| build a web site| fundraising| community| collect fees online| blogz |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Sunday, March 8
Spartans drops 2009 season opener at home as bats stay cold
With a delay in the season caused by an unexpected snow storm earlier in the week, Sanderson’s 2009 team took the field on March 5, 2009. They opened the season at Sanderson Field at Optimist Park against Tri-8 Conference member Athens Drive Jaguars.
Junior P Bryan Burke took the mound for the Spartans and was quickly greeted by a three run homer by Athens Driver Snotherly for a 3-0 lead. With one out SS Kyle Wigmore reached base on a walk and advanced to second with a stolen base. CF Kyle Wood reach base with the second walk of the inning. C Max Gagnon (PR Tommy Quinn) plated the Spartans first two runs of the season with his triple to center field, scoring Wood and Wigmore. After one inning Sanderson has cut into Athens 3-2 lead.
With two outs and nobody on base the Jaquars erupted for five more runs, three on Snotherly’s second three run homer of the game. Sanderson goes down 1-2-3 in their half of their inning and now trail 8-2 after two innings.
Burke settled down on got out the Jaguars in a quick 1-2-3 inning in the third. CF Wood caught one fly ball and RF Sam Beavans caught two fly balls. Sanderson for the second straight inning goes down 1-2-3.
After two fly balls to CF Wood, the Jaguars get a single followed by a called third strike. After Sanderson’s first two batters are out, 2B Robert Brunson reached base with a walk, followed by LF Alex Baldy’s walk. 1B John McFarling collected the Spartans second hit of the game but we are not able to get any base runners home. After four innings it remains Athens Drive 8, Sanderson 2.
Sanderson’s McFarling moves to the mound and John King is brought in at first base as we start the fifth inning. The Jaguars go down in order 1-2-3 on a pop up to C Gagnon, strikeout and 3B Travis Trumps fields a ground ball and make the throw to king at first. Sanderson once again goes down 1-2-3 as we head to the top of the sixth inning.
The Jaguars lead batter reaches base with a single and this was followed by a strikeout. There is another single before were get the final two outs. 1B king and RF Beavans catch fly balls for the final outs of the inning. CF Wood gets his second walk of the game to lead off our bottom of the sixth, followed by C Gagnon’s walk (PR Quinn). That is all we can muster as we head to the top of the 7th and last inning.
CF Wood gets the first out with a fly ball, followed by a strikeout and ground ball to Trumps at 3B who throws to King at first for the final out. P McFarling (PR Josh O’Neal) reaches on a walk, which is followed by RF Beavans single to left field. That is how the game ends and Sanderson is on the short end of an 8-2 season opening game.
Sanderson hitters – we were only able to collect three hits led by Max Gagnon’s triple and 2 RBI’s, followed by singles by John McFarling and Sam Beavans.
Sanderson pitchers -- Bryan Burke (0-1) pitched four innings, three strikeouts, one walk, eight runs, eight hits and one walk. John McFarling pitched the final three innings, throwing three strikeouts, no walks, two hits and no runs.
Tuesday, March 10
Spartans earn season’s first victory at Middle Creek
For the second straight game Sanderson scored two runs in the first inning, on its way to a 12-2 non-conference win over the Mustangs of Middle Creek. The Spartans bats came alive by scoring a run in every inning in the seasons second game played on March 6, 2009.
Lead off batter SS Kyle Wigmore started us off with a walk and was on third base after 3B Travis Trump’s single. Wigmore later scored on a pass ball. In between C Max Gagnon walked on a full count. P Charles Wolfe then scored Trumps with his fielder’s choice. On two hits the Mustangs scored a run to cut the lead to 2-1 after one inning.
Sanderson’s bat kept swinging as they added another run in the second inning. 2B Robert Brunson started us off with a full count walk later scoring on RF Sam Beavans sacrifice/rbi. In the bottom of the second, P Wolfe strikes out Middle Creek’s lead off batter and after two singles, Wolfe is part of an incredible double play. The Mustang batter pops a short fly ball that Wolfe catches, and he then throws to 1B John McFarling to double up the runner who had taken off at first. After two innings Sanderson has increased its lead to 3-1.
The Spartans send eight batters to the plate in the 4th inning and score three runs. With two outs and nobody on base Gagnon (PR JP Cochran) is our first baserunner with his second walk of the game. Wolfe (PR Josh O’Neal) reaches with a single followed by Brunson’s own single that plates Cochran. LF Daniel Adams single to right field is the big hit of the inning as he brings in O’Neal and Brunson. McFarling gets our fourth single of the inning as we increase our lead to 6-1. The Mustangs put up their second run of the game off two singles and now trail 6-2 after three innings but not before another incredible inning ending double play by 1B McFarling. McFarling grabs a line drive pop for the out and then places the tag on the baserunner to end the inning.
Wigmore and CF Kyle Wood knockout back-to-back singles and would later score our two runs in the fourth inning. Wolfe would get his second hit and second RBI of the game. In this inning P Wolfe would put down the Mustangs in order. SS Wigmore made a diving catch to his right to rob the Mustangs of a base hit to end the inning. After four innings Sanderson now leads 8-2.
In our fifth, Adams collects his second hit of the game and would later score on RF Tyler Burke’s sacrifice fly. Gagnon now takes the mound in the bottom of the fifth and only allows a single. We now head to the top of the sixth inning on top 9-2.
In the sixth, the Spartans collect a single and two doubles to score three runs. Trumps leads off with a single followed by Wood’s double. Wolfe then hits a double, scoring both Trumps and Woods. Wolfe would also score on the same play due to some fielding errors. We head to the bottom of the sixth up 12-2. The Mustangs do not score and the game is called after six innings. Sanderson hitters -- Charles Wolfe led the way with two singles, a double, scored two runs and had 5 RBI’s. Travis Trumps contributed with 3 singles and scored three runs.
Daniel Adams helped the cause with two singles, 2 RBI’s and scored a run. Robert Brunson chipped in a single, walk, scored two runs and had an RBI. Kyle Wigmore had a single, walk and scored two runs along with Kyle Wood who had a double and scored a run. John McFarling had a single to close out the teams 12 hits. Max Gagnon had two walks and scored a run. Sam Beavans and Tyler Burke each had a sacrifice to bring in a run.
Pitching - starting pitcher Charles Wolfe (1-0 and 2008 CAP 7 Pitcher of the Year) looked good in his first outing of the year. In four innings Charles had -0- BB, 4 K’s, six hits and two runs. Reliever Max Gagnon pitched the final two innings with -0- BB, 3 K’s, two hits and no runs.
Wednesday, March 11
Spartans big inning late ensures home victory
Sanderson erupted for five runs in the bottom of the sixth to put their game with Panther Creek out of reach. The Catamounts had closed the gap to 2-1 on March 10, 2009, before the Spartans answered with five runs.
Sr. P John McFarling took the mound for Sanderson in his first start of the season. The Catamounts second batter reached on a single but not before he was picked off trying to steal second. C Max Gagnon threw down to 2B Robert Brunson who placed the tag on the incoming sliding runner. For the first time this season Sanderson failed to score in the first inning although LF Travis Trumps reached base on an error.
In the second inning Panther Creek had one batter reach base after receiving a walk. P McFarling quickly picked off this runner with his pick off throw to 1B Charles Wolfe. In the bottom of the second Wolfe leads off with a double but reached third on an error. Brunson then hits the ball to second base for a fielder’s choice that scores Wolfe. After two innings it is Sanderson 1 and Panther Creek 0.
Panther Creeks lead off batter reached on a walk but was stranded at third base. P McFarling picked off his second runner at first today this inning and we now head to the bottom of the third. SS Kyle Wigmore led off with his single to right field and is plated when CF Kyle Wood hits a deep ball to left center for a stand up double for what turns out to be the game winning RBI and run. After three innings it is now Sanderson up 2-0.
McFarling works his first 1-2-3 inning in the fourth when CF Wood dove for a fly ball to his right and made one of his trademark laid out catches and RF Sam Beavans caught a pop fly. McFarling also got his first strikeout victim of the evening. Sanderson responds with Brunson as our only base runner after he reached on a walk and Brunson kept running once he got to first base and ended up at second base on a pass ball.
The Catamounts go down again 1-2-3 as Sanderson returns to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning. Beavans leads off with a single and he is stranded but did get all the way to third. After five innings it is 2-0 Sanderson.
McFarling pitched to two batters in the sixth before he was pulled and Wigmore took the mound with two runners on and no outs. Before Wigmore could finish pitching to his first batter, C Gagnon threw down to SS Daniel Adams who placed the tag on the runner at second base. The Catamounts do get their first run of the game on a triple but that would be it for the inning. Sanderson’s lead has now been cut in half, 2-1.
In the bottom of the sixth Sanderson sent 10 batters to the plate in scoring five runs. Gagnon (PR Cole Johnson) led off with a stand up triple to center field. Wolfe then reaches on an infield error and Brunson reaches on a walk to load the bases with no outs. Adams reached base on an infield error but also plates Johnson and Wolfe. 3B John King knocks out a single and scores Brunson. Beavans gets his second hit of the game and brings in Adams and King for a 7-1 lead with no outs. Trumps would be our last baserunner when he reached on a full count walk.
Wigmore returns to the mound in the top of the seventh and gets three strike outs and the game is over with a final score of 7-1 in favor of Sanderson.
Records –
Sanderson 2-1 Panther Creek 0-3
Sanderson hitters -- Sam Beavans led the way (2-3, 2 rbi), Charles Wolfe (1-3, 2B, 2 runs), Max Gagnon (1-3, 3B, run), Kyle Wood (1-3, 2B, rbi), Daniel Adams (0-3, run, 2 rbi), Robert Brunson (0-1, run, rbi), Kyle Wigmore (1-4, run), John King (1-1, rbi).
Sanderson pitchers - John McFarling (1-0) picked up the win. In 5.33 innings he had 5BB, 2K, allowed one hit and allowed one run. Kyle Wigmore earned his first save of the season pitching the final 1.67 innings. In doing so he had 3K, allowed two hits, no BB and no runs allowed.
Monday, March 16
Jaguars quiet Spartans bats
Sanderson entered its game against Athens Drive on March 12, 2009, with a two game winning stretch, Jaguars pitcher Williams held the Spartans to one run and four hits over 7 innings in a 5-1 non-conference win.
We started off with lead off batter SS Kyle Wigmore reaching with a single. However the inning ended on a double play as the Jaguars come to bat. With the help of two fielding errors and three hits, the Jaguars put four quick runs on the board to take an early lead 4-0.
C Max Gagnon (PR Cole Johnson) was our second consecutive lead off batter to reach base, a full count walk. We are unable to get that first run as we again hit into a double play later in the inning. Sanderson starting P Charles Wolfe got into his groove in the second inning as he got his first two strikeouts of the game and had a pop fly hit to RF Sam Beavans for another out. We head to the top of the third inning down 4-0.
We are unable to get any runners on base in the third and Athens Drive comes to bat in the bottom of the third inning. Wolfe gets his fourth and fifth strikeout victims and CF Kyle Wood caught a well hit ball as we end three innings of play.
In the fourth inning, 3B Travis Trumps reached base on a fielding error as our only base runner for the inning. With two outs and nobody on base, the Jaguars get two singles and a fielding error to load the bases. P Wolfe gets the next batter to hit a grounder to 3B Trumps, who makes the throw to 1B John McFarling for the final out. After four innings it remains 4-0 Athens Drive up.
C Gagnon (PR Johnson) reaches base for the second time today with a single to the left side of the field as our lead off batter in the top of the fifth inning. We are not able to get that first run across so we end to the bottom of the fifth inning still down 4-0.
Reliever SS Wigmore relieves Wolfe on the mound at the bottom of the fifth inning. After allowing two singles Wigmore strikes out the last two batters and the score remains 4-0 after five innings.
For the fourth time in six innings we once again get our lead off batter on base. LF Daniel Adams reached on a fielding error. Our next three batters can not advance Adams so the score stays 4-0. With the help of a single, a hit batter and a sacrifice fly, Athens Drive score their fifth run in the bottom of the sixth as we head to the top of the seventh, now down 5-0.
Once again Sanderson’s lead off batter reached base, this time 3B Jon King, reached on a fielding error. CF Wood moves King to second base with a fielders choice, followed by LF Alex Baldy’s single that moves King to third base with two outs. 2B Robert Brunson’s single to right field plates King for our only run of the game. Game over as the third out occurred before we could score any more runs.
Final score Athens Drive 5 Sanderson 1
Sanderson 000 000 1 1 Athens Drive 400 001 X 5
Sanderson hitters – Alex Baldy (1-1), Max Gagnon (1-2, BB), Robert Brunson (1-3, RBI), Kyle Wigmore (1-3), and Jon King (0-1, run).
Sanderson pitching -- Charles Wolfe (1-1), pitched four innings, 3 K’s, 1 W, four runs with only two earned. Kyle Wigmore pitched two innings, 4 K’s, 1 HBP, one run.
Saturday, March 21
Spartans erupt for 14 runs in non-conference win
On a beautiful late winter day, Sanderson held off the Tri-8 Cary Imps in a high scoring game, 14-7. Leading 10-0 heading into the fifth inning Cary fought back to close the gap to 10-7 before Sanderson pushed across four more runs in the bottom of the sixth for a final 14-7 score.
Sanderson starting P Max Gagnon faced the top of the Imps batting order in the first and did not allow any runs, with only one base runner reaching base. Sanderson’s lead off batter SS Kyle Wigmore reached first on a single to left field and was moved over on LF Travis Trumps bunt to the Imps pitcher. CF Kyle Wood plated Wigmore with his infield single. P Gagnon (PR JP Cochran) brought in Wood with his double to center field. 1B Charles Wolfe then brought in our third run of the inning with his 6-3 fielders choice. We now head to the top of the second with a 3-0 lead.
P Gagnon records his second and third strikeouts to go along with an infield ground ball out as the Imps are left scoreless. Second inning lead off batter 3B Daniel Adams bangs out a single to right field. C Bryan Burke (PR Cole Johnson) hustled down the line and reached base on an infield error. RF Sam Beavans hit into a fielders choice that plated Johnson. As we head to the top of the third inning it is now a SHS lead of 4-0.
Cary’s lead off batter reached on P Gagnon’s walk and is stranded as we head to the bottom of the third. P Gagnon (PR JP Cochran) leads off the Spartans third inning with his second hit off the game, a single to left center. 1B Wolfe is our second baserunner with his single to right field. 3B Adams, with his second single of the game, brings in a sliding head first Cochran for our first run of the inning. C Burke (PR Johnson) reaches as a hit batter and he is followed by RF Beavans two rbi single to left field, plating Wolfe and Adams. We then score two more runs; Johnson and Wigmore, on Cary errors. SS Wigmore’s second hit brings in another run (Beavans). LF Travis Trumps is our last batter to reach with his single to RF. Sanderson would end up sending ten batters to the plate in the inning and after three complete innings Sanderson leads 10-0.
Cary gets its first hit of the game off P Gagnon when their lead off batter hit a solid double to left field. Later SS Wigmore laid out to his right and behind third base, making the throw to 1B Wolfe for the first out. Nice defensive backing of you pitcher. This was followed by an infield groundout and a strike out victim to keep that lead off runner from scoring.
Sanderson leads off the fourth with a walk issued to 1B Josh O’Neal but he is left stranded on third base. 3B Jon King also reaches first with an infield error. Sanderson now heads to the top of the fifth with a 10-10 lead.
Cary jumps on Spartan relief P John McFarling in the fifth. Unable to find the strike zone, the Imps are issued four straight walks. We now bring in P Daniel Adams for his first appearance of the season. After getting three hits, Cary pushes across seven runs to cut the once comfortable lead to 10-7.
The question on everybody’s mind is -- How will the Spartans answer the challenge? The answer we want does not happen in the bottom of the fifth. We were able to get two base runners on with 1B Wolfe’s walk and 3B King’s reaching on an error. With all the momentum on Cary’s side, we head to the top of the sixth facing Cary’s batting order of 9-1-2.
