HS Baseball Roundup: Independence wins NCHSAA playoff opener
A late rally lifted Independence to victory over a neighborhood rival Tuesday, as North Carolina’s public school baseball playoffs got under way.
The Patriots blanked East Mecklenburg 5-0, and they will travel to top-seeded Providence on Friday in the second round of the 4A playoffs.
Independence broke open a tight game by scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Bryson Jusko went 3-for-3, and starting pitcher Corbin Berkovics went four innings, allowing only two hits.
East Mecklenburg starter Luke Little pitched five innings, scattering three hits and allowing just a run. He struck out 11.
In the Eagles’ final game, Little’s 24-game hitting streak came to an end.
Tuesday’s top performers
Corbin Berkovics (Independence): The Independence pitching ace went four innings, allowing only two hits, in the Patriots’ 5-0 victory over East Mecklenburg in the 4A playoffs.
Michael Owen (Carmel Christian): Starting pitcher Owen allowed just one run over five innings, helping his team down Harrells Christian 11-1 in the 2A private school playoffs.
Jonathan Perez (Lake Norman): Perez fired a complete-game shutout, allowing four hits and striking out 10, as Lake Norman blanked Hopewell 2-0 in the 4A playoffs.
Public school playoffs
CLASS 4A
Lake Norman 2, Hopewell 0: Dylan Arment and Scotty Diekman each had RBI hits for Lake Norman, which visits Ardrey Kell in the second round on Friday or Saturday.
South Mecklenburg 11, Scotland County 1: The Sabres improved to 21-7 and will play Friday at Myers Park in the second round.
West Forsyth 14, Olympic 0
CLASS 3A
Lawndale Burns 4, Southwestern Randolph 2: Burns broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the fifth with two runs. Wade Walker had an RBI triple for the winners in the fifth, then scored on a wild pitch.
Marvin Ridge 7, Central Cabarrus 0: The Mavericks held the Vikings to four hits, two of them by Jake Rowden.
CLASS 2A
Franklin 4, East Rutherford 3
Newton Fred T. Foard 4, Wilkes Central 2
Randleman 4, East Montgomery 1
CLASS 1A
Mount Airy 8, South Stanly 6: The visiting Granite Bears scored three times in the seventh inning, erasing a 6-5 South Stanly lead.
North Stanly 3, Bessemer City 2 (9 innings): Brady Lowder drew a walk with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, lifting the Comets to victory. Bessemer City starter Wesley Sumney went 6.1 innings, allowing five hits and striking out 13.
Private school playoffs
CLASS 2A
Carmel Christian 11, Harrells Christian 1: The visiting Cougars had 12 hits in their 2A first-round victory, scoring four runs in the fourth and five in the seventh. Starting pitcher Michael Owen went five innings for the victory. Carmel Chritian travels to Greensboro Caldwell Academy on Thursday in the second round.
Hickory Christian 14, Crossroads Christian 4: Luke Harris went 3-for-4, driving in five runs for the victors. Aiden Smith had two hits and two RBI.
Wilmington Coastal Christian 9, Concord First Assembly 1: Four Coastal pitchers held Concord First Assembly to two hits.
CLASS 3A
Arden Christ School 10, Covenant Day 0: Covenant Day was held to two hits by the Greenies.
Concord Cannon School 3, Southlake Christian 1: The Cougars improved to 11-8 despite getting only three hits. They will play in the second round Saturday at High Point Wesleyan (19-1).
High Point Christian 7, Indian Trail Metrolina Christian 0: The visiting Warriors managed only four hits. Dylan Shultheiss’ three-run homer keyed a six-run fifth inning for High Point Christian.
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This story was originally published May 9, 2018 at 10:38 AM with the headline "HS Baseball Roundup: Independence wins NCHSAA playoff opener."