Lone loss avenged

South Caldwell avenged its only loss of the season by decimating Watauga 11-1 in Boone in five innings Tuesday.

A game loaded with emotion took a frightening turn in the fifth inning when Spartan starting pitcher Jimmy Messer was struck in the neck by a Jon Sharpe pitch while Messer was attempting to bunt. After nearly a minute of silence in the stadium, Messer got up and jogged to first base.

To the shock of many, Messer came out to pitch the fifth and final inning.

“I was hurting, but I felt like I had something to prove.” said Messer. “I refuse to go down without a fight.”

The Spartans (14-1 overall, 6-1 Northwestern) also did what they couldn't do in their first meeting with Watauga - hit Pioneer pitcher Tyler Moore. Moore pitched a one-hit shutout versus the Spartans in a 1-0 win in Sawmills on March 17. South Caldwell's offense struck early for three runs in the first beginning with an RBI-single by Lucas Jackson. Brad Chavis then blasted the first pitch he saw from Moore deep to right center for his third home run of the season, putting the Spartans up 3-0. South added a run in the third when Cody Prestwood was hit by a pitch and scored on a Cody Penny double to the left center gap extending the Spartan lead to 4-0. Chavis homered again in the fourth inning, a solo shot to left center.

Watauga's lone run came off the bat of Pioneer Trey Dunnigan, who hit a Messer 0-2 offering over the right field fence closing the Spartan lead to 5-1.

The Spartans exploded for six runs in the fifth to end the game by 10-run mercy rule, highlighted by a Jackson double and a third homer from Chavis. The final spartan run of the game scored when Penny doubled to deep center scoring Prestwood who had reached on a Pioneer error.

South's win coupled with East Burke's 6-3 victory over A.C. Reynolds sets up a duel for first place on Friday night in Sawmills (7 p.m.). East Burke is also 6-1 in league play.