After allowing Cary’s first batter reach base on an infield error, P Adams gets the rest of the batters out in order. 3B Wolfe fields two ground balls and makes the throws to 1B O’Neal and Adams strikes out a batter for the final out. Sanderson’s batters decide to answer and it comes at a great time. 3B Wolfe leads off with a single and he is followed by 2B Robert Brunson’s full count walk. C Burke (PR Johnson) delivers a timely single up the middle, plating Wolfe. With two outs the top of our order steps it up. SS Wigmore gets the big hit, a double and his third hit of the game, to bring in two runs (Brunson and Burke). LF Alex Baldy contributes with our second straight double to bring in Johnson. After six innings Sanderson increases its lead to14-7.
SS turned P Wigmore comes to the mound for Sanderson in the top of the 7th. After throwing only seven pitches Wigmore puts down the Imps in order. Two pop flies to the outfield and a strike out for the final out of the game.
Final score 14-7 Sanderson.
Record -- Sanderson 3-2
Sanderson pitching - Starter Max Gagnon (1-0) threw one hit ball over four innings (4 K’s, 2 W’s, no runs). John McFarling (4 runs) only faced four batters as he struggled with the strike zone today -- that happens in baseball. Daniel Adams followed McFarling (2 IP, 1K, 1 W, 2 runs) before Kyle Wigmore came on for that last inning (1 IP, 1 K).
Sanderson batters -- Kyle Wigmore (3-5, 2 runs, 3 rbi), Max Gagnon (2-3, dbl, 2 runs, rbi), Charles Wolfe (2-3, W, 2 runs, rbi), Daniel Adams (2-3, 2 runs, rbi), Travis Trumps (1-2, rbi), Sam Beavans (1-2, run, 2 rbi), Alex Baldy (1-2, dbl, rbi), Kyle Wood (1-3, run, rbi), Bryan burke (1-3, HBP, run, rbi), Robert Brunson (0-3, W, run).
Sunday, March 22
Spartans open defense of 2008 CAP 7 title with 5-3 win over Wakefield
Behind the solid pitching of CAP 7 2008 pitcher of the year Charles Wolfe, Sanderson opened its defense of its 2008 CAP 7 Conference title on March 19, 2009, with a 5-3 win at home over the Wolverines of Wakefield. For this writer this truly was a team win.
Let me explain really quickly with my examples – P Charles Wolfe with no walks in a CG with 6 K’s, C Max Gagnon with no pass balls and digging third strikes out of the dirt and then making the throws to 1B, 1B John McFarling stretching and I mean stretching to allow us to complete double plays, 2B Robert Brunson’s involvement in turning two and jumping to rob a batter of a potential outfield hit, SS Kyle Wigmore help in turning a double play late in the game when we needed it the most, 3B Daniel Adams involvement in five put outs with no errors, LF Travis Trumps tracking bombs that Wakefield was sending his way, CF Kyle Wood going backwards to dead CF at 395’ of the 400’ wall and making his over the back catch and landing on his knees (I hope you saw it!), and RF Sam Beavans making his own spectacular catch over his right shoulder on one of many bombs sent to our outfielders. See what I mean. And that is just our defense. Please read on about our offense.
Wakefield came out swinging and quickly got a double from their lead off batter, who would later score, as Wakefield took a quick 1-0 lead. Sanderson’s own lead off batter SS Wigmore got us started with his single to left field. After C Gagnon was intentionally walked, P Wolfe delivered a single to the left side plating Wigmore. We are tied 1-1 going to the second.
P Wolfe records two strikeouts and a line drive bullet that 3B Adams caught for another out. Sanderson’s batters go down 1-2-3 so we head to the third still knotted up at 1-1.
Wakefield lead off batter hit a blast to RF and Spartan RF Beavans made that spectacular catch in RF going back to the fence. A Wolverine batter would reach on a triple but is stranded there when 2B Brunson jumped and robbed the batter of an outfield hit and keeping a run off the board. Once again Sanderson’s bats are quite and we go down harmless 1-2-3.
Spartan P Wolfe got his first 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fourth. Aided by CF Woods over his right shoulder, landing on his knees at 395’ out of 400’ available, catch! Sanderson would take the lead when lead off batter C Gagnon worked for a full count walk. P Wolfe moves C Gagnon over with his second hit of the game, a single to right. 2B Brunson laid down a perfect bunt down the first base line and attempted to avoid the tag by running backwards. Brunson was eventually tagged out but not before Gagnon and Wolfe moved to 3B and 2B respectively. Nice bunt and running Brunson. 3B Adams puts us ahead with his timely sacrifice fly to left field, to plate C Gagnon who tagged up at 3B. After four innings Sanderson takes the lead at 2-1.
Wakefield’s batter reached base on an infield error (he later scored) as we start the fifth inning. C Gagnon dug a third strike out of the dirt, stood up to make the throw to first but not before he was hit on the left elbow by a flying Wakefield bat for out #1. Sanderson’s 3B Adams later turned his own double play when he received a ground ball, tagged third for the force out and then threw to 1B McFarling who stretched for the out. As Sanderson comes to bat in the bottom of the fifth we are tied 2-2. The Spartans own leadoff batter, RF Beavans, reached first due to an infield error to get us started in our effort to get that run back. SS Wigmore delivers his second hit of the game, a double, to plate Beavans. With only one way to score with a catcher ready to make a play, Beavans slid head, sliding wide right and had his left hand out to swipe home plate. With the bases loaded and no outs Sanderson is only able to push across one more run when CF Wood, who reached on a walk, scored on a pass ball. So we head to the top of the sixth with Sanderson’s lead now at 4-2.
Once again Wakefield’s bat came out swinging as their first two batters hit singles. The third batter reached on an error so they have bases loaded and no outs. It gets better for our Spartans. 2B Brunson would not allow a ground ball to get past him as he makes a throw to SS Wigmore, who tagged second and throws to 1B McFarling for the double play. P Wolfe gets a backward strikeout to end the inning. Wakefield does get a run across and cuts the Spartans lead by one, 4-3. 3B Adams leads off for us with a walk. After the Wolverine pitcher walked two more batters, 3B Adams would score on a pass ball. As we head to the top of the seventh, our lead is now 5-3.
P Wolfe got us started in the right way as he struck out the first batter to start off the seventh inning. CF Wood then catches another deep fly ball for the second out, which was followed by a walked batter. With two outs and the tying run at the plate, P Wolfe gets the Wolverine batter to hit a fly ball to LF Trumps for the final out.
Final score Sanderson 5 Wakefield 3
Records Sanderson 4-2 CAP 7 1-0 Wakefield 2-2 CAP 7 0-1
Sanderson P Charles Wolfe (2-1) -- 7 innings CG, 6 K’s, no W, 3 runs, 1 earned run.
Sanderson batters -- C. Wolfe (2-3, rbi), K. Wigmore (2-3, dbl, run, rbi), T. Trumps (1-3, W), M. Gagnon (0-1, 2 W’s, run), D. Adams (0-1, W, SAC, run), K. Wood (0-2, W, run), S. Beavans (0-3, run).
Walk off home run rallies Spartans
With the smell of grilled hot dogs in the air and spring like weather, Sanderson’s baseball fans were treated to a thrilling come from behind non-conference win over the Crusaders of Cardinal Gibbons on March 21, 2009.
The game started at high noon and Spartans starting P Bryan Burke was able to get the first two batters out. Assisted by two Sanderson errors and knocking out two hits, Cardinal Gibbons scored the games first run and led 1-0 with Sanderson coming to bat. For the fourth straight game SS Kyle Wigmore led off by reaching base with a single. With two outs, C Max Gagnon and 1B Charles Wolfe were issued walks to load the bases. We got our first run of the game when 2B Robert Brunson delivered a single to left field, scoring Wigmore. After one inning we are all knotted up 1-1.
Again P Burke got the first two Crusaders batters out, but the third batter reached on a Sanderson infield error. With a single and walk, the bases are loaded with two outs. 3B Jon King got us of the inning when he fielded a ground ball and tagged the bag for the force out. Sanderson goes down 1-2-3 so we remain tied 1-1 heading to the top of the third inning.
2B Brunson made a pretty defensive play on a line drive hit by the Crusaders lead off batter. Brunson dove to his right for the catch. After issuing a walk and a single going to left field, Spartans P Burke records his third strike out of the game for the second out of the inning. 1B Wolfe caught a pop up for the final out of the inning. Once again our bats go quietly 1-2-3 as we go to the top of the fourth inning.
After allowing two singles from the first two batters, P Burke gets the next three batters to ground out. 3B King threw to C Gagnon to get the runner coming home. King would also field another ground ball and threw to 1B Wolfe for a second out. To close out the inning, SS Wigmore fielded a ground ball and made the throw to first base.
I guess the warm weather has some how got our bats cold as for the third straight inning we go down in order. After four innings we are still tied up.
The Cardinal Gibbons bats continue to be hot in the fifth inning. Their first two batters reached base with hits. These two runners would score before we could get the required three outs. Sanderson now finds itself on the short end of a 5-1 score. For the first time since the first inning our lead off batter reached base when P Burke knocked out his first hit of the game, followed by SS Wigmore’s single. LF Travis Trumps reached base on a full count walk to load up the bases. With the bases loaded and one out the Crusaders bring in a new pitcher. He is greeted by 3B Adams based loaded walk bringing in SS Wigmore from third. C Gagnon’s sacrifice fly to left field brings in P Burke from third base for our second run of the inning. 1B Wolfe would bring in our third and last run (Trumps) with his single to left. After five complete innings Sanderson now trails by one, 5-4.
In the Crusaders sixth, P Burke walked the lead off batter and allows a double before Sanderson brings on P Daniel Adams in relief. Despite getting three infield ground balls from three straight batters for outs, one run crosses the plate allowing Cardinal Gibbons to increase their lead to 6-4. With a single by 3B King and a walk issued to RF JP Cochran, SS Wigmore gets his third single of the game, bringing in King. Cochran would later score on an infield error. The game is all tied up at 6-6 to set up a fantastic finish in the seventh inning.
Once again the Crusaders flexed their muscles at the plate getting three base hits and pushing across a run to take a 7-6 lead as Sanderson comes to bat at the bottom of the seventh and last inning.
P Adams leads off our inning with a single to right. So we now have the tying run on base with no outs. In dramatic fashion C Gagnon takes a 1-0 fastball and sails it over the left field fence 385’ mark for an estimate 415’ walk off, two run homer. What a scene at home plate as Gagnon came home with the game winning run.
Record – Sanderson 5-2
Cardinal Gibbons 2-3
Sanderson hitters – SS Kyle Wigmore (3-4, 2 runs, rbi), C Max Gagnon (1-2, W, SAC, HR, run, 3 rbi), P Daniel Adams (1-1, W, rbi, run), 1B Charles Wolfe (1-2, W, rbi), 2b Robert Brunson (1-2, rbi), 3B Jon King (1-2, run), P Bryan Burke (1-2, run), LF Travis Trumps (0-3, W, run), RF JP Cochran (0-0, W, run).
Spartans falls 8-6 in out of conference game
On March 23, 2009, Sanderson stepped outside the conference to play Tri-8 conference member Middle Creek at Sanderson Field at Optimist Park. The Mustangs exploded for four quick runs in the top of the first to take the noise out of the home field crowd. With three hits and an untimely error the Mustangs struck big and quick. Sanderson’s only baserunner in the first was C Max Gagnon’s (PR JP Cochran) full count walk. Spartans P John McFarling gets in a groove in the second inning as he puts down the Mustangs in order. With a backward strikeout, pop fly to C Gagnon and a throw to 1B Charles Wolfe by P McFarling, the Mustangs bats are quiet this inning. Good things can happen when you get your lead off batter on so when LF Daniel Adams was walked we were left wondering if the Spartans would be able to cut into the 4-0 lead. 2B Robert Brunson answered the call with his single that plated Adams. RF Sam Beavans also did his best to help the team cause by driving in Brunson with his single to the left side of the outfield. After two full innings the Mustangs lead has been cut in half, 4-2. The Mustangs pushed their lead to 5-2 when they brought in one more run in the third inning. Although 1B Wolfe got a single Sanderson does not match the scoring so after three innings it is now Middle Creek 5, Sanderson 2. For the second time in four innings P McFarling puts down the Mustangs in order as we head to the bottom of the fourth inning needing some runs. For the second time this game LF Adams is our lead off batter and he is base with a single. CF Kyle Wood collects his first hit of the game to move Adams to second. After a pass ball Adams and Wood move over one base. RF Beavans plates Adams with his 6-3 fielders choice. P McFarling gets his own rbi on his 6-3 fielders choice bringing in Wood. After four complete innings the Spartans now trail the Mustangs 5-4. Middle Creek blew the lid off this close game when they scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning, all with two outs. The Mustangs banged out five singles in the inning. With two outs and no runners on base Sanderson tried to answer. Back to back singles by C Gagnon (PR JP Cochran) and 1B Wolfe leave us with runners on second and third and that is where they stay. Sanderson brings in C Gagnon to the mound as we start the sixth inning. Putting down the Mustang batters 1-2-3 Sanderson comes back to the plate needing runs. 2B Brunson walks on a full count and RF Beavans takes a pitch for the team to give us two runners on base with two outs. Too little too late as we head to the top of the seventh trailing 8-4. P Gagnon again puts down Middle Creek’s batters in order in the top of the seventh inning and giving the Spartans some hope in what could be their last at bat in this game. PH Jon King leads off with a double to left field and scores on 1B Wolfe’s third single of the game. CF Wood knocks out his own single and 2B Brunson gets his second single of the game to plate Wolfe. The game would end with Sanderson on the short end of an 8-6 score. Middle Creek 401 030 0 8 9 1 Sanderson 020 200 2 6 11 2 Record – Sanderson 5 – 3 CAP 7 1 - 0 Sanderson pitchers – Starting P John McFarling (1-0) had 5 IP (2K’s, 4W’s, 9 hits, 8 runs, 6 earned) and reliever P Max Gagnon 2 IP (2K’s, no runs). Sanderson hitters -- 1B Charles Wolfe (3-4, rbi, run), 2B Robert Brunson (2-3, W, 3 rbi, run), CF Kyle Wood (2-4, run), C Max Gagnon (1-3, W), LF Daniel Adams (1-3, 2 runs), RF Sam Beavans (1-2, HBP, rbi), PH Jon King (1-1, dbl, rbi, run). Sunday, March 29
Sanderson and Millbrook face off in pitchers duel for first place in CAP 7
After playing two games in 2008 with a combined score of 3-0 (both Sanderson wins), Sanderson and Millbrook again produced a thrilling game this season. With the tying run on third base, Millbrook P Jake Harris got an infield pop fly to end the game and a win for the Wildcats. Both starting pitchers, Sanderson P Charles Wolfe and Millbrook’s Harris, pitched complete games that had fans on the edge of their seats all game long on March 24, 2009. As the visiting team the Spartans batted first but we go down quietly in order. Millbrook comes up and quickly gets a run on two singles and a hit batter to take an early 1-0 lead. In the second inning Harris keeps the Spartans batters off balance in facing three batters for three more outs. After giving up a lead off single, Sanderson’s Wolfe strikes out two batters and induces an infield ground ball for the final out. After two innings the score remains 1-0 Millbrook. In the third inning Sanderson is still not able to get its first base runner as we head to the bottom of the third inning. P Wolfe puts down the Wildcat batters 1-2-3 with a ground ball to 3B Daniel Adams and pop flies to 2B Robert Brunson and SS Kyle Wigmore. SS Wigmore reached second base as our lead off batter in the fourth inning on an outfield error and is plated when C Max Gagnon (PR JP Cochran) delivered a RBI single to right field, our first hit of the game. P Wolfe (PR Josh O’Neal) reaches base with his single but is stranded on second. After 3.5 innings we are now tied up at 1-1. Aided by an infield error and a walk to the lead off batter, Millbrook strands a runner at third base as we head to the fourth inning. In the top of the fourth inning the Spartan batters for the fourth time in five innings, go down in order. With a lead off double by the Wildcat batter, Millbrook breaks the 1-1 tie with one run in the inning with a sacrifice fly. In the sixth inning, Sanderson’s C Gagnon (PR JP Cochran) is our sole base runner when he walked on four straight balls but he would not score. Millbrook adds another run in the bottom of the sixth to take a 3-1 lead but not before the Spartans produced the defensive play of the game. With two outs and Wildcat runners on third and first, P Wolfe stepped off and made a pick off throw to SS Wigmore. Wigmore, watching both base runners, chased the first base runner back and then made a throw to 3B Adams. With his baserunner taking off for home, Adams threw to C Gagnon, who was down on his knees blocking home plate. Gagnon placed the tag on the sliding Wildcat runner for the final out of the inning. We now head to the top of the seventh trailing 3-1. Leading off the seventh inning 3B Adams knocked out our first extra base hit of the day with his double to right field. CF Kyle Wood moved Adams over to third with no outs with his infield single. PH Jon King brings in 3B Adams with his shot down the first base line. There was also a questionable call by the field ump that King was out when the Millbrook first baseman tagged the first base bag with his glove as he laid on the ground. RF Sam Beavans would get a walk on four straight pitches so we now have runners at first and third with two outs. As hard as we tried we could not get in Wood from third so we end the game on the short end of a 3-2 score. Sanderson 000 100 1 2 4 1 Millbrook 100 011 X 2 6 1 Sanderson hitters -- C Max Gagnon (1-2, W, rbi), 3B Daniel Adams (1-3, dbl, run), CF Kyle Wood (1-3), P Charles Wolfe (1-3), PH Jon King (0-1, rbi), SS Kyle Wigmore (0-4, run). Sanderson pitcher -- P Charles Wolfe (2-2) (CG, 3K, W, 2 HBP, 6 hits, 3 runs). Records Sanderson 5-4 CAP 7 1-1 Millbrook 6-3 CAP 7 3-0 Sunday, April 12
