
Mountaineers shutout Ashbrook on Senior Night,
host Chargers Friday for Big South Conference title
Senior Night could not have gone any better for Kings Mountain High’s baseball team Friday night at Lancaster Field. The team honored its three seniors – Charlie Melton, Maddox Brown and Peyton Fisher – before the game and the trio teamed up to pitch the Mountaineers over the Ashbrook Green Wave 10-0 in a 4 ½ inning contest stopped by the state’s 10-run rule.
While that victory was sweet in front of a huge home crowd, the most important games of the conference season take place this week when the Mountaineers face county rival Crest to decide the Big South championship. Heading into last night’s game in Boiling Springs the Mountaineers had a one game lead over the Chargers and could clinch the title with a win. A loss would mean the championship would be decided Friday when the Chargers come to Lancaster Field for a 7 p.m. contest that completes the regular season. After that, both teams will await the state 3A seeding and first round opponents for Tuesday, May 10.
Melton worked the first four innings to get the win over Ashbrook. He fanned five batters along the way. Brown struck out one and Fisher two in the top of the fifth to seal the victory.
The Mountaineers got home runs from Zane Brockman in the second inning and Cole Irby in the third to go with singles from Bebe Moore, Brown and Jacob Hamrick. They also benefited from seven walks and three hit batsmen.
The Mountaineers got on board 2-0 in the bottom of the first as wildness by Ashbrook pitchers showed up early. After Moore’s hit, Hamrick was walked and an out later Brown’s single to left plated the first run. Another out later, Cole Irby was hit by a pitch to load the sacks and Fisher drew a walk to plate the second run.
The Mountaineers increased the lead to 4-0 in the second on Brockman’s high blast over the centerfield fence after Moore had reached base on a fielder’s choice.
KM closed out the scoring with six runs in the third inning. Irby’s home run over the left field fence also plated Ellis, who had been hit by a pitched ball, to run the score to 6-0. Three walks loaded the bases and an infield hit by Hamrick and another walk to Brockman produced two more runs to make it 8-0. The final two runs came on a fielder’s choice and error.
The previous Tuesday in Gastonia, the Mountaineers defeated Ashbrook 8-0 behind the two-hit, 13 strikeout performance from Brockman who also went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI.
Caleb Broome led the KM plate attack with 3-for-4 and two RBI. Ellis went 2-for-3 with a RBI and Hamrick 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI.
Kings Mountain took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and broke the game open with one run in the fifth, three in the sixth and two in the seventh.
Colton Mayes relieved Brockman in the seventh inning.
While that victory was sweet in front of a huge home crowd, the most important games of the conference season take place this week when the Mountaineers face county rival Crest to decide the Big South championship. Heading into last night’s game in Boiling Springs the Mountaineers had a one game lead over the Chargers and could clinch the title with a win. A loss would mean the championship would be decided Friday when the Chargers come to Lancaster Field for a 7 p.m. contest that completes the regular season. After that, both teams will await the state 3A seeding and first round opponents for Tuesday, May 10.
Melton worked the first four innings to get the win over Ashbrook. He fanned five batters along the way. Brown struck out one and Fisher two in the top of the fifth to seal the victory.
The Mountaineers got home runs from Zane Brockman in the second inning and Cole Irby in the third to go with singles from Bebe Moore, Brown and Jacob Hamrick. They also benefited from seven walks and three hit batsmen.
The Mountaineers got on board 2-0 in the bottom of the first as wildness by Ashbrook pitchers showed up early. After Moore’s hit, Hamrick was walked and an out later Brown’s single to left plated the first run. Another out later, Cole Irby was hit by a pitch to load the sacks and Fisher drew a walk to plate the second run.
The Mountaineers increased the lead to 4-0 in the second on Brockman’s high blast over the centerfield fence after Moore had reached base on a fielder’s choice.
KM closed out the scoring with six runs in the third inning. Irby’s home run over the left field fence also plated Ellis, who had been hit by a pitched ball, to run the score to 6-0. Three walks loaded the bases and an infield hit by Hamrick and another walk to Brockman produced two more runs to make it 8-0. The final two runs came on a fielder’s choice and error.
The previous Tuesday in Gastonia, the Mountaineers defeated Ashbrook 8-0 behind the two-hit, 13 strikeout performance from Brockman who also went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI.
Caleb Broome led the KM plate attack with 3-for-4 and two RBI. Ellis went 2-for-3 with a RBI and Hamrick 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI.
Kings Mountain took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and broke the game open with one run in the fifth, three in the sixth and two in the seventh.
Colton Mayes relieved Brockman in the seventh inning.