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By Brian Pitts
Enterprise Record

Davie’s varsity baseball team started 1-2 in the first week of the season, but Coy James opened his senior campaign in remarkable fashion, even for his lofty standards.
His numbers after two games against Alexander Central and one with North Davidson, which are qualify opponents: 7 for 9, .777 batting average, six runs, three doubles, two triples, one home run, five RBIs, three walks.
There were 35 pro scouts in Welcome at the North Davidson game.
“We had 35 scouts watching him during BP,” coach Joey Anderson said. “It doesn’t affect him at all. With his personality, he rolls with it. We had one issue with one scout. We try to post when he’s going to hit so they’re all there by that time. One scout who had driven 300 miles said: ‘I was stuck in that line out there and I didn’t get to see him hit.’ I said: ‘I have other guys who need to hit, too. If I have time at the end, then I’ll gladly let him go out there and swing for you.’ That guy brought me some baseballs yesterday. It’s interesting. If I need to be the bad guy, then I’ll be the bad guy. Coy said: ‘I want everything to be kind of normal.’”
AC 5, Davie 4
The opener in Taylorsville on Feb. 25 wasn’t decided until the bottom of the seventh, when Alexander Central scored twice to walk off the War Eagles.
“It was a very well played game all around on both sides,” Anderson said. “It was an entertaining game. We had quite a few well-hit balls.”
In the top of the sixth, Davie turned a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead. Kason Stewart doubled, John Fisher walked and Carson Queen singled to load the bases for James, who fouled off two two-strike pitches before unloading a three-run double.
Central, though, took the game from Davie in its last at-bat, scoring two runs on a walk, a double and a bloop single.
“Parker (Davis) throws a great pitch on the inner half and catches the guy on the hands, and he hits it right over the first baseman’s head,” Anderson said of the game-deciding hit. “It’s one where you tip your cap. They had the last at-bat and they were able to do it.
“I called two hit-and-runs and both of them were line drives right at people (for double plays). If they get a little bit to the left or to the right, then we’re probably scoring in those situations.”
James (2-3, double), Drew Krause (2-4) and Queen (2-3) had six of Davie’s eight hits. Hayden Potts was 1-3 and Stewart 1-4.
Tucker Hobbs (four innings), Jacob Patton (2/3) and Davis (two innings) shared the pitching.
“Our pitchers did well,” he said. “We walked a couple too many, but we played really well defensively. Tucker’s offspeed was working. For the most part, I was really impressed with his first start of the year.”
Davie 4, ND 0
The War Eagles did everything right at North Davidson on Feb. 27. James (3-3, two doubles, triple) and Bubby Byington (2-4) combined for five hits and Colin Harrison and Ayden Sanders provided dominant pitching.
With Coston Colamarino nursing an injury, Byington took advantage of his opportunity to fill in in center field.
“We’re not the healthiest right now,” Anderson said. “I’ve got pretty much half my team hurt. Bubby took over for Coston, who was supposed to be my center fielder, but he pulled a muscle. Now I know I can trust Bubby to put him in another spot if I need to.”
Harrison (four innings, eight Ks) and Sanders (three innings, five Ks) did an awesome job on the mound.
“It was great to see (Harrison’s outing) because that’s one thing we were worried about,” Anderson said. “We needed him to go four innings. Ayden walked two in a row, and (pitching coach Joey) Cress went out there and did something mechanically. Then he got us a double play. It’s fun to watch.”
AC 14, Davie 11
The rematch against Alexander Central took an unexpected turn in the top of the sixth.
With a 9-5 lead, the War Eagles appeared primed for some payback. But they unraveled in the sixth, when the Cougars scored nine runs on four hits, four walks and two errors. Big yikes.
James was at it again, going 2 for 3 with two runs, a triple and a homer. Junior Ryan Williams went 2 for 2 in his varsity debut, and Krause went 2-4. Hayden Potts went 1-3 with a double and three RBIs. Stewart singled and reached base three times. Sophomore Ty Sain singled in his first official at-bat on varsity after drawing two walks in his first plate appearances the game before. Queen was 1-3 with a double.
Notes: This was the highest-scoring game since a 22-10 loss at High Point Christian in 2022. … Krause is hitting .454 (5-11).