JV team loves a late rally
Published 1:53 pm Thursday, April 28, 2022
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By Brian Pitts
Enterprise Record
Of course, Davie’s JV baseball team pulled out victory in the late innings, because that’s what it does, fighting back repeatedly, staging rallies and this time pulling away to beat visiting Forbush 9-3 on April 21.
Sam Wyrick’s first year as coach has produced wonderful madness, this marking the sixth win when Davie was tied or behind in the fifth inning.
Against Glenn on March 11, the War Eagles trailed 4-2 in the fifth before winning 8-4. Against East Forsyth on March 15, they were tied 6-6 in the fifth and won 11-10. Against East Forsyth on March 18, they were tied 4-4 in the fifth and won 8-4. Against West Davidson on March 28, they were behind 7-5 in the fifth and won 13-7. Against West Forsyth on April 8, they were down 2-1 in the sixth and won 4-2. And when they hosted the Falcons last week, it was 3-3 in the fifth before Davie busted it open to notch its 10th win.
“I’ve been impressed with what Wyrick and (Ty) Woodring have done with that group, especially in the late innings,” varsity coach Joey Anderson said of his JV coaches.
“They never give up,” Wyrick said. “They are always going to be to the end.”
In the first inning, Carson Queen’s walk and Andrew Daywalt’s single set the table for the game’s first run.
In the third, Davie overcame a 2-1 deficit despite the first two batters getting retired. Dane Porter’s two-strike, two-run single to right-center scored Queen and Daywalt to put Davie in front 3-2.
In the top of the fifth, Forbush tied the score on a sac fly. But Davie exploded in the last half of the inning. Singles by Craig McBride, Queen, Larson Stem and MJ Jacobs sandwiched a Daywalt walk as the War Eagles roared to a 7-3 lead. They padded the margin in the sixth to lift their record to 10-7.
Meanwhile, Connor Berg was dealing on the hill. He went the distance, absolutely pounded the strike zone (one walk, 68 strikes in 87 pitches) and only allowed one earned run.
“I was talking to him and he said: ‘Keep me in. I feel good,’” Wyrick said. “I trusted him and he got it done for us. He was dialed in.”
No one had a bigger day at the plate than the No. 2 batter, Queen. He went 3 for 3 with four runs, a walk and two stolen bases.
“Carson had a day,” Wyrick said. “It was one of his best games in the field (at shortstop) and on offense.”
Porter (2-4, four RBIs) and Stem (2-4, two RBIs) have had several stellar moments this season, and they just added to the list in this one. Daywalt reached base three times, scored twice and swiped two bases.
“I feel very confident with Dane at the plate,” Wyrick said. “That’s why we have him in the four spot. He’s a very good hitter.”