Spartans rally falls short in nine inning game
After falling behind 4-0 after four innings, Sanderson rallied and tied the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the 7th inning. The Cougars would push across two runs in the top of the ninth for the winning margin of 6-4 on March 31, 2009. Wake Forest – Rolesville’ s lead off batter started the game quickly with a lead off single and would score on a double as the Cougars took a quick 1-0 lead. The Spartans lead off batter, SS Kyle Wigmore, reached base on a walk but we were not able to bring him home. After one inning it is WFR 1, Sanderson 0. Spartans starting pitcher Charles Wolfe records his first strikeout of the game by whiffing the lead off Cougar batter to start off the second inning. With a second strike out and an infield ground ball, the Cougars maintain their 1-0 lead. Sanderson 2B Robert Brunson got our first hit of the game, a double to left field, and he is left stranded on base. After two full innings it remains WFR 1, Sanderson 0. With three singles and a walk, WFR pushes across two runs and increases their lead to 3-0 headed to Sanderson’s bottom of the third. The Spartan bats started to come alive with two singles, one each by SS Wigmore and Wolfe, but they produce zero runs. In the fourth inning a single and a Spartan error allow the Cougars to make it a 4-0 game. Sanderson again collects a hit, a single by CF Kyle Wood, but that is all we had in us so we find ourselves on the short end of a 4-0 game. The Cougars bats keep pounding out hits, their 8th of the game, with a lead off single but the score remains 4-0 headed to the bottom of the fifth inning. LF Travis Trumps got us started with a lead off walk and would later score on Wolfe’s single to left center. Wood’s second single of the game would plate Wolfe. In between Wolfe’s and Wood’s single, 3B Daniel Adams collected his first hit of the game, a single up the middle. After five complete innings it is now WFR 4, Sanderson 2. In the sixth the Spartans shut out the Cougars as one Cougar batted reached base and was later thrown out trying to steal 2nd base. Sanderson C Max Gagnon threw down to 2B Brunson who tagged the runner for the second out of the inning. Brunson started us off in our half of the sixth with a lead off single. RF Sam Beavans would follow with a full count walk. Beavans would later score on a pass ball and Sanderson now only trails by one, 4-3, headed to the top of the seventh and possibly last inning. P Wolfe records his fourth and fifth strikeout victims in the seventh as he faced the Cougars 2-3-4 batters. As we head to the bottom of the seventh we need one run to force extra innings or get two runs and we win. With a single by Adams and an infield Cougars error, the Spartans tie up the game when Adams scored. We now head to the top of the eighth tied 4-4. Spartan P Wolfe stays on a hot roll by striking out two more batters in the eighth and did not allow a hit for the third straight inning. Sanderson’s Wigmore would receive his second walk of the game as our only runner but we do not score as we head to the ninth inning still tied 4-4. With a lead off single and two more singles, the Cougars scored twice to take a 6-4 lead. Sanderson’s batters go down in order as the games finishes with Wake Forest-Rolesville winning their first CAP 7 conference game of the season. Sanderson pitcher Charles Wolfe pitched a CG (9 innings, 11 hits, 6 runs, 8 K, 1W). Sanderson batters -- Kyle Wood (2-4, rbi), Robert Brunson (2-4), Kyle Wigmore (1-3, 2 W), Charles Wolfe (2-4, W, rbi, run), Daniel Adams (2-5, run), Travis trumps (0-2, 2 W, run), Sam Beavans (0-2, W, run). Sunday, April 12
Spartans pitchers and hitters dominate in Spring Break tournament opening game
The Spartans came to play in their opening game played at the Knightdale 3rd Annual Round Table Classic on April 4, 2009. The opening game opponent was the Towson Catholic Owls from Maryland. As the visitors our first two batters reached base due to infield errors by the Owls. After SS Kyle Wigmore and 2B Robert Brunson reached base on back-to-back infield errors, Wigmore would later score to make the score 1-0 before our third batter came to the plate. C Max Gagnon stepped to the plate and delivered a two run home run over the center field scoreboard bringing in Brunson for a quick 3-0 lead. After a half inning Spartans starting P Bryan Burke has a nice lead to start the game. Burke allowed one single as the Spartans come back to the plate as we start the second inning. Sanderson sends all nine batters to the plate in the second inning and increases its lead to 6-0. LF Travis Trumps started us off with a lead off double to left field. With Trumps on 2B and two outs our bats come alive. Wigmore was walked and Brunson was hit by a pitch. Trumps would score on a wild pitch. Gagnon (PR Josh O’Neal) then delivered a bases clearing two run triple, bringing in Wigmore and Brunson. 1B Charles Wolfe and 3B Daniel Adams received walks after Gagnon’s hit but we could not bring them home. P Burke would put down the Owls in order so we now head to the top of the third inning with a 6-0 lead. With a triple by DH Alex Baldy and two outs, Wigmore delivered an rbi single to left field to bring in Baldy. Going into the bottom of the third, Sanderson now leads 7-0. With two outs the Owls get back to back singles. With a batter at the plate Sanderson executed a perfect pickle play. C Gagnon started us off by throwing to 1BWolfe, who then chased the runner between 1st and 2nd base. Wolfe would then throw to SS Wigmore covering second, and Wigmore threw to 2B Brunson. Brunson saw the runner go from 2nd to 3rd, so he threw to 3B Adams who placed the tag of the incoming runner for the third out of the inning. It was written up as 2-3-6-4-5. After three innings it remains 7-0 Sanderson. In the Spartans 4th inning, CF Kyle Wood was our lone baserunner when he reached base on a walk. P Burke put down the Owls 3-4-5 batters in order. Sanderson would add one more run in the fifth inning when DH Baldy led off with his second triple off the game. RF Sam Beavans would bring in Baldy with his single. As Towson comes to bat in the bottom of the fifth it is now 8-0 in favor of the Spartans. The Owls lead off batter hit a line drive to 3B Adams who made a nice catch on the first pitch of the inning. P Burke would then strike out the next two batters as we close the book on five innings of play. In Sanderson’s sixth, Wolfe led off with his single to right field. Wolfe was followed by Adams double to right field. Wood reached base with his second walk of the game. Baldy got his third hit of the game and scored Wolfe. RF Tommy Quinn became a base runner when he reached base on four straight balls. Adams and Wood would also score in the inning. After 5.5 innings it is now Sanderson 11, Towson 0. Sanderson brought in John McFarling as our new pitcher in the 6th inning. After giving up a lead off single and a walk, McFarling settled down and recorded two strikeouts and had a ground ball to the infield for another out. Game is called due to the ten run rule. Final score is Sanderson 11, Towson Catholic 0. Sanderson pitcher Bryan Burke (1-1) earned the win in 5 IP(4K, -0- W, -0- runs). Reliever John McFarling pitched one inning, 2K, 1W, -0- runs. Sanderson batters -- Max Gagnon (2-3, HR, triple, 4 rbi, run), Alex Baldy (2-4, 2 triples, rbi, 2 runs), Kyle Wigmore (1-3, 2 runs, rbi), Daniel Adams (1-3, W, dbl, run), Travis Trumps (1-3, dbl, run), Sam Beavans (1-3, rbi), Charles Wolfe (1-1, 2W, run), Kyle Wood (0-2, 2W, run), and Robert Brunson (0-3, W, 2 runs). Monday, April 13
Spartans fall to Wilson Hunt in Knightdale Tournament
Playing their second game of the day Sanderson faced the Warriors of Wilson Hunt and fell 7-1. The game was played under the lights on Saturday April 4, 2009. As the visitors Sanderson batted first and their lone hit was starting P Max Gagnon’s (PR Josh O’Neal) single to right field. At the bottom of the inning, the Warriors pushed across one run with a hit batter and two fielder’s choice to take an early 1-0 lead, despite not getting a hit. 2B Robert Brunson made a nice catch of a line drive when he dove to his left. Sanderson’s batters go down in order so we head to the bottom of the second with Wilson still leading 1-0. The Warriors lead off batter reached base with a single to right field. Later he would be out as part of a double play when P Gagnon took a ground ball, threw to SS Kyle Wigmore covering second, who then threw to 1B Charles Wolfe. RF Sam Beavans reached base with his single to left center but he was part of Hunt’s double play to end the inning. Wilson’s lead off batter reached on a triple and would later score. Hunt banged out two more hits in the inning and added one more run to take a 3-0 lead headed to the top of the fourth. 2B Brunson got his first hit of the game with his single to right field. P Gagnon followed Brunson on base when he walked on four straight pitches. Brunson would later score on a Hunt pass ball and this cut into Hunt’s lead, now 3-1, as we head to the bottom of the fourth inning. In what may have been the defensive play of the game P Gagnon dove towards the first base line and caught the Hunt batters pop up to start the inning. Hunt would get a batter on base with a Sanderson infield error but he would not score. After four full innings it remains 3-1 Hunt. Sanderson’s batters go down in order in the fifth as Hunt comes to bat in their half of their inning. On one hit and two infield errors, the Warriors scored three more runs to take a commanding 6-1 lead headed to the sixth inning. Once again Sanderson’s batters go down in order and they only have three outs left to get back into this game. In the sixth SS Wigmore is now brought in as our pitcher and P Gagnon moves to the catcher’s position. Wigmore is greeted by a solo home run by the Hunt lead off batter. We now head to the top of the seventh trailing 7-1. The night ends for the Spartans as they go down in order and Hunt now plays for the tournament championship vs Nash Central. Sanderson plays for third place against Panther Creek, with both games to be played April 7, 2009. Sanderson pitchers -- Starting P Max Gagnon (5IP, 5 hits, 6 runs, 2K, 1 W) and Kyle Wigmore (I IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 2K, 1W). Sanderson batters -- Max Gagnon (1-2, W), Sam Beavans (1-2), and Robert Brunson (1-3, run). Monday, April 13
Panther Creek out hits Spartans in Round Table Classic Tournament
By scoring in all but two innings, Panther Creek finished in third place in this Spring Break tournament played on April 7, 2009. With a final score of 9-3, Panther Creek also has now split the two games played against Sanderson this season. The Catamounts batters wasted little time in scoring by putting up a two spot in the first inning. Both runs were scored after two lead off singles followed by back-to-back strike outs by Sanderson starting P Charles Wolfe. Sanderson’s batters answered when lead off batter SS Kyle Wigmore started us off with a walk on four straight pitches. He was moved to third base when Wolfe (PR Josh O’Neal) knocked out a double to right field. C Max Gagnon plated Wigmore for our first run with his sacrifice rbi fly to left field. After one full inning it is Panther Creek 2, Sanderson 1. P Wolfe had two infield ground balls for outs as well as a backward strikeout to put down the Catamounts batters in order. 1B John McFarling would be our lone base runner in the second with his walk. In the third inning Panther Creek, aided by a fielding error, scored a run on a walk and one hit. Sanderson now finds itself trailing 3-1 coming to bat in the bottom of the third inning. In sending eight batters to the plate Sanderson scores two runs to tie up the score at 3-3. SS Wigmore started us off with a single to the right side, followed by P Wolfe’s (PR Josh O’Neal) single to the left side. C Gagnon brings in Wigmore for our first run of the inning with a single up the middle. After an intentional walk to CF Kyle Wood, RF Sam Beavans gets his first hit of the game while also bringing in O’Neal. After three innings we are now all tied up 3-3. With three singles the Catamounts push across two runs to take a 5-3 lead. Sanderson’s batters would go down in order so the score remains 5-3 after four innings. Panther Creek continues to hit the ball into the right spots for either a hit or an error in the fifth inning. With two fielding errors and three singles the Catamounts increased their lead to 7-3 with two runs scored. Sanderson tries to answer in their fifth with C Gagnon getting on base with a walk and 2B Brunson knocking out a single, moving Gagnon to third base. We are not able to bring in another run so we head to the sixth inning on the short end of a 7-3 score. Panther Creek pushes across two more runs in the sixth on the basis of two singles and an infield error. P Bryan Burke relieves starting P Wolfe with two outs and one on base. Burke strikes out the next batter with Sanderson up next. Sanderson really finds itself in a hole headed to the seventh as their batters go down in order in the bottom of the sixth. P Burke holds the Catamounts off the board in a 1-2-3 inning. Sanderson’s 2B Brunson would be our lone base runner in the final frame when he reached on an infield error. Final score Panther Creek 9, Sanderson 3. Sanderson finishes fourth in the eight team field. Sanderson pitchers -- starting P Charles Wolfe (5.67 IP, 7K, 3W, 12 hits, 9 runs). Relief pitcher Bryan Burke (1.33 IP, 2K). Sanderson batters -- Charles Wolfe (2-4, dbl, run), Max Gagnon (1-2, SAC, W, 2 rbi), Sam Beavans (1-3, rbi), Daniel Adams (1-3), Kyle Wigmore (1-4, W, 2 runs) John McFarling (0-1, W) and Kyle Wood (0-2, W). Saturday, April 18
Spartans return to CAP 7 play with road win over the Leesville Pride
The Spartans returned to the baseball diamond on April 14, 2009, with a heavy dose of CAP 7 conference to be played over the next four weeks. With a convincing 11-1 win over the Leesville Pride Sanderson is headed in the right direction to compete in the CAP 7. We did not start off well in the top of the first inning as the visitors as we went down in order. Sanderson starting P Charles Wolfe recorded his first two strikeouts of the game in the inning as we head to the second inning scoreless. Sanderson’s batters again go down 1-2-3 as Leesville comes to bat in the bottom of the second. With two outs the Leesville batter reached base on an outfield error and would score on a single. After two complete innings Leesville has grabbed an early 1-0 lead. In sending all nine batters to the plate Sanderson took the lead by scoring five runs in the third inning. RF Sam Beavans reached on an infield error and CF Travis Trumps reached with his single to left. SS Kyle Wigmore reached on a full count walk, loading the bases with one out. 2B Robert Brunson reached on an infield error, scoring Beavans. P Wolfe (PR Josh O’Neal) helped his own cause with a bases loaded 2 run single to right that scored Trumps and Wigmore. C Max Gagnon then brought in Brunson with a sacrifice fly to right field. 3B Daniel Adams reached on an infield error that also plated Wolfe. Headed to the bottom of the third Sanderson has now taken a 5-1lead. P Wolfe recorded his fourth and fifth strikeout victims of the game in the third as we now head to the top of the fourth. The Spartans CF Trumps reached base as our only runner with his second single of the game but that is all that happened in the inning. Leesville’s sole baserunner reached on an infield error. Sanderson now heads to the top of the fifth inning still leading 5-1. 2B Brunson reached on a 4-0 count and was brought in when P Wolfe knocked out a double to left field for our only score of the inning. We now head to Leesville bottom of the fifth with a 6-1 lead. With a lead off single and walk to place runners on first and second base with outs, Sanderson P Wolfe got his seventh strikeout of the game. In the defensive play of the game, 2B Brunson went into right field to make an over the head catch of a potential Texas League blooper and then made the throw to 1B John McFarling to double up the runner for an inning ending double play. After five full innings the score remains Spartans 6 and Pride 1. Brunson’s defensive effort must have awakened the Spartans bats as we sent all nine batters to the plate in scoring five more runs in the sixth inning. With back-to back walks issued to our two lead off batters, RF Sam Beavans and PH Jon King, CF Trumps loaded the bases with his third single of the game, a bunt down the first base line, and SS Wigmore reached base on an infield error, which also scored Beavans from third. PH King would score on a pass ball. With two outs and the bases loaded, C Gagnon (PR JP Cochran) reached on an infield error which also brought in Trumps from third. SS Wigmore would also score in the inning. 3B Adams single to right field plated Cochran for the final run of the inning. Now headed to the bottom of the sixth the Spartans have increased their lead to 11-1. P Wolfe would get all three outs in the sixth via strikeouts, giving him ten for the game. The final score is Sanderson 11, Leesville 1. Sanderson 005 015 11 6 1 Leesville 010 000 1 4 7 Records – Sanderson CAP 7 2-2 Overall 7-7 Leesville CAP 7 1-3 Overall 5-8 Sanderson pitcher -- Charles Wolfe CG 6 IP (10K, 3W, 4 hits, 1 unearned run) Sanderson batters -- Travis Trumps (3-3, 2 runs), Charles Wolfe (2-4, dbl, 2 rbi, run), Daniel Adams (1-3, W, 2 rbi), Kyle Wigmore (W, rbi, 2 runs), Robert Brunson (W, rbi, 2 runs), Max Gagnon (SAC, rbi, run), Sam Beavans (W, 2 runs), Jon King (W, run). Saturday, April 18
