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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

Davie baseball coach Joey Anderson was disappointed in the aftermath of a 2-1 loss to Glenn in the final regular-season game on April 29. The outcome did not alter the Central Piedmont Conference standings – Davie was still in fourth and Glenn fifth – but the first loss to the Bobcats in nine meetings hurt Davie’s pride.

Three days later, that loss felt like a distant memory. In the first round of the CPC Tournament on May 2, the War Eagles got revenge in the form of 13-3 in five innings.

But not before the War Eagles stumbled out of the gate. In the top of the first, the first two batters reached on errors. Then came a single and a bases-loaded walk. Glenn would score three times and likely more if it weren’t for second baseman Parker Simmons’ unassisted double play with the bases loaded. First baseman Parker Aderhold dug out a low throw to complete the DP.

The defense betrayed starter Braeden Rodgers, who left after recording two outs and allowing three runs (all unearned). It was just the second start for the sophomore after making nine relief appearances.

“I was putting a lot on a sophomore, but Braeden has developed as a pitcher,” Anderson said. “I was looking at his pitch count (29). I knew if I kept him under 30 he could throw again tomorrow if I needed him.”

Anderson summoned his ace, and Bayden Hazlip was Bayden Hazlip again. In 4.1 scoreless innings, which was his first relief work after making nine starts, he pitched one-hit ball with one walk. He lifted his record to 7-3, lowered his ERA to 1.89 and issued just his sixth walk in 51.2 innings.

“Bayden did what Bayden’s done all year,” Anderson said. “He gets first-pitch strikes and that’s the key in high school baseball. You have to attack the zone and you have to be able to mix it up. I know he’s one of mine, but I think Bayden has done it better than anybody else in the conference. Watching him pitch this year has been a pleasure.”

Davie overrode the 3-0 deficit in the second, mainly through small ball and help from a Glenn team that committed four errors. After Aderhold singled and JT Bumgarner reached on an error, both advanced on Simmons’ bunt. A run scored when Drew Krause’s ball was errored. Jackson Sink followed with a run-scoring bunt. Wesley Mason capped the rally with a game-tying double.

Davie (12-10) took the lead in the third. Aderhold singled, Simmons walked and both scored on Krause’s double to left-center.

Davie didn’t stop there, scoring five in the fourth and three in the fifth as Glenn (8-16) went belly-up.

One game after his 14-game hitting streak ended, leadoff man Coy James went 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs. No. 2 batter Ty Miller went 2-4 with a double. Cleanup man Aderhold went 2-2 with three runs, two RBIs and two walks.

Aderhold has had a solid junior season, hitting .308 with a team-high 19 walks/hit by pitches.

“I ask a lot of Aderhold and he works hard,” Anderson said. “I think he’s No. 1 in his class. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a grade-point average as high as his. He’s really smart and he carries that onto the baseball field.”

The 7th batter, Krause, continued his stunning success by going 2-3 with three RBIs. The freshman is hitting .285 with the second-highest RBI total (16).

“Drew’s kind of got an unorthodox swing,” Anderson said. “But man, when he stays locked in and flattens out, he’s got a little pop. He’s been doing great. It’s all clicking.”

In other first-round games, No. 1 East Forsyth beat No. 8 Parkland 10-0, No. 3 West Forsyth beat No. 6 Mt. Tabor 10-4, and No. 2 Reagan beat No. 7 Reynolds 4-3.