitcher Trent Joiner suffered his first loss of the season. Joiner allowed five runs and six hits in five innings, with five strikeouts. … C.J. White, who got the final out in relief for the save, and Mark Perkins had two hits each for Robinson. … Drew Ober had two hits for Hough, and Luke Maye belted a two-run home run in the first inning.

What’s next?

The opening round of the NCHSAA 4A state playoffs begins Wednesday. Pairings will be announced Saturday.

This story was originally published May 8, 2015 at 9:15 PM with the headline "Concord Robinson handles Hough for 4A tournament championship."