Ardrey Kell baseball pulls through in final at-bats to capture SoMeck 8
The Ardrey Kell Knights and the Providence Panthers proved once again Friday night why they are Charlotte’s top baseball rivalry.
Trailing by a run and taking their last at-bats in the top of the seventh inning, the Knights scored a pair of runs and held off Providence in its half of the inning to take a 3-2 win to capture the SoMeck 8 conference tournament championship at South Meck.
Alex Featherstone scored the tying run for Ardrey Kell in the seventh on Nathan Crenshaw’s well-executed suicide-squeeze bunt. With two outs Austin Parsley’s single scored Mckinnon Garner in what would prove to be the game-winning run for the Knights.
“We just wanted to put it on the ground; make them make a play and fortunately we got in there,” said Ardrey Kell coach Hal Bagwell when talking about his decision to call for the squeeze. “We wanted to tie it and then put it in our hitters hands, that’s what we wanted to do.”
Until the seventh inning Panthers (23-4) senior starting pitcher Austin Leonard was cruising along, giving up only four hits and no earned runs while taking a 2-1 lead into the seventh. But Featherstone worked Leonard for a leadoff walk; promptly stole second and then was held at third base following a single by Garner. Providence manager Danny Hignight then went to his bullpen, but the Knights scored twice to nullify Leonard’s excellent outing.
Senior starting pitcher Mason Belcher and junior reliever Aaron Pilkington combined for a five hitter for Ardrey Kell. Belcher pitched out of numerous jams in his 3 2/3 innings of work, while Pilkington earned the victory in relief, yielding only a single in 3 1/3 innings.
In the last meeting between the teams, the Knights (23-4) were embarrassed by the Panthers 15-3 on their home field. Pilkington talked about Ardrey Kell’s mindset coming into the game against Providence.
“It was definitely in our minds,” he said. “To lose like that is just a dagger to the heart, so we came in here with the most fire and intensity that we could have.”
Quote
“I know this team better than anybody; I love this team and this team is unbelievable. We are resilient like I told you and tonight we showed it. We understood the challenge and we stepped up to it. I’m real proud of the kids.” - Ardrey Kell coach Hal Bagwell
Worth mentioning
Ardrey Kell has won four straight SoMeck 8 regular-season championships (one shared this season with Providence and one shared in 2013 with South Meck). The Knights have also won two straight SoMeck 8 tournament championships.
What’s next?
The N.C. state western region baseball playoffs begin Wednesday. Ardrey Kell, Providence and South Meck will all advance to the state playoffs from the SoMeck 8. The Knights will have the No. 1 seed, with Providence also earning a high seed. Providence and Ardrey Kell split four games this season, and there is a chance these fierce rivals will meet again in the playoffs.
This story was originally published May 8, 2015 at 11:17 PM with the headline "Ardrey Kell baseball pulls through in final at-bats to capture SoMeck 8."