Barons fall to Northwood

Mark Morgan / The Item Northwood's Thomas Levander is out at second base as Wilson Hall shortstop Zachary Sherrill applies the tag in their SCISA 3A state playoffs semifinal game on Wednesday. The Barons' season came to an end with a 5-3 loss.

By DENNIS BRUNSON
Item Sports Editor
dennisb@theitem.com

It was close, but no cigar — again — for the Wilson Hall Barons in the SCISA 3A baseball state semifinals.

After watching a 3-0 lead in the sixth inning end up as a 4-3 loss to Northwood Academy on Tuesday in the first game of the best-of-3 series, Wilson Hall had three fly balls caught with the outfielders either up against or close to the fence and left seven runners on base — six in scoring position — in a 5-3 loss to the Chargers on Wednesday at the Wilson Hall field.

The victory sends Northwood into the state championship series next week against Ben Lippen, which closed out its semifinal series with Robert E. Lee Academy on Wednesday as well.

The Barons, who finish the season with a 16-7 record, didn't help themselves defensively either. Wilson Hall made three errors that led to four of Northwood's runs off of Barons right-handed pitcher George James being unearned.

"In the game of baseball, you're going to make some physical errors and we made too many of them tonight," said Wilson Hall head coach Chuck Sterling. "They (Northwood) capitalized on them though. That's the other side of the coin."

Northwood picked up a run in the second inning when Kenny Anderson reached base after striking out. First baseman Brent Klapthor lost the throw from catcher Samuel Key in the sun and Anderson went to second. He later scored on a 1-out single by Justin Tretera.

The Chargers, who improved to 26-4, added another run in the third. Ryan Philpott singled with one out and scored from first when Chris Cook's single got by leftfielder Tyler Broome.

Mark Morgan / The Item Wilson Hall's Ansel Owens slides safely into second base as Northwood shortstop Thomas Levander awaits the throw in their SCISA 3A state playoff semifinal game on Wednesday.. Northwood won 5-3.

Wilson Hall tied the game in the bottom of the third against Northwood side-arming right-hander Brett Bullard. A 2-out error by shortstop Thomas Levander gave the Barons runners on the corners and Zachary Sherrill responded by dropping a double down the rightfield line that scored both Key and Klapthor.

Wilson Hall managed six hits off of Bullard, who worked 5-plus innings. Bullard struck out two and walked three and had Philpott, the centerfielder, backed up on the fence twice to pull in deep fly balls and leftfielder Jacoby Singleton get on his horse and run one down near the fence in the gap in left-center.

"I always felt like we were going to score some runs," Sterling said. "He (Bullard) pitched good, but I always felt like we would get some runs against him."

Northwood head coach Jerry Stoots has been an effective pitcher for him.

"He's 7-0 on the season, but it's a quiet 7-0," Stoots said. "The problem he's had this season is consistently throwing strikes, but gave us five good innings tonight."

Northwood got the two runs back in the fourth. Jacob Hill led off with a single, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on another RBI single by Tretera. Tretera stole second and scored when Key, the Barons catcher, threw the ball away while trying to throw him out at third as he advanced on a passed ball.

The Barons just missed tying the game in the bottom of the inning when Philpott hauled in Key's fly ball with a runner on with his back against the fence to end the inning.

Wilson Hall got a run back in the sixth. Bullard threw two balls to pinch hitter Blake Graham, when Stoots decided to pull him in favor of Hill. Graham ended up drawing a walk.

A 1-out single by Ansel Owens sent Chad Brading, who re-entered the game to run for Graham, to third. After Owens stole second, Brading scored on an infield out by pinch hitter Tyler Smith to make it 4-3. Key flew out to end the inning.

The Chargers got the run back in the top of the seventh. Levander led off with a double and scored on a 1-out triple by Philpott, who was 3-for-4.

Northwood had 11 hits off of James, who went the distance. James had two strikeouts and didn't walk a batter.

"They hit George pretty good, but man, did he battle out there for us," Sterling said. "He gets out there and really goes after them."

Northwood brought in Philpott to pitch the seventh. The left-handed Philpott, who went the distance and threw over 100 pitches on Tuesday, retired the side in order.

"I asked him if he felt up to it, and he was chomping at the bit," Stoops said of Philpott. Both Stoops and Sterling said Philpott threw harder on Wednesday than he did on Tuesday.

Levander, Cook and Tretera each had two hits for Northwood. Key and Owens both had two hits for the Barons.

Reach Sports Editor Dennis Brunson at dennisb@theitem.com or (803) 774-1241.