Messer, Spartans advance

Jimmy Messer is beginning to like Friday nights.

The South Caldwell pitcher, who's bound for the University of North Carolina next fall, threw another gem Friday and the Spartans, not coincidentally, won their 14th straight game, downing Alexander Central by a 6-0 score in the semifinals of the Northwestern conference tournament.

The Spartans advanced to tonight's final against Watauga (game time 7 p.m.) at M.S. Deal Stadium in Granite Falls.

Messer tossed a complete-game, one-hitter against the Cougars on 80 pitches. He struck out 14 and 53 of his pitches were strikes.

“I was just relaxed out there,” Messer said. “I love playing in front of the home crowd. I just felt comfortable. When you stay relaxed, good things happen.”

That said, Messer (8-1) has been relaxed for three straight Friday night outings. Prior to those appearances, Messer had been the Spartans' Monday or Tuesday starter since the Friday season opener, but the open date in early April changed the starting cycle, putting him in the late-in-the-week starting spot. Two weeks ago, he no-hit Freedom and last Friday, Messer struck out 15 - and hit a grand slam - against A.C. Reynolds. Add in his latest outing and Messer has struck out 36 and allowed four hits in 19 innings the last three games. His season totals now stand at 51 innings, 94 strikeouts and one earned run allowed. His ERA is 0.14.

“I think every pitch, he gets better and better,” South Caldwell catcher Brad Chavis said. “He's different. He'll take one pitch and learn from it. He doesn't learn from a game, but learns pitch by pitch. That's what makes him a good pitcher.”

The lone Cougar hit came, strangely enough, on the first pitch of the game when Ethan Ford singled to right field. Messer struck out eight of the next 10 from there - including the side in the second inning on 10 pitches - to again give the South offense a backdrop for another offensive display.

The Spartans smacked the ball around in the second, beginning with infield singles by Dalton Hall and Messer. Two batters later, speedy outfielder Dominic DiBernardi smoked a line drive to the deepest part of the park, the gap in right center field. DiBernardi's shot rolled into the indention just right of the 401-foot sign and he was rounding second before the Cougars reached the ball. The runners scored easily in front of him and DiBernardi had a green light around third as the Cougars relayed the throw in. He slid safely into home just as the ball arrived for an in-the-park home run, his second of the year. His first came on his birthday, April 1, at home in a win against A.C. Reynolds.

The Spartans weren't done, however. Two batters after DiBernardi, Chavis blasted his ninth home run of the year over the wall in left center to put South up 4-0. Two more runs came in the third, when Messer doubled to drive in Spencer Smith, who had reached base on a walk. Then Hall, who had singled, scored on a groundout by Zac Greer.

“Everybody's seeing the ball good,” Chavis said.

The Spartans also had some solid defense Friday, including a slow tapper near the left side of the mound that third baseman Cody Penny corralled and threw on target to first. Second baseman Lucas Jackson fielded a hard bouncer and threw out Ethan Elder at first to lead off the fifth and shortstop Dalton Hall had an impressive field and throw play up the middle later in the frame.

On the brink of the conference championship game and with the playoffs a week away, few, if any, weaknesses are evident for the defending 4-A state champions.

“We've just got to keep sharpening the sword,” Spartan coach Jeff Parham said.

Watauga advanced to the final with a 4-3 win over East Burke Friday. Trey Dunnigan was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and hit a home run to lead the way. Dunnigan is responsible for the only earned run allowed by Messer this year, also a home run.