4th Annual Spartan Spirit Night game produces another thrilling win in front of a large student body
As with the previous two Annual Spartan Spirit Night games, the home team Spartans delighted the large student fan base with a thrilling win. In 2007 Sanderson defeated Enloe in a close 4-1 win and last year there was the dramatic come from behind win in the bottom of the 7th inning against Wakefield (won 4-3). Well, 2009 continued the trend of close games. After Sanderson senior Laura Brown sings our national anthem our PA announcer says PLAY BALL. With Sanderson Field at Optimist Park set up with free food and raffle prizes for the Sanderson student body, the students are ready to watch a ball game. Spartan starting P Bryan Burke had an easy first inning and only allowed a double to left field. The three outs of the inning were all infield ground balls fielded cleanly by the Sanderson defense. Sanderson’s lone base runner of the first inning would be 2B Robert Brunson’s single. P Burke recorded his first two strikeouts of the game in the second inning. We now head to Sanderson’s half of the second inning but we go quickly without any hits or baserunners. Enloe struck first with two runs off one hit in the top of the third inning. LF Alex Baldy was able to get on base with his single to right but that was all we had in us for the inning. After three full innings it is now Enloe 2, Sanderson 0. In a smooth and badly needed double play with a runner advancing to third and one out, SS Kyle Wigmore fielded a ground ball then threw it to 2B Brunson who placed the tag on second, then getting the batter out with his throw to 1B Wolfe. Sanderson’s bats appear to be warming up on the cool evening as they had their first multiple hit inning of the game. 1B Wolfe and 3B Daniel Adams each hit for a single and between them C Max Gagnon was issued a walk by the Eagles pitcher. The Spartans have nothing to show for their hard work and remain on the short end of a 3-0 score after four innings. In the fifth inning, Sanderson P Burke allowed a lead off single and shut down the Eagles for the rest off the inning. Sanderson is unable to get any baserunners and allow Enloe to maintain what appears to be a comfortable 2-0 lead headed to the top of the sixth inning. The Eagles batters chased P Burke in the sixth inning after scoring two runs to increase their lead to 4-0. Sanderson brought in SS Wigmore to take the mound to shut down the Enloe batters. Wigmore took over with runners on first and second with one out. Wigmore appeared to thrive in the pressure as he proceeded to strike out the next two batters but not before Enloe had already increased their lead to 4-0. Sanderson’s top of the order lead off batter P Wigmore got us started with a single to the left side of the field and then moved to second base on a wild pitch. 2B Brunson walked and he was followed by 1B Wolfe who was hit by a pitch, which loaded the bases and no outs and our clean up batter, C Gagnon, at the plate. The Sanderson students have really gotten into the game now as they are all standing on their seats in the bleachers cheering on their Spartans. You could feel the excitement in the air and it felt like the momentum had swung Sanderson’s way. Gagnon (PR JP Cochran) received a bases loaded walk which brought in Wigmore from third base and we still have the bases loaded and no outs. The crowd’s cheers are getting louder as the Eagles now chose to change pitchers. The Spartans next two batters are outs #1 and #2 but we still have the bases loaded. CF Kyle Wood stepped to the plate with an opportunity to make a big statement to the Sanderson students. Wood wasted very little time as he went after the first pitch and hit the ball to the back side, just barely fair at the right field foul line, bringing in 1B Wolfe and PR Cochran with his stand up double. We are now tied up at 4-4 going to the top of the seventh inning. P Wigmore struck out his third straight Eagle batter to start the top of the seventh before the Eagles second batter reached base with a single and ended up at third base with two outs. There was also a runner on first base who reached base with a single. Enloe now has runners on the corners and two outs. With Enloe threatening to take the lead back, C Gagnon stepped in front of home plate to give his hand signals to his teammates in case the first base runner tried to steal second base with the other runner sitting on third. On the next pitch the runner at first took off for second with SS Daniel Adams stepping to his left to cover second. Adams immediately upon receiving the throw down from C Gagnon threw a bullet back to Gagnon, who then placed the tag on the sliding Eagle runner coming home from third base for the final out of the inning! Well executed play Sanderson. As we come to the bottom of the seventh all that is needed is one run to cross home and the game will be over in Sanderson’s favor. As we have said so many times this season good things can happen when your lead off batter reaches base. Guess what happened -- RF Travis Trumps reached first base with a walk. P Wigmore followed Trumps and got on base with his own walk. 2B Brunson then laid down the first pitch for an attempted sacrifice bunt to first base, which scored “Fleetwood” Trumps from third for the winning run and CAP 7 conference win. Final score Sanderson 5 Enloe 4 Records: Sanderson CAP 7 3-2 Overall 8-7 Enloe CAP 7 1-3 Overall 5-9 Sanderson pitchers - Starting P Bryan Burke (5 2/3 IP, 4 K, 1 W, 4 runs). Reliever Kyle Wigmore (1-0) earned the win (1 2/3 IP, 3K, -0- W, -0-runs) Sanderson batters – Robert Brunson (2-3, W, rbi, run), Kyle Wood (1-1, dbl, 2 rbi), Charles Wolfe (1-2, run), Kyle Wigmore (1-3, W, run), Daniel Adams (1-3, rbi), Al Baldy (1-3), Max Gagnon (0-1, 2 W, rbi, run), Travis Trumps (0-2, W, run). Monday, April 20
Broughton pitchers combine on two hitter in 4-2 CAP 7 win
On a beautiful spring afternoon at Broughton High School, two Capital pitchers combined to throw a two hitter over the Spartans on April 17, 2009. Sanderson got on the scoreboard first when P Max Gagnon hit his third home run of the season over the left center field fence for an early 1-0 lead. With two outs in their half of the inning the Capitals answered with their own solo home run. The next two Broughton batters reached base with singles. They would later score on an infield error. After three innings Broughton takes a 3-1 lead. In Sanderson’s second inning, LF Travis Trumps was our sole base runner when he was walked. Spartans P Gagnon struck out three Broughton batters as we head to the top of the third inning. Sanderson’s batters go down in order in the third. Broughton hits another solo home run to increase their lead to 4-1 after three innings. In the fourth the Spartans again go down in order. Broughton’s batters duplicate Sanderson’s batters by going down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fourth. In the fifth LF Trumps reached bases with his second walk of the game. C Bryan Burke moved Trumps to third on an infield ground ball after Trumps reached second base on a wild pitch. 1B John McFarling plated Trumps with his single to right field. RF JP Cochran reached on four straight pitches. After five innings Sanderson has cut into Broughton’s lead, now at 4-2. Broughton gets one runner on base via a walk but does not score. In their top of the sixth inning Sanderson is unable to place any runners on base. Sanderson P Gagnon would get his tenth strike out of the game in the bottom of the sixth as Sanderson heads to the top of the seventh needing two runs to tie this game up. The Spartans batters can not get a base runner on so we have a final score of Broughton 4, Sanderson 2. With the win Broughton has now taken over sole possession of second place in the CAP 7. Records Sanderson CAP 7 3-3 Overall 8-8 Broughton CAP 7 3-1 Overall 7-6 Sanderson pitcher -- Max Gagnon CG (6 IP, 10K, 1 W, 4 runs, 2 earned runs). Sanderson batters – Max Gagnon (1-3, HR, rbi, run), John McFarling (1-2, rbi), Travis Trumps (0-1, 2 W, run). Sunday, April 26
Spartans sweep season series with Wakefield with 16 run outburst
Sanderson showed up ready to play against CAP 7 rival Wakefield. Starting P Charles Wolfe (4-4) threw a two hitter and received plenty of offensive support in blanking the Wolverines 16-0 at Wakefield on April 21, 2009. Spartans lead off batter SS Kyle Wigmore started us off with a double and later scored on P Wolfe’s sacrifice fly. The Wolverines lone baserunner was via a walk so we head to the top of the second inning with Sanderson up 1-0. The Spartans DH Jon King and CF Kyle Wood reached with back-to-back singles and King would later score on a pass ball. After two innings the Spartans increased their lead to 2-0. Wakefield got their second batter on base with a walk but he is stranded after P Wolfe got the third out of the inning with a strikeout leaving the base runner stranded on third base. In the top of the third, SS Wigmore again led us off with a hit, which was followed by 2B Robert Brunson’s single. P Wolfe got his second sacrifice fly of the game and scored SS Wigmore from third base. C Max Gagnon (PR JP Cochran) walked on four straight pitches placing runners on first and third. 3B Daniel Adams brought in our second run of the inning with the teams’ third sacrifice fly of the game, bring in Brunson from third. After three innings Sanderson has stretched its lead to 4-0. P Wolfe had his quickest inning of the game in the bottom of the third inning. C Gagnon caught a pop up for the first out. After Wakefield got their first hit of the game, a single, SS Wigmore, 2B Brunson and 1B John McFarling turned the game’s first double play. After three complete innings it is Sanderson 4, Wakefield 0. Even though CF Wood started us off with his second hit of the game and SS Wigmore was walked, the Spartans do not score for the first time in the game. Sanderson’s infield committed its second error of the game to allow Wakefield’s only base runner to reach base. After four innings it remains 4-0 in favor of Sanderson. With the help of three straight batters being walked, P Wolfe, C Gagnon (PR Cochran) and 3B Adams, Gagnon scored on CF Wood’s fielders choice. DH Jon King got his second hit of the game as well. Wakefield does not score in the inning so we are headed to the sixth inning with Sanderson now up 5-0. For the fourth straight inning, and five out of six, the Spartans leadoff batter reached base when LF Travis Trumps reached base with a single. SS Wigmore was walked and P Wolfe was intentionally walked loading the bases with one out. C Gagnon then reached base on an infield error, which scored Trumps and Wigmore. 3B Adams also reached base on error which also scored Wolfe. As Wakefield comes to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning, Sanderson has increased their lead to 8-0. P Wolfe only faced three batters as we head to the top of the seventh inning. The Spartans leave no doubt who will win this important CAP 7 conference game by scoring eight runs in the seventh. Twelve batters came to the plate in the inning, knocking out six hits highlighted by SS Wigmore’s three run homerun. For the sixth time this game the Spartans lead off batter reached base when RF Sam Beavans reached on a single. LF Trumps got his third hit of the game which was followed by SS Wigmore’s three run homer over the left field fence. 2B Brunson was our next batter and he got us going again with his single up the middle. P Wolfe (PR Cole Johnson) reached base on a single and PH Josh O’Neal would reach base on a full count walk to load the bases with one out. 1B McFarling walked, which brought in Brunson and reloaded the bases. PH Tyler Burke was hit by a pitch (scored Wolfe) which again loaded the bases. KLF Trumps knocked out a double to clean off the bases, with all three base runners coming home. In total the Spartans scored eight runs in the inning to double their lead to16-0 with the Wolverines coming to bat in the bottom of the last inning. The Wolverines got only their second hit of the game in the inning but were not able to push across any runs. Final score Sanderson 16, Wakefield 0. Records Sanderson CAP 7 4-3 9-8 Wakefield CAP 7 3-5 6-10 Sanderson pitching -- Charles Wolfe CG, 8 K’s, 4 W’s, no earned runs. Sanderson hitters – Kyle Wigmore (3-3, HR, 2B, 2 W, 3 runs, 3 rbi), Travis Trumps (3-5, 2B, 3 rbi, 2 runs), Kyle Wood (2-4, rbi), Jon King (2-4, run), Robert Brunson (2-5, 2 runs), Charles Wolfe (1-1, 2 SAC, W, 2 runs, 2 rbi), Sam Beavans (1-4, run), Daniel Adams (0-2, SAC, W, rbi), Max Gagnon (0-3, 2 W, run). Sunday, May 3
Spartans hold off Imps in non-conference game
With the bases loaded and holding onto a one run lead in the bottom of the 7th inning, freshman P Daniel Adams was brought to the bump. Adams struck out the batter looking to close the book on this game. Sanderson escaped with a thrilling 6-5 win over the Imps on April 27, 2009 in Cary, NC. LF Travis Trumps started us out by reaching base on a Cary fielding error. P Max Gagnon (PR Josh O’Neal) hit for a double but we are unable to push across a run. P Max Gagnon started on the hill for us and put down Cary’s batters in order with two strike outs. Sanderson would score first with a run in the top of the second inning. As we have seen so many times this year that when we get our lead off batter on the odds are in our favor of getting that run across the plate. CF Kyle Wood led off with a walk and later scored on C Bryan Burke’s single. 1B John McFarling, aka Johnny Mac, added a single but he was stranded. Cary’s lead off batter reached on an outfield error but was left on base. After a ground ball out to 1B McFarling, P Gagnon recorded two more strike outs. After two innings of play, it is Sanderson 1-0 over Cary. In the top of the third Sanderson would go down in order. In the bottom of the inning Sanderson brings in their second pitcher of the game, John McFarling, while moving P Gagnon to first base. McFarling allows one hit and records two strike outs and keeps Cary off the scoreboard. In the top of the third the Spartans first two batters reached base; SS Daniel Adams walked and CF Wood’s single, but they are left on base so we remain in a close 1-0 game and Cary comes to bat in the bottom of the fourth. The Imps lead off batter reached base as a hit batter while the next three batters go down in order to finish out the inning. In our top of the fifth all nine Sanderson batters come to the plate as the Spartans erupted for five runs to increase their lead to 6-0. RF Tyler Burke got us started as our lead off batter with a single up the middle. 2B Sam Beavans reached base on an infield error which also scored Burke. 1B Gagnon received a walk and Cary then brought in a new pitcher who issued a walk to SS Adams to load the bases. CF Wood then delivered a timely two rbi single to right field, bringing in Beavans and Gagnon. C Burke (PR Cole Johnson) then reached base for the second time today when he was issued a walk. In what turned out to be the game winning hit and run, P McFarling’s single scored Wood. In their half of the inning Cary pushed across their first two runs of the game on two walks and a single. After five complete innings it is now Sanderson 6, Cary 2. In our sixth we get singles from 2B Beavans and 1B Gagnon with two outs but that is all we had for the inning. The Spartans bring in C Bryan Burke to the mound and moves 1B Gagnon behind the plate as Cary comes to the plate. P McFarling is moved to 1B. The Imps would score one more run to cut Sanderson’s lead to 6-3 on the basis of three walks and a single. It is now Sanderson 6, Cary 3 as we head to the top of the seventh inning. The Spartans would only get a single from 3B Jon King in the top of the seventh before Cary came to the plate in the bottom of the inning, needing three runs to tie the game. We get the lead off batter out on a ground ball out to P Burke before the next two batters reached base on back-to-back singles. After an infield error P Burke would get a backward K for the second out of the inning. After giving up two more singles and allowing two runs to cut Sanderson’s lead to 6-5, SS Adams is brought to the mound to relieve P Burke. Adams gets the save when he records a backward K to end the game. Final score Sanderson 6, Cary 5 Sanderson pitchers – WP Max Gagnon (2-2) (2 IP, 4 K, -0- W, no runs) P John McFarling (3 IP, 5 K, 3 W, 2 runs) P Bryan Burke ( 1.67IP, 5 K 3W, 3 runs) P Daniel Adams got the save (.33 IP, 1 K, -0- W, no runs) Sanderson batters -- Kyle Wood (2-3, 2 rbi, 2 runs), Max Gagnon (2-3, W, run), John McFarling (2-4, rbi), Bryan Burke (1-3, rbi), Tyler Burke (1-3, run), Sam Beavans (1-4, run), Jon King (1-4). Daniel Adams (0-2, 2 W, run).
