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Two games into the season, Davie’s varsity baseball team is searching for traction.

In the season opener against visiting Carson on April 27, the War Eagles seemed ready for a big start when they took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. They wound up losing a nonconference thriller, 10-9.

Davie’s 4-2 lead disappeared in the fourth, when the Cougars put up seven runs. Davie fought back from that 9-4 deficit, scoring two in the sixth to climb within 10-9. And it threatened in the seventh before falling short.

Davie battled hard even though it was doubled up in hits (16-8). It got two from Daniel Lawson (2 for 3), Blake Little (2-4, double) and Wesley Mason (2-4). Jack Reynolds went 1-2 with a double and two walks. Beaven Arey and Trot Byerly both reached base twice.

Three days later on the road in another nonconference game, Davie had twice as many hits as South Iredell (6-3) and five fewer errors (South had six Es). Yet somehow Davie lost decisively, 5-1, wasting a strong pitching performance from Zach Rodgers.

Rodgers pitched a complete game with eight strikeouts that offset four walks. In the home first, South scored twice without getting a hit. In the fourth, a leadoff single eventually came around on a sac fly. And in the sixth, South only needed one hit to score two runs.

Little (2-4, double) and Davin Whitaker (2-3) paced the offense. Parker Aderhold and Byerly both went 1-3.

Bradley Rudisill, Davie’s third-year coach, had to miss the South game because he’s under quarantine. He will miss several more games. In his absence, JV coach Joey Anderson will handle the varsity coaching duties.

“After waiting over 400 days to coach high school baseball, I am now out until May 10,” Rudisill posted on Facebook.

Wrestling

Davie’s wrestling team doesn’t have anyone in the 106 and 113 weight classes. It has freshmen/sophomores at 195, 220 and 285. That’s a lot to overcome.

“We’re just young up top,” coach Perry Long said as Davie started the season with three losses in four matches.

The War Eagles lost 43-27 to visiting Piedmont in the season opener on April 26. Collin Bailey (145), Isaac Webb (152), Jack Jarvis (170) and Hunter Testa (182) had pins, and Tyler Snyder (132) won a decision. Testa’s pin pulled Davie within 28-27.

But the Panthers claimed the other nine weight classes and won comfortably.

Later in the evening, Davie got eight forfeits and breezed past Bishop McGuinness 60-12.

Webb (152) and Testa (182) had pins. The forfeits went to Adam Szewczyk (120), Lane Hill (126), Snyder (132), Sam Collins (136), Bailey (145), Danny Olmedo (160), Jarvis (170) and Charlie Frye (220).

There were few positives when Davie wrestled twice at Mooresville on April 30.

Webb (major decision at 152), Jarvis (major decision at 170) and Testa (forfeit at 185) had the only wins as Northwest Guilford hammered Davie 57-14.

Later in the night, Davie fell 42-27 to Mooresville. The winners from Davie were Szewczyk (pin at 120), Testa (pin at 182), Evan Copeland (pin at 285), Bailey (decision at 145), Webb (decision at 152) and Jarvis (decision at 175).

After four matches, four War Eagles have winning records. They are Webb (4-0), Jarvis (4-0), Testa (4-0) and Bailey (3-1).

JV Baseball

The Davie JV baseball season opener was not pretty. The result was a 10-5 loss at Carson on April 27.

“You could tell I’ve got quite a few freshmen,” Anderson said. “We didn’t play very good defense, we had mental mistakes that cost us runs and their pitcher threw well. We have some growing pains that we need to work through.”

The bright spot was Braeden Rodgers, who threw four innings in relief.

“Braeden threw well, especially being a freshman and the first time stepping on a high school field,” Anderson said. “He came in with runners on base and pretty much shut it down. He looked strong for a couple innings. He went after batters.”

Davie only managed six hits.

The War Eagles overcame a five-run deficit but fell short 7-6 at South Iredell on April 30. The game was called after six innings because of a time limit.

A six-run second gave South a 6-1 lead. Davie completed its comeback in the top of the sixth, scoring one to force a tie at 6-6. South, though, scored the clinching run in the bottom half.

Cole Whitaker was superb on the mound, pitching a three-hitter over 4.1 innings with five strikeouts. The only run he allowed was unearned.

Dane Porter (2-4, two RBIs) was the offensive standout. Davie got one hit from Connor Keaton (1-2), Ty Miller (1-3), Jackson Sink (1-3) and Ian Koontz (1-3).

JV Soccer

The Davie JV soccer team had reason to believe a much-needed win was very much possible when it hosted North Iredell in a conference game on April 26. In the matchup a month earlier, the War Eagles rolled 4-0 to snap a 37-game winless streak.

Unfortunately, that proved to be Davie’s only win of the season. North got payback, 3-1.

It was 1-0 at halftime, North’s goal coming from “a lucky bounce over the keeper’s head,” coach Johnny Oceguera said. “We missed a PK and a free kick.”

Davie trailed 3-0 before Sophia Heagle scored “an awesome goal from a free kick,” he said.

The coach gave praise to Heagle, who played goalie in the first half and forward in the second, and forward Madison Hayes. “They were our standout players for the game,” he said.

Davie’s season ended with a 6-0 home loss to Reagan on April 29. Davie went 1-7 overall and 0-6 in the Central Piedmont Conference.

Legion Baseball Tryouts

Junior Legion baseball tryouts will be Saturday at Rich Park at 2 p.m. For questions, contact Donnie Simmons at 336-816-2175.

Senior Legion tryouts will be held Sunday at Rich Park at 2 p.m. For questions, contact Charles Kurfees at 336-940-7503.

Charity Golf Tournament June 19

The Swing For The Stars charity golf tournament will be held June 19 at Bermuda Run West in Advance.

Registration and lunch will be at 11:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. This will be a four-man captain’s choice. The cost is $75 per golfer, the entry fee including green fee, cart, lunch and prizes. Register online at https://f8s.co/23gc by June 12.

Girls Basketball Camp

The Davie girls basketball camp will be held July 26-29 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Davie for rising first through eighth graders. The cost is $100 per camper ($75 if registered by June 26). Register on the Davie County website and click “buy event tickets.” For more information, contact coach Lindsey Adams at adamsl@davie.k12.nc.us or at 336-751-5905 extension 5210.