Power Arms & A Comeback Win: Fuquay at Corinth and Orange at Western Alamance

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Western Alamance Outlasts Orange in Nine

Western Alamance trailed 6-5 in the top of the seventh inning when Kaden Smith homered on a 1-0 count, scoring two runs. Smith went 3-for-5 at the plate to lead Western.

Going into the 9th the score was 7-7. Austin St. Laurent doubled in the top of the 9th. Cody Acosta hit a RBI single to score St. Laurent. A sacrifice fly scored Acosta making it 9-7.

Cody Acosta started the game for Western Alamance. He went four innings, allowing two runs on zero hits and striking out seven.

Will Walker and Joey Berini  each had 2 hits for Orange Panthers. Jaren Sikes also had a knock for the Panthers. All three had impressive at bats throughout the game.

Player Notes:

Kaden Smith, C/1B, Western Alamance, 2021
Smith continues to impress. Stands 6’2 200lb.  Uncommitted C/1B with power at the plate. He went 3 for 5, HR, 2 RBI on Monday night.  Good awareness behind the dish.

Cody Acosta, LHP, Western Alamance HS, 2020
Catawba College commit. Started, working four innings, allowing two runs on zero hits and striking out seven.

Will Walker, 1B/3B, Orange HS, 2021
Walker puts together quality at bats and takes healthy swings. Walker doesn’t get cheated at the plate. Medium to high leg kick and creates good separation with his lower half. Strong healthy build.

2020 INF Joey Berini, SS, Orange HS, 2020
East Carolina commit. Advanced approach offensively. Has a good smooth balanced swing. Plays with rhythm, showcasing his hands and footwork in the infield.

2021 OF Jaren Sikes, OF, Orange HS, 2021
Quality at-bats throughout the night. Sikes controls his at bats and has a level swing.  Solid barrel awareness, showing occasional power. Flashed good range and speed in the outfield.

No. 16 Fuquay-Varina Rides Power Arms to Win Over No. 3 Corinth Holders

Corinth Holder’s Landon Ginn and Fuquay-Varina’s David Keith stole the show early on the mound, dominating hitters the first time threw the lineup. Fuquay struck first in the 3^rd inning, taking advantage of an impressive 8 pitch leadoff BB from FVHS Catcher Zach Long (UNC-Pemboke commit). Aidan Canaday followed up with a chopper that tipped off the Corinth 1b glove, putting runners on 2^nd and 3^rd w/ no outs. With one out, UNCW commit Jack Howell drove in both runners w/ a liner to LC. Howell was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a 2b.

Fuquay added to their lead in the 6^th when Corinth brought in Campbell commit, Ty Cummings, to pitch. Cummings walked Howell in a long AB to start the frame. Howell advanced to 2b on a dirt ball read. Bengals SP David Keith lined a double in the LC gap driving in Howell. Keith stole 3B, and was driven in on a sac fly from ECU commit Ryan McCrystal.

The lone run for Corinth came in the 6^th inning off of LH reliever/UNCW commit Cyle Phelan. After walking Gideon Simms to start the 6^th, leadoff hitter Tanner Smith (UNCW commit) flared a double down the RF line. Phelan walked Ty Cummings to load the bases with no outs. Phelan settled in, picking up a big K on a 90mph FB under the hands of Landon Ginn for the first out. Cleanup hitter Nick Tyler drove in the only run for the Pirates with a sac fly to LF. Phelan jammed up the next batter for a weak comebacker to end the 6^th.

Phelan mowed down Corinth hitters in the 7^th, striking out the side to pick up the save.

Player Notes:

Landon Ginn, RHP, Corinth Holders HS, 2020
East Carolina commit.  Worked 5 innings, punching 9 strikeouts while surrendering just 2 runs.  Leaned heavily on his slider early, especially behind in the count, as he found feel for his fastball.  Punched the 1^st six hitters he faced.  Sat 87-90, touching 91.  Solid change-up with good arm speed at 76-78.  Slider is an out pitch he can lean on for long stretches at 77-79. 

Ty Cummings, RHP/INF, Corinth Holders HS, 2020
Campbell commit.  Worked 1 inning giving up 2 runs while punching 1.  Fastball sat 86-88 with occasional cut action.  Short quick arm stroke with good arm speed.  Flashed feel for a sharp slider at 76-77.

Shea DeFalco, LHP, Corinth Holders HS, 2021
Slow, smooth tempo, sound delivery. Fastball at 78-80.  Has the ability to work backwards and showed advanced feel for a big curveball at 68-70.  Mixed in a change-up and worked off all three pitches.  Secondary stuff allows fastball to play up.

David Keith, RHP, Fuquay-Varina HS, 2020
High Point Commit.  Punched 9 in 5 innings with advanced stuff and a feel for four pitches.  Advanced his velocity throughout the game, sitting 87-89 early, working 87-90 in the middle innings and touching 92.  The slider ranged 77-80.  Slight crossfire in the delivery created some deception on the slider.  Flashed a couple of curveballs at 72-75.  Generated swing and miss on his change-up at 78-79.  Arm side fade present on the change, creating some issues for left handed hitters

Cyle Phelan, LHP, Fuquay-Varina HS, 2021
UNC Wilmington commit.  Settled into his two inning appearance after facing a couple of hitters.  The fastball sat 87-90 and paired with a change-up at 74-76.  Sharp breaking ball at 74-76.