NEW HANOVER 2, ASHLEY 1

Senior righty Alex Sniffen scattered three hits and worked out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh inning by getting back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.

“Alex truly operates with a next pitch mentality, so I don’t really worry too much about him for that reason.” New Hanover coach Richard Foy said. “Regardless of the situation, he’s composed and he’s going to try to execute the next pitch.”

Sniffen, who has signed with N.C. Central, finished with 10 strikeouts, including four in the final frame. He retired the first 11 batters he faced until sophomore Barrett Swails broke up the no-hitter with a two-out double down the left field line in the bottom of the fourth. Sniffen came back with a strikeout to strand Swails at second.

New Hanover (15-0) took advantage of a pair of Ashley (11-6) errors to score both its runs. Jonathan Manis reached on an error to leadoff the second inning and eventually scored on a two-out RBI single up the middle off the bat of No. 9 hitter Alec Cortner.

An error kept the sixth inning alive and UNC commit Kyle Smith made it hurt by ripping a double down the left field line to allow David MacCallum to score from third.

The Screaming Eagles threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning. Trent Eason reached on an error and moved to third on a single to right field and a throwing error. A wild pitch on a swinging strike three allowed Eason to score and put runners on second and third with one out.

Sniffen buckled down and struck out RJ Hunt on a check swing and Jackson Marsh looking.

New Hanover finished with nine hits, but stranded 11 runners. They left the bases loaded in the second and sixth innings. Smith led the way by going 2-for-2 with a pair of walks.

“I don’t know how many runners we left in scoring position tonight, but we definitely can’t do that again tomorrow,” Foy said. “We got them on and got them over tonight, we just didn’t get them in.”

 

HERITAGE 12, EAST FORSYTH 8

Wake Tech CC commit Cole Cunningham belted a first inning grand slam and the Huskies scored 10 runs with two outs to advance to the championship game.

“It was good to get on the board early and have a little cushion,” Cunningham said.

Heritage (14-3) scored at least one run in every inning but the fifth. Cunningham added an RBI single in the fourth inning and walked and scored in the sixth. Leadoff hitter Alex Imposimato went 3-for-4 with a walk, double, triple and three runs.

“We got some pitches we could hit and drive and took advantage of them,” Heritage coach Thomas Ferrara said. “I was proud of the way my guys competed and battled for every out.”

A wild pitch and an error – both with two outs – in the sixth inning increased the Huskies lead to 11-7. Charlotte commit Vito Patierno went 2-for-3 with a walk and four runs scored. Heritage also got two hits and an RBI from Wake Forest commit Chris Katz.

East Forsyth (7-12) was never able to grab the lead, but they closed the gap every time Heritage added runs. Gardner-Webb commit Danny Fish was 2-for-3 with a walk, double and two runs. Freshman ECU commit Xavier Isaac launched a solo home run into the pond beyond the right field fence in the seventh inning. He also had a sac fly, a walk and a run.

 

HOGGARD 15, ANNANDALE, VA. 2 (5 INNINGS)

Jerryd Jones belted a three-run home run as part of a 13-run third inning and the Vikings had no trouble in a mercy-rule victory.

Jason Culley, Nick Hargrove, Zach Zabriskie and Chris Wetherell each reached base twice and came around to score both times in the inning, which featured nine hits.

“He seemed to start off everyone with a first-pitch fastball, so I went up hunting fastball and barreled it up,” Jones said. “It felt really good off the bat, but I wasn’t really expecting it to go out.”

Wetherall singled in all three of his at-bats, while Jones, Culley and Jackson Vargo each had two of the the Vikings’ 14 hits. In Monday’s tournament-opening loss to East Forsyth, Hoggard managed only four hits.

“We got up early this morning and hit in the cages for about two hours just trying to get the kids mentally prepared at the plate,” Vikings coach Tommy Bowker said. “With us being as young as we are, we have to put all three phases of the game together and when we do that, we’re pretty good.”

Hoggard (4-12) starter Maguire Craddock allowed two runs on two hits with six strikeouts and one walk. Preston Carroll got the final three outs.

Annandale (3-10) got an RBI double from in the fourth inning from Alex Brennan, who later scored on a ground out.

 

GARNER 1, LANEY 0

Western Carolina commit Dylan Wheeler and Nolan McLean combined on a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts and the Trojans manufactured a run in the third inning to earn the victory.

Wheeler, who was making his first start since March 19 against Holly Springs, struck out six and walked three in five innings before giving way to McLean, who fanned five of the six batters he faced.

“We didn’t really know what we were going to get out of Dylan today, but what he gave us was outstanding,” Garner coach Derik Goffena said. “Nolan is our guy on the back side, so once we get a lead late we like how it looks.”

Will Lee led off the bottom of the third with a single to left field and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After stealing third, he scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Harrison Garner.

“We have struggled at the plate a lot this year and we’re faced a lot of good arms,” Goffena said. “Sam Garcia is obviously one of their better pitchers, so once we got one we certainly felt good.”

Lee and Bryson Galloway each had a single and a walk. Michael Hamling had Garner’s (11-7) other hit.

Laney (10-7) starter Sam Garcia was the tough-luck loser. He struck out three and walked four while throwing 101 pitches over six innings.

Garrett Wolff led off the top the third inning with a walk and stole second and third, but was stranded there.

 

WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE

All games at Ashley High School

10:30 a.m. – Hoggard vs. Garner

1:30 p.m. – Laney vs. Annandale, Va.

4:30 p.m. – Ashley vs. East Forsyth

7:30 p.m. – New Hanover vs. Heritage

Tim Hower publishes Coastal Preps, a website dedicated to high school sports in the Wilmington and Brunswick County area.  You can see more of his coverage at www.coastalpreps.com.