‘Us versus us.’ Knights’ coach keeps team focused in Jack Sink win over Myers Park

This is a big week for Charlotte Christian baseball.

Head coach Reid Fronk is trying his best not to make it too big.

“We keep stressing that it’s us versus us every day,” Fronk said Tuesday night, after his Knights scored one of their biggest victories so far this season. “We try to keep our opponents nameless, because it’s about us trying to do our best.”

The Knights’ opponent Tuesday wasn’t nameless, though. It was Myers Park, the No. 1-ranked team in The Observer’s Sweet 16. The Mustangs entered the game with a 16-2 record and a 10-game winning streak.

But fourth-ranked Charlotte Christian emerged as a 5-3 winner in the highlight game of Day 3 in the annual Jack Sink Easter Break Classic.

The Knights opened the week Monday against Union County powerhouse Cuthbertson (14-4), dropping a 10-6 decision.

Then came Tuesday night’s victory, which improved the Knights’ record to 16-5.

Next up is Wednesday’s 4 p.m. game against Ballantyne Ridge, at East Mecklenburg High.

And the week ends Saturday with Fronk’s team playing at Metrolina Christian (18-1), in a game that could preview the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association’s state finals series.

“We faced a tough Cuthbertson team Monday, and we beat a great team tonight in Myers Park,” Fronk said. “Tomorrow we play a Ballantyne Ridge team that is very scrappy and can give anyone trouble.

“And, of course, we have Saturday’s game at Metrolina Christian,” he added. “Those are four very good opponents, and they’ll really test us. But I’ll say it again … we start by concentrating on us. We want to be the best version of ourselves.”

Fronk’s team accomplished just that Tuesday night.

Starting pitcher Will Parrish, who worked 3 2/3 innings, and reliever Ivan Andino, who threw the final 3 1/3, held Myers Park to one hit — a first-inning double by Jaxon West.

What made the game interesting was Parrish’s control problems, which included three straight walks in the fourth inning.

Andino walked the first batter he faced, forcing in a run, but he allowed only one base-runner the rest of the way.

“Ivan Andino is one of our back-end relievers,” Fronk said. “We always feel going, going to him in relief. And he was very sharp tonight.”

The Knights broke on top in the first inning, scoring a run on a Myers Park throwing error and another on a sacrifice. Myers Park cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the first, as West stole third base and scored on a wild pitch after his double.

Then Charlotte Christian showed some power.

The Knights’ lead grew to 3-1 in the top of the second on Hudson Simmons’ home run over the right-field fence. That lead grew to 5-2 in the third, on Jacob Reynolds’ two-run homer.

Myers Park’s final run came on a bases-loaded walk in the fourth.

When it all was over, Fronk and his team gathered in left field, talked about Tuesday night’s game, and then discussed how they could be better versions of themselves Wednesday against Ballantyne Ridge.

“We know that Saturday’s game has a lot of playoff seeding implications,” Fronk said. “But we’re really not thinking about that now. We have a game tomorrow (Wednesday). And in that game, it’s important that we focus on ourselves.

“Like I said, it’s us versus us, every day.”

This story was originally published April 7, 2026 at 11:47 PM.