Pitchers duel in CAP 7 game against Millbrook
In the second match up this year between Millbrook and Sanderson on April 28, 2009, we got the same results as the first game this season. Both starting pitchers pitched a complete game and kept the batters in check. The difference was that Millbrook was able to put their hits together to score runs. Millbrook wasted little time in getting base runners on when their leadoff batter reached base with a single. He was then moved to second on a fielder’s choice. With a runner on second and one out, the fans saw a beautifully executed run down that turned into a double play to end the inning. The Wildcats batter hit a ball to P Charles Wolfe who looked back at the runner on second who was then caught leaning towards third base. P Wolfe threw the ball back to SS Kyle Wigmore who was covering second. SS Wigmore chased the runner towards third base and threw the ball to 3B Daniel Adams, who then chased the runner back towards second but not before he threw the ball to 2B Robert Brunson who was covering. 2B Brunson chased the runner back towards third base where 2B threw to P Wolfe who was covering and placed the tag on the runner for out #2. Now what about the batter who hit the ball? Well, he had reached first base during this run down and tried to sneak into second base. P Wolfe, after placing the tag on the runner noted earlier, saw the batter heading towards second base. 3B Adams kept his head in the game and was actually covering second base so that when P Wolfe threw back to second, 3B Adams placed the tag on the runner for out #3. Simply an awesome defensive play. The play seemed to energize the team and the fans. Sanderson comes to bat in the bottom of the first inning and quickly finds itself with two outs and nobody on base. P Wolfe (PR Josh O’Neal) got our first hit of the game with his single up the middle. C Max Gagnon (PR Cole Johnson) followed with his own single to right field, which moved P Wolfe to third base. Both base runners are stranded so we head to the top of the second scoreless. Millbrook would break through first on the basis of an infield error and a single to take the early 1-0 lead. The Spartans lone base runner would be 1B John McFarling’s walk after he was hit by a pitch. After two innings it is Millbrook 1, Sanderson 0. Nothing happened in the third inning for either team so the score remained the same going to the fourth. Millbrook would get just their second hit of game in the inning, with two outs, but the runner is left on base. The Spartans sole runner would be CF Kyle Wood, who walked on four straight balls. We now head to the fifth inning with Millbrook clinging to a 1-0 lead. Millbrook’s first two batter’s go down in order on a ground ball to SS Wigmore who made the throw to 1B McFarling, which was followed by P Wolfe getting his first strike out victim of the game. The next four batters would reach base on a walk and three consecutive hits to score two runs and increase their lead to 3-0. Sanderson once again could only knock out one single, LF Travis Trumps aka Fleetwood Trumps. After five innings it is now Millbrook 3, Sanderson 0. In the sixth Sanderson’s defense tightens up after allowing Millbrook a lead off single. The next batter hit into a fielder’s choice when P Wolfe fielded the ground ball and threw to SS Wigmore covering second. P Wolfe then struck out the next two batters to end the inning. For the fourth time in six innings the Spartans first base runner gets on after there are two outs. CF Wood reached base for the second time in the game with his single to the right side of the field. After six innings it remains Millbrook 3-0. In the top of the seventh inning, P Wolfe would strike out the lead off batter for his eighth strikeout of the game. The second batter would reach on a single and Sanderson would now bring on SS Wigmore to the mound. P Wigmore struck out the first batter he faced and C Gagnon caught a foul ball for the final out. Needing three runs to tie this up there was no magic for the Spartans tonight. LF Trumps was our sole runner of the inning after he reached on a full count walk. Final score Millbrook 3, Sanderson 0. Sanderson P Charles Wolfe (4-5) CG, 8K, 1 W, 3 runs - I believe 2 ER. ?Sanderson batters - Kyle Wood (1-2, W), Travis Trumps (1-2, W), Charles Wolfe (1-3), Max Gagnon (1-3), and Daniel Adams (1-3).
Spartans sweep season series with CAP 7 Leesville
In front of a large student body participating in 2009 Spartan Spirit Night Part II on May 1, 2009, the Spartans baseball team entertained their fans with an exciting CAP 7 victory over the Leesville Pride, 9-3. Leesville struck early with a run in the first inning off starting P Max Gagnon after the Pride lead off batter hit a double to right field. A second hit, a single, would plate the run. Sanderson responded when 1B Charles Wolfe plated 2B Robert Brunson with a triple, after Brunson reached with his single to left field. P Gagnon followed with a two run home run over the 10’ fence at 385’ in right field. CF Kyle Wood would also reach base on an infield error. After one inning Sanderson takes an early 3-1 lead. Leesville’s lead off batter reached base on a single and would later score to close the lead to 3-2. Sanderson’s batters go down in order as we head to the top of the third inning. The Pride’s lead off batter reached on an infield error. In a double play you usually do not see, CF Wood caught a pop fly and then made his throw to 1B Wolfe, which doubled up the runner who was on first base but had taken off for second before CF Wood made his catch. Once again the Spartan batters would go down in order so we head to the top of the fourth with Sanderson holding onto a slim 3-2 lead. Aided by back to back singles and an outfield error, Leesville would tie up the game at 3-3 as Sanderson comes to bat in the bottom of the inning. For the third straight inning, Sanderson’s batters go down 1-2-3 as we head to the fifth inning. In a tight game Sanderson’s defense steps it up as P Gagnon struck out the lead off Leesville batter for his sixth strike out. The next batter reached on a single which was followed by a pop up caught by P Gagnon. The next batter was hit by a pitch which placed runners on the corners and two outs. P Gagnon would then get the Pride batter to hit a roller back to him. P Gagnon made the under hand toss to 1B Wolfe for the final out. Needing runs in a bad way the Spartan Spirit could be heard from the students in attendance. The Spartans erupted for five runs in the bottom of the fifth. The first three Sanderson batters would each reach base on back-to-back-to back bunts! LF Travis Trumps, SS Wigmore and 2B Brunson. 1B Wolfe’s fielder’s choice plated our first run of the inning when LF Trumps scored. P Gagnon’s (PR J. P. Cochran) single to left field scored SS Wigmore and 2B Brunson. CF Wood reached as a hit batter. PH Jon King’s timely single scored PR Cochran. RF Sam Beavans brought in CF Wood with his single up the middle. After five innings Sanderson retakes the lead 8-3. Relief pitcher John McFarling was brought in to face the Leesville batters in the sixth inning, while P Gagnon moved to the catcher’s position. P McFarling only faced four batters and recorded two strike outs and a fly ball was caught by RF Beavans. Sanderson’s LF Trumps got us started with a walk in the bottom of the sixth inning. 2B Brunson got his second hit of the game with a single to the right side of the field which moved LF Trumps to third. LF Trumps later scored on a pass ball. After six innings the Spartans have increased their lead to 9-3. Sanderson closer SS Wigmore takes the mound in top of the seventh as we move 3B Adams to SS and insert 3B Jon King. Leesville bangs out their last hit of the game before P Wigmore got all three outs himself with three strike outs to end the game. Final score Sanderson 9 Leesville 3 Sanderson pitchers - WP Max Gagnon (3-2) 5 IP, 5K, -0- W, 3 runs John McFarling (1IP, 2 K,-0- W, -0- runs) Kyle Wigmore (1IP, 3K,-0- W, -0-runs) Sanderson batters – Max Gagnon (2-3, HR, 4 rbi, 2 runs), Robert Brunson (2-4, 2 runs), Travis Trumps (1-2, W, 2 runs), Charles Wolfe (1-3, 3B, 2 rbi, run), Sam Beavans (1-3, rbi), Kyle Wigmore (1-4, run), Jon King (1-1, rbi), and Kyle Wood (0-2, HB, run) Great CAP 7 win as Sanderson heads into the final three games of the season. All three games are CAP 7 games as Sanderson fights for a state playoff berth. Records?Sanderson CAP 7 5-4 Overall 11-9 Leesville CAP 7 2-7 Overall 7-12 Sunday, May 10
Sanderson rallies on the road to defeat Wake Forest-Rolesville in key CAP 7 game
?Sanderson outscored the Cougars 9-1 in the last three innings to gain a split of the season series, 13-6 on May 7, 2009, as they continued their drive to qualify for the state playoffs for a third consecutive season. Sanderson struck early by putting up four runs in the first inning as they sent all nine batters to the plate. After the Spartans had loaded the bases with no outs C Max Gagnon’s (PR JP Cochran) single up the middle brought in SS Kyle Wigmore and 2B Robert Brunson. Wigmore had led off the inning with an infield single and was followed by Brunson’s single to right field. Starting pitcher Charles Wolfe would load the bases with his walk. 3B Daniel Adams followed C Gagnon’s single with his fielder’s choice which moved P Wolfe and PR Cochran to third and second base respectively. CF Kyle Wood’s fielder’s choice was followed by 1B John McFarling’s two run single down the left field line which plated PR Cochran and CF Wood. The Cougars come to the plate in an early 4-0 deficit. The Cougars answered quickly with four hits and three runs as Sanderson maintains a slim 4-3 lead after one inning. The Spartan batters go down in order in the top of the second inning. With three singles to start the inning and an infield error, the Cougars add two more runs to take a 5-4 lead headed to the top of the third. For the second straight inning, Sanderson’s batters go down in order. After giving up a lead off single, P Wolfe had the bases loaded with two outs when he got the Cougars batter to hit a ground ball to SS Wigmore who would make the throw to 1B McFarling for the third out. After three innings it remains 5-4 Cougars. Despite lead off batter RF Sam Beavans’ walk, Beavans would be our only runner in the inning so the score remains 5-4 Cougars. P Wolfe only threw seven pitches in putting the Cougars down in order in the fourth. After four complete innings the score remains 5-4 Wake Forest-Rolesville. Sanderson sent 11 batters to the plate in the fifth inning and were able to plate five runs. 2B Brunson led off and reached on an infield error. P Wolfe also reached on a Cougars infield error. C Gagnon brought in our first run of the inning despite hitting into a double play. With two outs and nobody on base the Spartan bats got hot. 3B Adams reached as he was hit by a pitch. Walks were issued to CF Wood and RF Beavans to load the bases with two outs. PH Jon King’s two run single between first and second base scored 3B Adams and CF Wood. LF Trumps reached on an error and SS Wigmore was placed on base with a full count walk. With 2B Brunson at the plate we have now batted around in the inning. Brunson reached base for the second time in the inning, this time with his own full count walk. Also scoring in the inning were RF Beavans and PH King. After 4.5 innings Sanderson has taken a 9-5 lead. In a pitching change, SS Wigmore would take the mound in the bottom of the fifth inning, facing the Cougars 5 - 7 batters. P Wigmore would start off with a strike out of the lead off batter and would get a second strike out to end the inning. With no change in the score, after five innings it remains Sanderson 9, Wake Forest-Rolesville 5. As the lead off Sanderson batter, C Gagnon (PR Cochran) reached base on an infield single. 3B Adams double off the center field wall, pushing PR Cochran to third base. CF Wood’s infield grounder to the shortstop would plate PR Cochran. After 6.5 innings it is now the Spartans 10 and the Cougars 5. For the second consecutive inning P Wigmore struck out the lead off Cougar batter. One batter would reach base on an infield error but there would not be any Cougars crossing the plate. After six full innings it remains 10-5 in Sanderson’s favor. The Spartans lead off batter reached base for the fourth straight inning tonight when LF Trumps was issued a full count walk to start the seventh inning. P Wigmore second hit of the game places two Spartans on base. After LF Trumps stole third base 1B Wolfe was at the plate. Before Wolfe could finish his at bat, Trumps stole home on the pitch with 1B Wolfe still in the batter’s box. Beautiful steal home on the pitch!! 1B Wolfe later reached base when he was walked on a full count. Aided by two Cougar errors, P Wigmore and 1B Wolfe scored our final runs of the game. As we head to the bottom of the seventh inning Sanderson has increased its lead to 13-6. After loading the bases with a walked batter and two singles the Spartans find themselves in a battle as there are no outs. On three straight pitches P Wigmore would get a strikeout for the first out of the inning. After a fielder’s choice that brought in a run, P Wigmore got the final batter to hit a ground ball to SS Adams who made the throw to 1B Wolfe for the game’s final out. Final score Sanderson 13 Wake Forest-Rolesville 5. Records --- Sanderson CAP 7 6-4 12-9 Wake Forest-Rolesville CAP 7 3-6 6-10 Sanderson pitchers – Starting pitchers: Charles Wolfe 4IP, 3 K’s, 1 W, 7 hits, 5runs, 4 ER WP Kyle Wigmore (2-0) 3 IP, 4 K, 1 W 1 ER??Sanderson hitters - Kyle Wigmore (2-3, 2 W, 2 runs), Max Gagnon (2-4, 3 rbi, 2 runs), John McFarling (1-2, 2 rbi), Jon King (1-2, 2 rbi, run), Robert Brunson (1-4, 2 runs, 1 W), Daniel Adams (1-4, HB, run), Charles Wolfe (0-2, 2 W, run), Kyle Wood (0-4, W, rbi, 2 runs), Sam Beavans (0-0,3 W, run), Travis Trumps, (0-3, W, run). Sunday, May 10
Seventh inning home run leads Spartans to 6-5 CAP 7 win over Enloe
Trailing 5-4 and batting in the top of the seventh, 1B Charles Wolfe’s two run home run put Sanderson up 6-5 in a road game at Enloe on May 8, 2009. Sanderson’s defense withstood an Eagle threat in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win. After a scoreless first inning the Spartans come to bat in the top of the second. Our lead off batter, starting pitcher Max Gagnon, delivered a solo home run (5th of the year) over the center field wall staking the Spartans to an early 1-0 lead. CF Daniel Adams followed with a single before ending up at third base. RF Sam Beavans reached on an infield error. C Bryan Burke’s fielder’s choice moved Adams to third and Beavans to second. The inning would end with both runners left on base. Spartan P Gagnon recorded two strikeouts and 2B Robert Brunson caught a pop fly for another out as Sanderson kept the Eagles off the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning. The Spartan batters go down in order as Enloe comes to bat in the bottom of the third. The Eagles lead off batter reached as a hit batter but he was stranded on base as the next three batters go down without reaching base. After three innings it is Sanderson 1 Enloe 0. 1B Charles Wolfe delivered a solo home run, over the center filed fence, in the fifth inning for his first home run of the season. In the bottom of the inning the Eagles responded to Wolfe’s home run by scoring their first run of the game with 2 singles and a walk. In the defensive play of the game RF Beavans threw to 2B Brunson as his cut off man. Brunson then threw to 3B Jon King who placed the tag on the Enloe runner who was trying to reach third from first base on the hit for the final out of the inning. After five innings it is Sanderson 3 and Enloe 1. In Sanderson’s sixth 3B King got his first varsity home run, a solo shot, over center field. CF Kyle Wood reached on his single and C Burke’s reached base on a single but there was no more scoring so Enloe comes to the plate behind 3-1. The Eagles started things off with a lead off home run to close the gap to one run. After two Enloe singles their #9 batter hit a three run homer over the left field fence as Enloe’s takes the lead, 5-4. Sanderson comes to the plate in the top of the seventh trailing for the first time in the game The Spartans lead off batter, SS Kyle Wigmore, reached on a single to the left side. With one out 1B Charles Wolfe’s hit his second home run of the game as Sanderson retakes the lead 6-5. This now set up the dramatic ending in the bottom of the seventh. P Gagnon got the lead off batter on a grounder to 2B Brunson. The next batter walked on a full count. With the tying run on first P Gagnon struck out a batter on three straight strikes for the second out. On an 0-2 count the Enloe batter drilled a shot that appeared to be headed over 2B Brunson’s head but Brunson jumped with his glove high in the air and snagged the ball for the final out. Final score Sanderson 6 Enloe 5 Records – Sanderson CAP 7 7-4 13-9 Enloe CAP 7 2-9 6-16 ?After the game we learned that Broughton had lost to Wakefield this afternoon. That leaves Sanderson and Broughton tied for second place in the CAP 7 and they play each other this Monday at Sanderson Field at Optimist Park in the final regular season game. The winner gets the #2 seed from the conference. Depending on who the loser is they will get the #3 or #4 CAP 7 seed in the state playoffs that begin 5/15/09. This will be the Spartans third straight trip to the NC State 4A playoffs. Sanderson pitcher – Max Gagnon (4-2) CG, 9 K’s, 2 W, 2 HB, 5 runs. Sanderson batters -- Charles Wolfe (2-4, 2 HR, 3 rbi's, 2 runs), Max Gagnon (1-3, W, HR, rbi, 2 runs), Jon King (1-3, W, HR - - first varsity HR!, rbi, run), Kyle Wigmore (1-4, run), Daniel Adams (1-3, W, rbi). Sunday, June 21
