By David Rogers. HUDSON, N.C. — In spite of two late inning threats where they loaded the bases — even with nobody out in the decisive 7th inning — No. 18-seeded Watauga was unable to capitalize and fell to No. 2-seeded South Caldwell on May 9, 7-2, in the second round of the North Carolina 4A state baseball playoffs.
The Pioneers didn’t waste any time in validating they belonged in the playoffs. Senior shortstop Maddox Greene was the second batter up in the first inning and promptly knocked the ball out of the park, giving Watauga the early, but still tenuous, 1-run lead.
South Caldwell turned things around in the bottom of the third with a 6-run outburst. Senior Bryson Genwright served up the big blow of the inning with a 2-run home run, following a double by fellow senior Walker Hartley to get things started.
But the Spartans were hardly done. South Caldwell continued to rough up Pioneer starting pitcher Everett Gryder. Consecutive singles by John Paul Smith and Chase Johnson, followed by a walk issued to Luke Williams, loaded the bases for the Hudson crowd. A single by Nate Hall scored a run and a sacrifice fly by junior Chase Cardwell added another. Then senior Carter Bley ripped a double through a gap in center, scoring the final two runs of the inning.
At 6-1, it proved a lead the Pioneers could not overcome. They loaded the bases in each of the final two innings, including with nobody out in the 7th, but South Caldwell was able to wiggle its way out of trouble with good pitching and stellar defense. By game’s end, Watauga had left nine runners on base during the contest.
While Watauga’s often magical season comes to an end, South Caldwell advances to Round 3 in the 4A West bracket, where they will face No. 10-seeded Marvin Ridge, a 9-3 upset winner over No. 7 Hough High School. South Caldwell is 25-2 for the 2025 season — one of those losses coming to Watauga on May 1, 10-8, in the Northwestern Conference tournament championship.
KEY PERFORMERS
- WAT – Maddox Greene: 1-2, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, HR, 2 walks
- WAT – Evan Burroughs: 1-3, 1 run scored, double, walk, 2 stolen bases
- SC – Bryson Genwright: 2-4, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs, HR
- SC – Nate Hall: 6 innings pitched, 1 run on 4 hits, 1-2 batting, 1 run scored, 1 RBI
- SC – Carter Bley: 1-2, 2 RBIs, double, walk
4A WEST SCORES IN ROUND 2
- No. 1 Cuthbertson 9, No. 16 Sun Valley 8
- No. 9 Myers Park 7, No. 8 Mooresville 0
- No. 5 West Forsyth 5, No. 12 Reagan 4
- No. 20 South Iredell, No. 4 Grimsley 1
- No. 3 TC Roberson vs. No. 14 Charlotte Catholic, delayed until Sat., May 10
- No. 6 Providence 3, No. 11 Weddington 2
- No. 10 Marvin Ridge 9, No. 7 Hough 3
- No. 2 South Caldwell 7, No. 18 Watauga 2
OTHER SCORES OF INTEREST
- 3A West – No. 6 AC Reynolds 3, No. 11 West Rowan 2
- 3A West – No. 7 North Davidson 10, No. 23 St. Stephens 5
- 2A West – No. 4 Burns 9, No. 13 Pine Lake 0
- 1A West – No. 26 Mountain Heritage 15, No. 23 Swain County 0
