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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

After getting outscored 53-7 during a five-game losing streak, the Mocksville Legion baseball team kept its season alive with a 9-5 win over Mooresville in the completion of a suspended game.

Mocksville lost 11-1 at home to Davidson County on July 2. It went from the fire to the frying pan when it traveled to Rowan County on July 3. Mocksville only had nine players and lost 11-1 at Catawba’s Newman Park. Two days later at Davidson County, Mocksville went down without putting up a fight, 8-0. That was the fifth straight loss and the ninth setback in 10 games.

The nosedive put must-win pressure on Mocksville when it hosted Mooresville. When the suspended game was resumed at Rich Park on July 6, the teams were in a dogfight.

It was the bottom of the fourth. Mocksville had a 2-1 lead, but Mooresville had runners at first and second with two outs. Darren Shore retired the first batter, and he worked all 3.1 innings to help Mocksville (6-12, 2-7 Southern Division) pick up its first win in 12 days.

“We had to work some magic,” said coach Shaggy Wyatt, who was short on pitching with Mocksville playing seven games in nine days.

“Darren had pitched (July 2). I told him we need him for the Mooresville game because this is a more important game. He didn’t understand the situation at the moment, but after (this win) he appreciated what we did. He made them put it in play and let his defense do the work. That’s what I love about Darren. He’s not a strikeout pitcher, but he throws it over and lets the defense work.”

In the fifth, Mocksville scored three times to take command at 5-1. The lead swelled to 9-2 before Mooresville scored three harmless runs late.

The offensive star was JD Swink, who went 2 for 2 with a three-run double. On top of that, he filled a big void at catcher.

“We didn’t have the original catcher from the suspended game, so JD had to step in and fill some big shoes,” Wyatt said. “He’s caught around 5 games because Dakota Green hasn’t been here. He’s stepped in and done a pretty good job. Defensively, he has some work to do. But for a guy who hasn’t caught much this season, he’s doing the best he can, all I can ask for.”

Notes: Wyatt was unable to attend the first game of the DH, so assistant Blake Little assumed the head-coaching duties. … Mocksville won the second game 2-1 to nail down a playoff spot. The top four teams in the six-team Southern Division advanced to the postseason.