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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

After suffering offensive and defensive hiccups twice against Reagan the week before, the Davie JV baseball team pulled out a back-and-forth battle, 13-7, against visiting West Davidson on March 28.

After managing only seven runs across three games, the War Eagles (7-3) matched their season high in runs and washed away the taste of losing 4-0 and 9-2 to Reagan.

The Green Dragons did not make it easy. They jumped to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Craig McBride, Dane Porter and Will Wands provided hits as Davie answered with four runs in the bottom half, but West retook a 7-5 lead in the fifth with a three-run rally that included two hits, a walk and two Davie errors.

Davie’s response in the home half of the fifth was decisive. Porter, who led off with a double, and Larson Stem, who plated two with a single, were clutch. Bentley Moody, Wands, Hunter Shutt, McBride, Carson Queen and Hunter Daywalt all reached base as Davie assumed control with a six-run outburst that made it 11-7.

It was just another day at the office for Stem, who went 2 for 4 with three runs and three RBIs. His fourth multi-hit game kept his glossy season average at .500 (11-22).

“He’s still hitting the ball as good as ever,” coach Sam Wyrick said of Stem, who moved from first base to shortstop. “We can move him anywhere we want to. He said put me in the lineup wherever. I’m excited to see what he can do moving forward. He’s one of those guys you want on the field.”

Porter’s 2-for-3, three-RBI afternoon – his fourth multi-hit performance – epitomized the cleanup batter/catcher’s season.

“He’s someone I trust at the plate,” Wyrick said. “He knows when to go backside. He did a fantastic job behind the plate. He’s carrying a big load, but I think he’s handling it very well.”

A third War Eagle with two hits was Kason Stewart, who knocked in three runs and made a seamless transition to first base.

“He had two good hits and made some good defensive plays,” Wyrick said.

Don’t forget Daywalt’s relief pitching. In three innings, he gave up two hits, walked none and struck out five. Both runs off him were unearned. He threw 32 strikes in 39 offerings and lowered his ERA to 2.10 across 10 innings.

“He delivered,” Wyrick said. “We couldn’t ask for a better performance.”

Davie outhit West 10-9. Davie had three errors, but West had five.