By David Rogers. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Being the high school alma mater of “King James” didn’t help St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) on April 24 at The Ripken Experience baseball complex. Listed as the visiting team in the tournament format, Watauga defeated Lebron James’ high school, 9-2.
Brett Vannoy pitched four innings for the Pioneers, surrendering just three hits and one run, including two strikeouts and just one walk in earning the win from the pitcher’s mound.
Watauga got on the board in the top half of the first inning with one run, but were held scoreless from then on until exploding for five runs in the fifth frame and three more in the sixth inning.
Meanwhile, Vannoy, Dillon Zaragoza and Bryce Scheffler combined to shut down the Fighting Irish, limiting SV-SM to 2 runs on five hits, striking out 4 and walking just one, also reflecting a strong defensive effort by the Pioneers.
The Pioneers once again proved to be speed demons on the basepaths, with six stolen bases, including two each by Evan Burroughs and Cade Keller
WATAUGA’S KEY PERFORMERS
- WAT – Maddox Greene: 2-4, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs, stolen base
- WAT – Jake Blanton: 2-3, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 walk, stolen base
- WAT – Evan Burroughs: 1-3, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, 2 stolen bases
- WAT – Cade Keller: 2-4, 1 RBI, 2 stolen bases
- WAT – Walker Ransdell: 1-3, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI,
- WAT – Brett Vannoy: 4 innings pitched, 3 hits, 1 run, 2 strikeouts; as batter, hit by pitch, 1 walk
