By David Rogers. GRANITE FALLS, N.C. — When the top half of a baseball team’s batting order is in full punch mode, good things can happen. Led by first baseman JT Cook’s 3-for-3 night that included a 3-run home run to break a 5-5 tie in the top half of the sixth inning, that’s exactly what happened in Watauga’s 10-8, upset win over the tournament’s No. 1-seeded South Caldwell.
Cook’s power was also the difference-maker the previous game vs. Alexander Central, when his 3-run shot to centerfield in the top of the 7th inning on April 29 vaulted the Pioneers to an 8-7 win over the Cougars — and earned the High Country’s finest a berth in the May 1 Northwestern Conference championship game against South Caldwell.
In defeating South Caldwell, Watauga claims the Northwestern Conference tournament championship and breaks a 5-game losing streak to the Spartans. Their last wins against the Hudson, N.C. school were in the 2022-23 season.
Cook reached base in all five trips to the plate and was credited with scoring one run and three RBIs, all thanks to the 6th inning dinger.
But at the top of the batting order, Cook wasn’t alone in his offensive production. Shortstop Maddox Greene was 4-for-5 on the night, with two runs scored, 2 RBIs and 3 stolen bases, while third baseman Cade Keller went 2-for-4, including one run scored and 3 RBIs. Second baseman and leadoff hitter, Evan Burroughs was 1-3, with three runs scored. Like Cook, Burroughs drew a pair of walks in his evening’s work.
Everett Gryder was credited with being the winning pitcher, allowing just one run on one hit, striking out four. His outing was marred by issuing four walks and hitting two batters, but he was able to work his way out of jams with minimal damage. After pitching four innings, Gryder gave way to reliever Brett Vannoy, who South Caldwell touched up for 7 runs on 5 hits in two innings of work. Dillon Zaragoza came on in the 7th inning to get the final out, a strikeout.
Zaragoza went to the mound with the bases loaded, Watauga leading 10-7, but with South Caldwell trying to rally some more with the winning run at the plate. A brilliant defensive play by the Pioneers allowed a run but disposed of two runners when third baseman Keller fielded a ground ball, stepped on third, then whirled to get the Spartan runner advancing to second base. Then Zaragoza finished cleaning up the jam with the final strikeout.
Watauga has now won their last eight games and nine of their last 11. At 16-11 overall and 6-4 in Northwestern Conference play, the Pioneers are getting hot at just the right time, looking ahead for a 4A West bracket berth in the North Carolina state playoffs.
TOURNAMENT MVP: JT Cook
ALL-TOURNAMENT: Dillon Zaragoza, Maddox Greene, Everett Gryder
KEY CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PERFORMERS
- WAT – JT Cook: 3-3, 1 run scored, 3 RBIs, HR, 2 walks
- WAT – Maddox Greene: 4-5, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs, double, 3 stolen bases
- WAT – Jake Blanton: 2-5, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base
- WAT – Evan Burroughs: 1-3, 3 runs scored, 2 walks, 2 stolen bases
- WAT – Cade Keller: 2-4, 1 run scored, 3 RBIs, 1 walk
- WAT – Everett Gryder, 4 innings pitched, allowed 1 run on 1 hit
- SC – Nate Hall: 1-5, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, double
- SC – Chase Cardwell: 1-3, 1 run scored, stolen base
- SC – Walker Hartley: 1-3, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 1 walk, sacrifice fly, stolen base