Spartans headed to the state playoffs despite loss in last regular season game
The Spartans baseball team will be headed to the NCHSAA 4A state playoffs for a third straight season despite falling to CAP 7 Broughton 5-4 on May 11, 2009. The Spartans are one of only two of the seven teams that make up the CAP 7 to have qualified for the state playoffs three straight years. In front of one of the largest home crowds this season Sanderson said good bye and thanks for the memories to our nine seniors: Alex Baldy, Sam Beavans, Robert Brunson, Max Gagnon, John McFarling, Travis Trumps, Kyle Wigmore, Charles Wolfe, and Kyle Wood. Broughton sent seven batters to the plate in the top of the first inning and pushed across three runs to take the early 3-0 lead. The Sanderson batters could not respond in kind as they go down in order so we head to the top of the second inning on the short end of the 3-0 score. Starting P Charles Wolfe held the Caps in check in the second as Sanderson comes to bat in the bottom of inning. Lead off batter C Max Gagnon took the 1-2 pitch and hit a solo home run over the left field wall at 330’ while also clearing the batting cage behind the fence. That was all we could get in the inning so we head to the top of the third having cut into Broughton’s lead, which is now 3-1. P Wolfe made quick work of the Broughton batters as he put them down in order. With two out and no one on base, the Broughton pitcher issued back-to-back walks to SS Kyle Wigmore and 2B Robert Brunson. The inning ends before we could score so after three complete innings it remains Broughton 3, Sanderson 1. With the aid of a walked batter, an infield error and one hit Broughton increased their lead to 4-1. Sanderson’s CF Kyle Wood was our lone baserunner of the inning as he was walked but there was no scoring. After four innings it is Broughton 4, Sanderson 1. P Wolfe put down the Broughton batters in order for the second time this evening. 1B John McFarling (PR Josh O’Neal) got the Spartans second hit of the game, a single to left field but as we have seen before we can not get the baserunner home. In the top of the sixth inning P Wolfe allowed one hit after there were already two outs. The runner was stranded so we head to the bottom of the sixth and Sanderson needs some runs in a bad way. Despite only getting one hit, the Spartans were able to score two runs to close the gap to 4-3. 2B Brunson and P Wolfe reached base on walks and CF Wood hit a rbi single that scored 2B Brunson. P Wolfe scored on a pass ball. In Broughton’s seventh, the Spartans brought reliever Kyle Wigmore to the mound. P Wigmore walked one batter but also recorded two strikeouts as we head to the bottom of the seventh inning. Our third batter, LF Travis Trumps, was our first base runner when he walked after our first two batters struck out. LF Trumps represents our much needed tying run. P Wigmore picked a good time to get his first hit of the game when he knocked out a single to left field. Our second hit of the inning came from 2B Brunson, whose first hit of the game was a rbi single which plated LF Trumps with the tying run. We now head to the eighth inning tied up 4-4. Broughton’s lead off batter knocked out a single back up the middle as we start the eighth inning. With two outs the Caps get their second hit up the middle in the inning and score the go ahead run. The Spartans first two batters go down in order before 3B Jon King, in his first plate appearance of the game, reached base with his single to left field. The game ended with King on second base. Final score Broughton 5 Sanderson 4 With the win Broughton claimed second place in the CAP 7 headed to the NCHSAA 4A playoffs. Sanderson finished in third place and will go into the playoffs as a #3 seed. Sanderson pitchers – Starting P Charles Wolfe 6 IP, 6 K’s, 1 W, 4 runs, maybe none earned. Reliever Kyle Wigmore (2-1), 2 IP, 3K, 1 W, 1 run. Sanderson batters – Robert Brunson (1-2, W, rbi, run), John McFarling (1-2), Kyle Wood (1-3, W, rbi), Daniel Adams (1-3), Kyle Wigmore (1-3, W), Max Gagnon (1-4, HR, run, rbi), Travis Trumps (0-2, W, run). Record -- Sanderson CAP 7 7-5 13-10 Broughton CAP 7 8-4 14-9 Sunday, June 21
Sr. Charles Wolfe throws a 2 hit gem in leading Sanderson to the state playoffs second round
For the third year in a row Sanderson baseball has advanced to the second round of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs after their thrilling 2-1 win over second place PAC 6 Durham Jordan on May 15, 2009. Next up for the Spartans is Tri 8 member, the Bengals of Fuquay-Varina. The game will be played at Sanderson Field at Optimist Park on May 19, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. P Charles Wolfe pitched a complete game and allowed only two hits over seven innings. The only run scored by Jordan was an unearned run. Wolfe was successfully mixing up his pitches all day and was supported by some spectacular plays in the field. Sanderson batted first and they came out aggressive. SS Kyle Wigmore got us started with a full count walk and was moved to second when 2B Robert Brunson laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt. SS Wigmore then advanced to third base on a pass ball and scored when P Wolfe (PR J. P. Cochran) reached base on an infield error. G Max Gagnon delivered a double to right field so we now have runners on second and third. While CF Kyle (K Dub) Wood was batting PR Cochran would come home on a wild pitch. CF Wood would reach base on his own full count walk. After their first at bat, Sanderson takes an early 2-0 lead. The Falcons only baserunner would reach base on an infield error so we head to the top of the second. The Spartan batters would go down in order as Jordan comes to the plate in the bottom of the second. Sanderson P Wolfe duplicates Jordan’s pitcher by putting down Jordan’s batters in order. Along the way Wolfe struck out two batters in the inning. After two complete innings it remains Sanderson 2, Durham Jordan 0. 2B Brunson led us off in the third inning with his single to right field. Brunson would later steal second base. That is all there was for the Spartans as Jordan comes to bat. The Falcons lead off batter reached base on an infield error and would later score on a double down the third base line with two outs. After three full innings Sanderson’s lead has been cut in half, 2-1. 3B Daniel Adams led off the inning with a walk and was moved to second base on RF Sam Beavans single up the middle. LF Travis Trumps laid down a perfect bunt to load the bases with one out. Jordan’s right fielder then caught a fly ball and threw the ball on a rope to home plate to get 3B Adams out who was trying to score after tagging up. P Wolfe put down the Jordan batters in order once again. After four innings it remains 2-1 in Sanderson’s favor. P Wolfe (PR JP Cochran) got his first hit of the game, a single up the middle, and got as far as third base. The Spartan batters could not bring PR Cochran across the plate. Jordan is now at the plate and with one out, Spartan SS Wigmore made a difficult play look easy as he went after a ground ball to his left, caught the ball and while his body was spinning around, he was able to square up and make the throw to 1B John McFarling for the second out of the inning. That was a possible hit up the middle. Durham got their second hit of the game with a single to the right side of the field just barely over 2B Brunson’s head. After five full innings the score remains 2-1 Spartans over the Falcons. In the sixth inning the Spartan batters go down in order for the second time today. After the lead off Falcons batter reached base as a hit batter, C Gagnon threw to SS Wigmore covering second to throw out the runner trying to steal second base. The next two batters popped out so we now head to the top of the seventh leading 2-1. LF Trumps reached base for a second time today when he reached on an infield error. Our batters could not plate Trumps so we go to the bottom of the seventh with the slimmest of leads on the road, 2-1. P Wolfe made the bottom of the seventh inning interesting as he hit the lead off batter to place the tying run on base and no outs. The next Falcons batter laid down a sacrifice bunt to 3B Adams who made the throw to 1B McFarling. The third Falcon batter hit the ball down the first base line and 1B McFarling had to dive to get the ball and then crawled to first base and placed the tag on first before the runner arrived for the second out. We now have two outs and the tying run at third. The final Jordan batter hit a ground ball to SS Wigmore who made a routine play with his throw to 1B McFarling for the final out. Final score Sanderson Spartans 2 Jordan Falcons 1 Records Sanderson 14-10 -- we are the #3 seed from the CAP 7 as the third place team. Next up for the Spartans are the #5 seed Bengals from Fuquay-Varina. Jordan 17-7 -- they were a #2 seed as they finished in second place in the PAC 6. Sanderson pitcher – Charles Wolfe (5-5), CG, 2K, 2 HB, no earned runs. Sanderson batters -- Robert Brunson (1-3), Charles Wolfe (1-3, rbi, run), Max Gagnon (1-3, 2B), Sam Beavans (1-3), Travis Trumps (1-3) and Kyle Wigmore (0-3, W, run). Sunday, June 21
Pitching carries Spartans to 4A East third round vs Broughton
P Max Gagnon’s performance on the mound was supported by a Spartan offense that got on the board early as Sanderson advanced to the third round of the NCHSSA 4A East playoffs for the third straight year. Sanderson defeated Tri-8 Conference member Fuquay-Varina 3-0 on a beautiful cool spring night on May 19, 2009, at Sanderson Field. With the home crowd growing larger by the minute Sanderson took the field as the home team. The Bengals lead off batter knocked out the first hot of the game but was quickly out when Sanderson SS Kyle Wigmore turned a double play with his tag on second base and throw to 1B Charles Wolfe. The Spartans lead off batter, SS Wigmore, started us off with a full count walk and was moved to second on 2B Robert Brunson’s nicely laid down sacrifice bunt. 1B Wolfe brought in Wigmore with his triple down the right field line. Wolfe was brought in an infield error made on CF Kyle Wood’s infield ball. After one inning Sanderson has grabbed an early 2-0 lead. In Fuquay’s top of the second, all balls in play by the Bengals batters were in the infield. P Gagnon was able to get one out with his second strikeout of the game. With two outs and nobody on base, the Spartans LF Travis Trumps reached base on an infield hit. Trump was moved to third on SS Wigmore’s single to right field. Trumps later scored on the Bengals pitcher balk caused when SS Wigmore was stealing second base. After two full innings it is now Sanderson 3-0 over Fuquay-Varina. The Bengals and Spartans batters both went down in order as we head to the top of the fourth inning. P Gagnon seems to be warming up as he struck out all three Bengal batters in the top of the fourth inning. That now makes it ten straight outs by the Spartan defense. Sanderson batters for the second straight inning go down in order themselves so the score remains Sanderson 3 Fuquay-Varina 0 after four complete innings. Fuquay got their second hit of the game with one out in the inning, a single to left field. The next two batters are strike out victims. LF Trumps led us off with his infield single and moved to second base with a steal. It is fun to watch Trumps once he gets on base with the wheels he has. SS Wigmore walked so we have runners on first and second when the Bengals make a pitching change. There is no more activity in the inning so we head to the top of the sixth inning with Sanderson leading 3-0. The Bengals were able to get a single up the middle but the runner was stranded but not before CF Wood make another spectacular catch in CF with his back up against the 400’ center field wall that is a home run in any other high school field in Raleigh. P Gagnon got the last out with his eighth strike out of the game. Sanderson’s batters can not do anything to increase their lead so we now head to top of the seventh with the score still 3-0 in favor of Sanderson. In the top of the seventh Fuquay is bringing their 3-4-5 batters to the plate. The first out came about when SS Wigmore caught a fly ball. The #4 batter was able to get a single before the #5 batter hit a fly ball to RF Sam Beavans who made a routine catch for the second out of the inning. The last batter hit a ground ball to 2B Brunson who made the throw to 1B Wolfe for the final out. Game over. Final score Sanderson 3, Fuquay-Varina 0. Records Sanderson 15-10 Fuquay-Varina 12-14 Sanderson Pitcher Max Gagnon (5-2) CG with 8 K’s, no walks, no runs. Sanderson batters Travis Trumps (2-2, run), Kyle Wigmore (1-1, 2 W, run), and Charles Wolfe (1-3, rbi, run) Sanderson now moves to the NCHSSA 4A East third round against fellow CAP 7 member Broughton. Game time is this Friday 5/22/09 at 5:00. See you at the game. Sunday, June 21
Sanderson’s pitching propels Spartans to 4th round of the NCHSSA playoffs for the second straight year
P Charles Wolfe turned in his second straight complete game in the 2009 NCHSAA 4A state playoffs on May 22, 2009, at the home field of CAP 7 member Broughton Capitals. Sanderson got the same results as in Wolfe’s first round appearance as Sanderson won 4-1 and claimed the District Championship for the second straight year. Wolfe was efficient in not allowing a hit until the seventh inning when there was one out and nobody on base – which turned out to be Broughton’s only hit of the game. CAP 7 Sanderson now faces another CAP 7 member, the Millbrook Wildcats, for the right to play for the 4A Eastern Championship. With a sea of red filling the home field of the Caps, making the game almost feel like a home crowd for the Spartans, SS Kyle Wigmore started us off with a walk on four straight balls from the Caps pitcher. Unfortunately that was all we could muster for the inning as Broughton came to bat. P Wolfe was able to put down the #2 seed Caps in order so we head to the top of the second scoreless. Once again the #3 seed Spartans are able to get their lead batter on base via a walk, this time on a 3-2 count to C Max Gagnon (PR Josh O’Neal). As with the first inning the lead off walk was all the action so Broughton comes to the plate. P Wolfe struck out two batters, giving him three for the game. In between was an infield ground ball so we head to the top of the third still scoreless. 3B Daniel Adams led off the third inning with a single to the left side for our first hit of the game. Once again it was a quick inning for Sanderson with no runs to write about so we now are headed to the bottom of the third inning still scoreless. 