Spartans suffer first loss

The Watauga Pioneers marched into Sawmills on a nine-game losing streak to the South Caldwell Spartans and marched out with a stunning 1-0 one-hit victory.

Tyler Moore stifled the Spartan bats, allowing just one hit over seven innings of work, striking out seven and allowing only five base runners. The Spartans hit only five balls out of the infield.

Coach Jeff Parham tipped his cap to the visitors from Boone.

“I give credit to (Moore); he did a great job mixing up his pitches,” he said.

As the leader of the defending 4-A state champions, Parham understands the position that his team is in.

“I know we've got a target on our backs, but I would rather be the team everyone shoots for,” he said. “It makes us better knowing we have to come ready every night we play.”

The lone run of the game came in the fifth inning in bizarre fashion. With one out, Jake Wallace was hit by a pitch and Daniel Baker was called on to bunt Wallace over to second. The bunt one hopped to third and the Spartans' throw went high and wide of first base. Wallace rounded third as Spartan right fielder Tyler Dillard picked up the ball and threw home in time to gun down Wallace, but Baker advanced to second on the play. On a 1-2 pitch, Pioneer shortstop Cal Hardee looped a single to left field to score Baker and give the Pioneers the 1-0 advantage.

Jimmy Messer took the hard-luck loss for the Spartans, striking out 12 and allowing just four hits. Having gone 15-0 as a junior, it's his first high school loss in nearly two years.

“Jimmy is always going to give us everything he can,” said Parham. “He is always going to pitch his heart out, and we have to hit the baseball behind him.”

The Spartans stranded five runners in scoring position and combined to go 0-for-6 in at bats with runners in scoring position.

South's only hit of the night came in the bottom of the sixth inning. Spartan Lucas Jackson smacked a hard-hit, one-hopper back to the mound. The ball ricocheted off Moore's glove, forcing the shortstop to change directions. By the time he gathered the ball, Jackson was safely at first base and the no-hitter was no more. The Spartans travel to Morganton to face off with the Freedom Patriots tonight.

Spartan JVs win

The South JV team won 6-3 Monday. Thomas Ray threw 5 1/3 innings and allowed no runs, while striking out six. At the plate, Ray had two hits, as did Anthony Smith. Travis Cook hit a double. The Spartans are 5-1.