2B Robert Brunson made a hard charge on a slow moving infield ball and was able to make a successful throw to 1B John McFarling to keep the Broughton batter off base. Broughton did get their first base runner on base as a hit batter and he reached as far as third base. After three complete innings it remains scoreless. For the fourth straight inning Sanderson’s lead off batter reached base when 2B Brunson reached on a dropped third strike by the Broughton catcher. P Wolfe got his first hit of the game with a single up the middle, placing 2B Brunson on third base and P Wolfe on first. C Gagnon (PR Josh O’Neal) was then walked for the second time this game, this time on four straight balls. With the bases loaded and no outs, the Sanderson fans were vocal as they cheer on their baseball Spartans. CF Kyle Wood knows that all he needs to do is to get that baseball to the outfield. Wood worked the count to a full count before he blasted the ball to right field, where the ball came in contact with the outfielder’s glove and resulted in a two run error, scoring 2B Brunson and P Wolfe. Sanderson now has PR O’Neal at third base and CF Wood at second with no outs. PR O’Neal alertly scored on a pass ball to increase Sanderson’s lead to 3-0, which also moved CF Wood to third base. 3B Adams then delivered a sacrifice fly to right field with one out, plating CF Wood for our fourth and final run on the inning. So after 3.5 innings Sanderson has erupted for four runs to lead 4-0. For the third time in four innings P Wolfe faced the minimum of three Broughton batters without allowing a base runner as we head to the top of the fifth inning. In Sanderson’s top of the fifth, SS Wigmore reached base for the second time today on a walk. 2B Brunson got his first hit of the game with his single to right field. Tough luck for Sanderson as the right fielder for Broughton, who was their starting pitcher, made a beautiful throw to 3B to throw out a sliding SS Wigmore. P Wolfe’s second hit of the game moved 2B Brunson to third base and Wolfe reached second on the outfield throw to third base. C Gagnon (PR O’Neal) was then intentionally walked and put on base without a pitch thrown. We now have the bases loaded and no outs but we could not get another run cross the plate. Guess what happened to the Broughton batters with P Wolfe on the mound? You guessed it right with three up, three down and this is how the inning went. We had a foul pop up that C Gagnon caught for the first out. LF Travis Trumps caught the fly ball for the second out and then 2B Brunson made the play on a ground ball and throw to 1B McFarling. After five full innings it remains 4-0 in Sanderson’s favor. For the fifth time in six innings today Sanderson’s lead off batter reached base. This time it was 1B McFarling’s two-strike single to right field that got us started. Following McFarling was 3B Adams, who was hit by a pitch that placed two runners on base with no outs. The inning ends with both runners stranded as we head to the bottom of the sixth. P Wolfe continued his dominance of the Broughton batters with his fifth 1-2-3 inning and in this inning not one ball left the infield. C Gagnon caught his second foul pop up for the first out of the inning. 2B Brunson successfully played back to back ground balls and made the throws to 1B McFarling. As we finish six innings the score remains 4-0 Sanderson. For only the second inning all game Sanderson’s lead off batter does not reach base to start the inning. Our sole base runner in the inning was P Wolfe who reached base for the third time today, this time with a walk. That is all the activity for the Spartans as we head to the bottom of the final inning. Broughton will be bringing the heart of their order to plate as Sanderson P Wolfe will be facing their 3-4-5 batters. In a defensive play that would keep a run off the scoreboard, the Broughton batter hit the ball to the right side of 1B McFarling. With P Wolfe rushing from the mound to cover first base, 1B McFarling’s throw to P Wolfe was wide but C Gagnon had rushed down the line to back up the play. In doing so, C Gagnon fielded the throw and threw back to P Wolfe who placed the tag on the Broughton batter sliding back to first base, who had swung wide and was anticipating that the wide throw would get him to second base in scoring position. Great job by Wolfe and Gagnon!! Good things happen for a reason. The next batter ended up getting Broughton’s only hit and run of the game, a solo home run to center field. The second out of the inning occurred when RF Sam Beavans caught a fly ball and 2B Brunson once again cleanly fielded a ground ball and made the throw to 1B McFarling for the final out of the game. Final score Sanderson 4 Broughton 1 Records Sanderson 16-10 Broughton 16-10 The win tonight broke Sanderson’s varsity five game losing streak over the past two years to Broughton. The last win was back when our group of seniors were playing varsity baseball as sophomores and beat Broughton 5-2 on April 17, 2007. Congratulations to all the Spartans as they now move onto the fourth round of the state 4A playoffs for the second straight season where they will be facing Millbrook, CAP 7 Conference champions, on Tuesday May 26, 2009, at Millbrook. There are only four teams left in the 4A East and 4A West still playing baseball in NC. I’ll see you at the baseball field! GO SPARTANS!!! Sanderson pitcher Charles Wolfe (6-5), CG, 3K’s, one HBP, one hit and one earned run. Very impressive outing to say the least by our senior pitcher. Congrats to Charles. Sanderson batters P Wolfe (2-3, W, run), 3B Daniel Adams (1-1, HBP, sac, rbi), 1B John McFarling (1-3), 2B Robert Brunson (1-4, run), C Gagnon (0-1, 3 walks, run), SS Kyle Wigmore (0-2, 2 walks) and CF Wood (0-4, rbi, run). Sunday, June 21
Spartans defeats Millbrook to move into 4A East Regional Championship for second straight year
Led by a fourth straight solid pitching performance by the Spartans starting pitchers, Sanderson defeated CAP 7 regular season champion Millbrook Wildcats, 12-0, at Millbrook Field on May 26, 2009. In the regular season Millbrook had swept Sanderson 3-2 and 3-0. Sanderson stepped to the plate first and quickly put up two runs on Millbrook. 2B Robert Brunson started us off when he walked on four straight pitches. Brunson advanced to second on a pass ball and scored on CF Kyle Wood’s single up the middle. In between P Max Gagnon (PR JP Cochran) was hit by a pitch and was plated when DH Jon King swung for a single up the middle. Before the Wildcats came to the plate they found themselves in a 2-0 deficit. P Gagnon recorded two strikeouts and did not allow a hit as Sanderson returns to bat in the top of the second inning. Sanderson again sent seven batters to the plate and scored three runs. With two outs and nobody on base the Spartans were issued two walks and knocked out two hits. SS Kyle Wigmore was hit by a pitch and became our first baserunner. Wigmore stole second base and scored on 2B Brunson’s rbi single to right field. 1B Charles Wolfe then walked on a full count. 2B Brunson later scored on a wild pitch before P Gagnon’s rbi single to the left side plated 1B Wolfe. As we head to the bottom of the second inning Sanderson has now increased their lead to 5-0. Once again P Gagnon put Millbrook down in order as we head to the top of the third inning. All nine of Sanderson’s batters came to the plate in the top of the fifth as they increased their lead to 9-0. 3B Daniel Adams got us started with his single and RF Sam Beavans reached on a fielder’s choice and was followed by LF Travis Trumps, who reached on an infield error. 3B Adams then scored on a collision at home plate for Sanderson’s first run of the inning. SS Wigmore had the big hit of the inning when his double to right center scored two runs; RF Beavans and LF Trumps. 2B Brunson got his second hit of the game with his single. While 2B Brunson was involved in a pickle between 1B and 2B, SS Wigmore stole home. What an amazing heads up play by Brunson and Wigmore. P Gagnon was walked on a 3-2 count and that was it for the inning. After 2.5 innings Sanderson now leads 9-0. P Gagnon again faced the minimum number of Millbrook batters as they go down in order. Sanderson failed to score for the first time this evening but there was some offensive activity at the plate. DH King walked on four straight pitches and moved to 2B on a wild pitch. 3B Adams was also walked, this time on a full count. RF Beavans laid down a picture perfect sacrifice bunt that moved King to 3B and Adams to 2B. Tough luck for the Spartans as the inning ended on a double play. After three full innings it remains 9-0 Sanderson. With one out Millbrook got its first hit on Spartan P Gagnon, with a double to deep left center in the bottom of the 4th inning. This must have gotten P Gagnon’s attention as he proceeded to strike out the next two batters. After four full innings Sanderson still leads 9-0. Sanderson’s seven batters were able to knock out four hits and scored three runs to increase their lead to 12-0 as they batted in the top of the fifth inning. SS Wigmore got his second hit and third on base for the game when his single went to left field. 1B Wolfe was intentionally walked with one out. P Gagnon (PR Cochran) then helped his own cause when he delivered a two run single to left, scoring Wigmore and Wolfe. DH King’s second hit of the game scored PR Cochran. After 5.5 innings Sanderson is ahead 12-0. Relief P John McFarling took the mound from Gagnon, who was moved behind the plate as Millbrook came to bat in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and nobody on base, Millbrook got their second hit of the game. P McFarling then got the final out when he struck out the Millbrook batter. As Sanderson was ahead by more than ten runs after five innings, the game was called. The final score is Sanderson 12, Millbrook 0. Sanderson now moves into the NCHSAA 4A East Regional Championship for the second straight year. Last year they were knocked out of the playoffs when Greenville JH Rose swept them in two games, in the best of three series. Records ?Sanderson 17-10 Millbrook 20-6 Sanderson pitchers WP Max Gagnon (6-2). IP 4 innings, 5 K’s, no walks, one hit, no runs. Reliever John McFarling 1 IP, 1 K, no walks, one hit, no runs. Sanderson batters – P Max Gagnon (2-2, 2 W, 2 runs, 3 rbi), SS Kyle Wigmore (2-3, dbl, W, 3 runs, 2 rbi), 2B Robert Brunson (2-3, W, 2 runs, rbi), DH Jon King (2-3, W, rbi), 3B Daniel Adams (1-3, W, run), CF Kyle Wood (1-4, rbi), 1B Charles Wolfe (0-2, 2 W, 2 runs), RF Sam Beavans (0-2, sac bunt, run), LF Travis Trumps (0-3, run). Sunday, June 21
Sanderson falls 6-3 in first game Against Rose
Spartans fall 6-3 to Rose in opening game of 4A East Regional Finals
Sanderson jumped out to a 3-0 lead after 4.5 innings only to fall to defending state 4A champions Greenville Rose on May 28, 2009, at Guy Smith Stadium in Greenville, NC. The best of three series resumes tomorrow night in Raleigh at Sanderson Field at Optimist Park. Rose starting pitcher Deters put the Spartans down in order in the top of the first. Spartans starting pitcher Charles Wolfe continued his strong playoff pitching performance by putting down Rose batters in order as well. In the top of the second, Spartans 1B John McFarling got our first hit of the game when he hit a single up the middle and was moved to second base when 3B Daniel Adams walked on a full count. Sanderson would leave these two runners on base as the inning ended. P Wolfe walked the Rose lead off batter and then recorded his second and third strikeout victims in the inning. In between C Max Gagnon threw out the Rose trying to steal second base for the second out of the inning. After 2 innings we have a scoreless game. Sanderson would once again go down in order as Rose comes to bat in the bottom of the third. After allowing Rose’s first hit of the game, a single, to the lead off batter P Wolfe retired the next three batters so we remain scoreless after three full innings. P Wolfe’s lead off single was followed by C Gagnon (PR JP Cochran) reaching base on a Rose infield error. CF Kyle Wood was our third consecutive batter to reach base with his walk on four pitches. P Wolfe would score our first run of the game on a pass ball. 1B McFarling’s second single of the game scored CF Wood from third base. 3B Adams reached on a fielder’s choice while RF Sam Beavans’ single went into right field. After 3.5 innings the Spartans take an early 2-0 lead. One Rose batter reached when he was walked on a full count and this would be the only Rose base runner of the inning. P Wolfe recorded his fourth strikeout in the inning so after four innings it is Sanderson 3 Rose 0. With two outs and no one on base P Wolfe hit his third home run of the year with a solo shot blast over the right center 15’ high fence at about 390’ to increase Sanderson’s lead to 3-0. In their half of the fifth inning, Rose would score five runs on five hits; an rbi single, two doubles and one was with a rbi, and a three run homer. After five innings Rose has taken the lead at 5-3 and the Rampants fans are making themselves heard. In Sanderson’s sixth our sole base runner is 1B McFarling (PR JP Cochran) who reached on a walk. Rose would get their second home run of the game, a solo shot, to increase their lead to 6-3 headed to the top of the seventh inning. P Wolfe was replaced by SS Kyle Wigmore with no outs in the seventh after this home run. In need of three runs to tie this game up, Sanderson’s batters went down in order in the seventh inning. Final score Rose 6 Sanderson 3 Just like last year, Rose takes game one and Sanderson finds itself in a must win situation tomorrow night. They will return home to the friendly confines of Sanderson Field and their large fan base to cheer them onto victory so they can make a return trip to Greenville by forcing a game three Saturday. Records Rose 24-2 Sanderson 17-11 Sanderson pitchers Starting pitcher Charles Wolfe (6-6), 5 IP, 4 W, 6 K, 7 hits and six runs. Reliever Kyle Wigmore 1 IP Sanderson batters Charles Wolfe (2-3, HR, rbi, 2 runs), John McFarling (2-2, W, rbi), Sam Beavans ( 1-3), Kyle Wood (0-2, run), Daniel Adams (0-2, W). ? Sunday, June 21
Sanderson rebounds vs Rose in convincing 8-3 win
Sanderson forces winner take all game for 4A East Championship with 8-3 win
Returning to beautiful Sanderson Field at Optimist Park in need of a win to keep their regional championship hopes alive, Sanderson defeated Greenville Rose 8-3 before a standing room only crowd on May 29, 2009. In doing so, they now have forced a third and final game back in Greenville tomorrow to decide who will represent the East in the NCHSAA 4A baseball championship series. Spartan starting P Max Gagnon put the Rampants down in order in the top of the first. SS Kyle Wigmore got us started with a walk on four straight pitches and 2B Robert Brunson followed that with a single up the middle. 1B Charles Wolfe delivered a timely two run single, plating Wigmore and Brunson. CF Kyle Wood reached on a walk while DH Jon King reached on a Rose error. After one complete inning Sanderson, just like last night, takes the early lead, 2-0. P Gagnon did not take much time to get in a rhythm on the mound as he struck out all three Rose batters in the second inning. LF Travis Trumps got our first hit of the inning with his single to right field. SS Wigmore’s single to the backside moved Trumps to second base. 1B Wolfe’s single would later bring home both Trumps and Wigmore. P Gagnon (PR JP Cochran) plated Wolfe with his double down the left field line. After two full innings Sanderson has now grabbed a 5-0 lead and the ever growing large home crowd voiced their support for the Spartans. Spartan P Gagnon once again put down the Rose batters in order. First 2B Brunson caught a fly ball, P Gagnon struck out a batter and 3B Daniel Adams successfully made a routine throw to 1B Wolfe for the final out of the inning. Sanderson was able to add one run on one hit in the bottom of the third inning when 3B Adams was hit by a pitch, RF Sam Beavans walked and LF Trumps’ second single of the game loaded the bases with one out. 3B Adams scored on a wild pitch and SS Wigmore’s sacrifice fly to right field plated RF Beavans. After three full innings Sanderson has increased their lead to 7-0. With two outs and nobody on base Rose got their first hit of the game off Spartan P Gagnon, a single between first and second base. Gagnon finished the inning with a strike out. 1B Wolfe’s third hit of the game, a single past the Rose SS started us off in the bottom of the fourth inning. On a hit and run Wolfe was tagged out by the second baseman. CF Wood reached base for the second time today and stole second base. DH King’s single to right field scored Wood to increase Sanderson’s lead to 8-0. 3B Adams reached on a walk as we ended the inning. Rose once again was not able to get a hit in the inning so Sanderson returns to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning. LF Trumps led off the inning and reached base for the third time tonight, this time on with a walk on four pitches. Trumps would be our only baserunner of the inning. After five complete innings it is Sanderson 8 Rose 0. P Gagnon appeared to be tiring in the sixth inning so he was replaced by P John McFarling with two outs and the bases loaded. P Gagnon now became C Gagnon. P McFarling retired the first batter he faced when C Gagnon threw a dribbler in front of home plate to 1B Wolfe. In Sanderson’s bottom of the sixth, for the first time tonight the Spartan batters would go down in order. After six innings the score remains 8-0 in Sanderson’s favor. Too little too late as Rose was able to knock out three hits in the seventh and pushed across three runs as the game ended when P McFarling got the last batter to watch a called strike three on a full count pitch. Final score Sanderson 8 Greenville Rose 3 Records Sanderson 18-11 Rose 24-3 WP Max Gagnon (7-2), 5.2 IP, one hit, 8 K’s, 3 W’s, no runs P John McFarling 1.1 IP, 3 hits, 2 K’s, 2 W’s, 3 runs Sanderson batters --Travis Trumps (2-2, W, 2 runs), Charles Wolfe (3-4, run, 3 rbi), Kyle Wigmore (1-2, W, 2 runs, sac, rbi), Max Gagnon (1-4, dbl, rbi), Robert Brunson (1-4, run), Jon King (1-4, rbi), Daniel Adams (0-1, 2 W, run), Kyle Wood (0-2, 2 W, run), Sam Beavans (0-2, W, run). Sunday, June 21
SPARTANS WIN!!!
ADVANCE TO NCHSAA 4A CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1992 A pattern has developed for the Spartans during their run towards a state championship -- great pitching, timely hitting and solid defense. All three elements were present as Sanderson faced Greenville Rose in a winner take all game in Greenville on Saturday May 30, 2009. As a result Sanderson came home with a convincing 5-3 win, claiming the title of 4A East Regional Champions and will now play for the state 4A baseball championship next weekend. Sanderson as the visitors batted first but we went down in order. Spartan starting P Kyle Wigmore had a walked batter but no hits as we are scoreless heading to the second inning. In our top of the second C Max Gagnon got us started with a full count walk as the lead off batter. SS Daniel Adams single was our first hit of the game but there would not be any scoring as Rose comes to the plate. With one out Rose got its first hit of the game, a double to left field. A single to the right side brought in Rose’s only run of the inning. After two innings Rose scored for the first time in this three game series, leading 1-0. LF Travis Trumps lead off the third inning with his single to left field, P Wigmore walked on a full count and 1B Charles Wolfe was struck by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Too bad for Sanderson as we could not get any runs across as we head to the bottom of the third. In Rose’s half of the third, P Wigmore had his first 1-2-3 inning and only threw eight pitches. After three full innings Rose still leads 1-0. CF Kyle Wood singled to right as our lead off batter and he was followed by 3B Jon King’s single. SS Adams fielder’s choice allowed CF Wood to score our first run of the game. With two outs LF Trumps singled and got himself engaged in a pickle between first and second base. The Rose pitcher charged Trumps, forgetting about SS Adams on third base. During the pickle Adams was able to get home before Trumps was eventually tagged out in the run down. Executed to perfection. The Spartans have taken the lead 2-1 as Rose comes to bat in the bottom of the fourth inning. Rose’s lead batter’s single placed a runner on base but the controversial call of the game came up. In what later was ruled a two run homer over the right field wall (as seen through the eyes of Sanderson parents and a Rose parent coming up to us to say it was foul) Rose took the lead back 3-2. This visibly upset our players and in the coaching move of the game, Coach Laughlin called time out to calm our boys down. We later learned that would be the last run for Rose. P Wigmore put down the next three batters in order so here we go to the top of the fifth trailing once again 3-2. The home run call seemed to put a spark into our team. In our half of the fifth, P Wigmore reached base on an infield error and was moved to second base on a fielder’s choice. 1B Wolfe’s single was the last activity for the inning and that is it for the Spartan bats. After allowing a lead off single, P Wigmore put down the next three batters in order and he was supported by two outstanding defensive plays. For the first play, SS Adams ran out towards center field and had CF Wood charging in but SS Adams was able to catch the fly ball over his right shoulder. Great concentration. The other defensive gem occurred when RF Sam Beavans robbed Rose’s batter of a possible double off the right field fence. Beavans climbed the fence, had his right hand on the fence and his glove hand extended as high as he could get it and his eyes were fixed on the ball coming into his glove for the final out of the inning. This is a true story as we saw it on the game video!! That is a player wanting to make a difference. The runner on first base was going on the hit as there were two outs and the runner would have scored if RF Beavans had not caught the ball. After five innings it is 3-2 in Rose’s favor. With one out 3B King’s (PR JP Cochran) single got us started. SS Adams also knocked out a single and we now have two outs and two runners on base. LF Trumps third single of the game brought PR Cochran home so we have a tied game, 3-3. On the same play Rose’s RF overthrew third base, which allowed SS Adams to score and put Sanderson ahead 5-3 and this later turned out to be the game wining run. On this over throw play Coach Laughlin was seen flat on his stomach in the third base coach’s box, telling SS Adams to slide -- what a great site. I think Coach is also into the game. After Adams scored Sanderson is now up by two runs, 5-3, as Rose comes to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning. P Wigmore pitched longer than he has all season and did a great job for us. He pitched five complete innings when P Wolfe was brought it to finish the game. P Wolfe started off by facing the #4 batter for Rose and he got the batter to ground back to him for the easy throw to 1B John McFarling. The next batter hit a ground ball to 2B Robert Brunson for another easy out at first. The final out was recorded as a strike out. After six full innings it is Sanderson 5, Rose 3. 2B Brunson’s first hit of the game could not have come at a better time as he was our lead off batter for the inning. With two outs CF Wood struck out but the catcher dropped the ball which allowed Wood to safely reach first base and moved Brunson to second base. Another Spartan player keeping his head in the game. 1B McFarling then walked on a full count to load the bases with two outs. This brought up freshman 3B Adams who was hit on the first pitch, walking in 2B Brunson from third base. Going to the bottom of the seventh Sanderson still leads 5-3. Rose needs two runs to keep the game going and three to win as they come to the plate in the bottom of the seventh. P Wolfe strikes out the first batter to get things going in Sanderson’s direction. The next batter has a ball that bounced over P Wolfe’s head and dropped into no man’s land for a single. P Wolfe gets us our second out when the Rose batter hits a roller towards the first base side of the mound and P Wolfe ran with the ball placing his foot on the bag before the runner arrived. There is now a runner on second base when the Rose batter hit a ground ball to SS Wigmore who made the throw to 1B McFarling for the final out. SANDERSON WINS 5-3 AND IS THE 2009 4A EAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONS AND NOW ADVANCES TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1992. In 1992 Sanderson finished as the runner up in the only baseball championship appearance before this year. Records Sanderson 19-11 Rose 24-4 ?Sanderson pitchers WP Kyle Wigmore (3-1), 5 IP, 4 K’s, 1 W, 3 hits and 3 runs. Save P Charles Wolfe, 2 IP, 1 K, 1 W, 1 hit and no runs. Sanderson batters – Travis Trumps (3-3, rbi), Jon King (2-3, run), Daniel Adams (2-3, 2 runs, HB, rbi), Charles Wolfe (1-3, HB), Kyle Wood (1-4, run), Robert Brunson (1-4, run), Kyle Wigmore (0-3, W), Max Gagnon (0-3, W), John McFarling (0-0, W). Sunday, June 21
SANDERSON FACES ARDREY KELL IN STATE FINALS
Capital City vs the Queen City Sunday, June 21
Spartans fall 9-5 in opening game of 4A state championship
With a large crowd of Sanderson red flowing into NC State’s Doak Field the Spartans of Sanderson opened the best of three game series vs the Knights of Ardrey Kell on Friday night, June 5, 2009. What a beautiful setting for a championship baseball series. The Knights wasted very little time in putting up runs as they plated four runners in the first inning on three hits and a walk. The Spartans placed two batters on base although there were no hits. 2B Robert Brunson walked on a full count against Ardrey Kell’s starting pitcher Ashton Lover. C Max Gagnon (PR JP Cochran) also walked after being hit by a pitch. After one full inning of play it is Ardrey Kell 4 and Sanderson 0. Spartans starting P Charles Wolfe struck out the Knights lead off batter got the second batter to ground out to 1B John McFarling. Then with two walks and a single the Knights plated another runner to take a 5-0 lead. Sanderson sent seven batters to the plate in the bottom of the second inning and plated two runs to cut into Ardrey Kell’s lead, now 5-2. 3B Daniel Adams got us started when he was hit by a pitch. RF Sam Beavans then reached on an infield error and LF Travis Trumps singled to load the bases with one out. SS Kyle Wigmore then walked on a full count, bringing in 3B Adams for our first run of the game. 2B Brunson knocked out a sacrifice fly to right field to score RF Beavans. In the top of the third Ardrey Kell’s lead off batter reached on a stand up double and would later score on an infield error to increase their lead to 6-2 after 2.5 innings. CF Kyle Wood’s first hit of the game was a single to right field and ended up at third base on a wild pitch. 1B McFarling reached on a full count walk and also got to second base on the same wild pitch as mentioned with CF Kyle Wood. There would not be any Sanderson scoring so we still trail the Knights, 6-2 after three complete innings. Although Ardrey Kell managed a hit in the inning P Wolfe was able to keep them off the scoreboard as we come to bat in the bottom of the fourth inning. LF Trumps started us off with a triple to right field and was plated by SS Wigmore’s rbi single to right field. After four innings we have reduced Ardrey Kell’s lead down to three with a score of 6-3. Ardrey Kell came to the plate in the fifth inning and for the second straight inning they can not increase their lead. After giving up a full count walk, P Wolfe caught a ground ball and made the throw to 1B McFarling for the first out. The final two outs came about with two strikeouts. The Spartans CF Wood knocked out his second hit of the game, a double, to get us started as we try to cut more into Ardrey Kell’s lead. 1B McFarling hit a timely sacrifice fly to right field to move CF Wood over to third base with one out. 3B Adams walked on a full count to gives us runners on the corners. PH Jon King hit a high fly ball to right field, causing 3B Adams to hold up at first base as it may be a caught ball. The Knights right fielder does not catch the ball and makes the throw to get the force out of 3B Adams going to second base. The good news is that CF Wood was able to score from third base. After five complete innings it is now Ardrey Kell 6 and Sanderson 4. In the top of the sixth the Knights lead off batter reached on a single and was stranded on third base. With Sanderson at the plate and two outs and nobody on base, P Wolfe was issued a full count walk and advanced to third base on C Gagnon’s (PR JP Cochran) single. CF Wood’s rbi double, his third hit of the game, scored P Wolfe. After six full innings the Spartans have cut a once five run deficit down to one headed into the last inning. Score is Ardrey Kell 6 and Sanderson 5. Ardrey Kell’s first six batters in the top of the seventh reached base with a combination of hits (4), a walk and an infield error. The big defensive play of the inning kept off one more run. 2B Brunson caught a ground ball and with the infield in, he made the throw to home plate where C Gagnon tagged out the sliding base runner. Sanderson now comes to bat finding itself on the short end of a 9-5 score. Unfortunately the game ended with a double play before the Spartans could score any runs. Final score Ardrey Kell 9 Sanderson 5 Records Ardrey Kell 24-7 Sanderson 19-12 WP Ashton Lover LP Charles Wolfe (6-7), 6 K’s, 4 W’s, 11 hits, 9 runs Sanderson batters – Kyle Wood (3-4, dbl, rbi, run), Travis Trumps (2-4, triple, run), Jon King (1-2), Kyle Wigmore (1-3, 2 rbi, W), Max Gagnon (1-3, W), Daniel Adams (0-2, 2 W’s, run), Robert Brunson (0-2, W, sac, rbi), Charles Wolfe (0-3, W, run), John McFarling (0-2, sac, W), Sam Beavans (0-2, run). Game 2 of the best of three series is tomorrow, Saturday. at 2:00 p.m. Tomorrow is a new day. Sunday, June 21
Sanderson is swept in state 4A Championship series
Sanderson’s defense held Ardrey Kell to one run but was not able to score any itself and as a result, was swept by the Knights in the best of three series. On a warm Saturday afternoon at NC State’s Doak Field on June 6, 2009, Ardrey Kell scored its only run in the bottom of the first inning and held on for a 1-0 win. This was a much different game than the first game of this series played the night before when the two teams combined for 14 runs and 19 hits in a 9-5 Ardrey Kell win. In the first inning Sanderson 1B Charles Wolfe reached first on an infield error and was moved to second when P Max Gagnon’s (PR JP Cochran) single went to left field. In what may have been the play of the game for Kell, their second baseman backed up an overthrow to first base that kept Wolfe on first. Without this back up Wolfe may have been able to get to second base and may have scored on Gagnon’s single. That was it for the inning as Kell comes to bat in the bottom of the inning. Ardrey Kell led off with a single to the outfield and as our outfielder tried to field the ball, the runner was to able advance to second base. With no outs the next two batters hit for sacrifice flies to the outfield to score the runner on no hits. That was some nice hitting. The third out came about when Spartan starting P Max Gagnon struck out the clean up batter. After one full inning Ardrey Kell leads 1-0. DH Jon King got us started in the second with his walk but a double play wiped out our base runners with two outs. C Bryan Burke (PR Josh O’Neal) got us started when he walked on a full count. LF Travis Trumps single to left field and SS Kyle Wigmore’s walk loaded the bases but we could not get that one hit to bring in the runs. P Gagnon put down the Kell batters in order as we head to the top of the third inning still in a 1-0 game. 1B Wolfe reached base with a single and was able to steal second base. The next three batters were not able to bring him home so we now head to the bottom of the third inning. P Gagnon only threw nine pitches and did not allow a ball to leave the infield as he put down the Knights batters down in order for the second consecutive inning. After three full innings the score remains 1-0. For the first inning this game the Spartans failed to get a hit against the Knights P Ryan Butler. 3B Daniel Adams did reach base on an infield error and was moved to second base on C Bryan Burke’s sacrifice bunt. With one out Ardrey Kell got their first hits since the first inning, back to back one out singles. In our defensive play of the game RF Sam Beavans charge into foul territory towards the bullpen, he caught the fly ball while running full speed into the cushioned wall. This was the second amazing catch by Beavans in the past two playoff series. Beavans bounced back quickly and got the ball back into play to prevent the second base runner from advancing to third. CF Kyle Wood got into the act and caught a well hit fly ball to end the inning. After four innings the score remained the same. 1B Wolfe got his second hit of the game, a double off the 380’ right field wall, as our first base runner of the inning. P Gagnon was then intentionally walked by simply being placed on base without a pitch thrown. Once again we can not scratch across that one run we need. For the third time in five innings P Gagnon put the Knights batters down in order. 2B Brunson made a difficult catch look easy as he moved to his left to snag a line drive fly ball that may have gone into the outfield for a hit. We now head to the top of the sixth inning. Our sole base runner was 3B Adams, who reached as a hit batter. Ardrey Kell’s lead off batter reached on an infield single but the next three batters went down in order. RF Beavans caught another fly ball for an out and P Gagnon and 1B Wolfe teamed up for two outs on two separate batters when the ball came back to Gagnon, who then made the throw to Wolfe. Sanderson now comes to the plate in the top of the seventh only needing one run to tie this game up. Tough luck for Sanderson as our batters hit two ground balls to the Knights SS and a third batter struck out as our wonderful playoff run ends in a 1-0 loss to Charlotte’s Ardrey Kell. Records Ardrey Kell 25-7 Sanderson 19-13 WP Ryan Butler – CG, 5 W’s, 3 K’s, no runs. LP Max Gagnon (7-3), CG, 1 K, 4 hits, no W’s, 1 run (this was the only run allowed in 22.2 IP in the 2009 state playoffs) Sanderson batters – Charles Wolfe (2-4, dbl), Max Gagnon (1-2, W), Travis Trumps (1-3), Bryan Burke (0-2, W), Jon King (0-2, W), Daniel Adams (0-2, W), Kyle Wigmore (0-3, W). This has been a magical season for me to watch as our boys came together when it counted the most. Who would have thought that after a 13-10 regular season and a #3 seed, that they would win the Eastern Regionals for the first time since 1992 and appear in the NCHSAA state 4A Championship series? Solid pitching in big games, timely hitting and a solid defense has again put Sanderson’s baseball team on the minds of other’s throughout the state. When I started to write my game summaries when my son was a freshman on the JV team in 2006, he told me that his goal before he left Sanderson was to bring home a state championship. Max -- you did not get the ring you wanted but you and your teammates won over so many new baseball fans based on how you play the game. They are now coming out in large numbers to see Sanderson baseball - - Spirit Night, Senior Night, and home playoff games to name a few. |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Sanderson High School Baseball |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
