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HOLLY SPRINGS — Burns committed four errors, leading to five unearned runs in a 7-5 loss to the Bunn Wildcats in Game 2 of the NCHSAA 4A State Championship in Holly Springs. As a result, the Wildcats swept the best-of-3 series 2-0 and claimed the 2026 state championship crown.
“It happens sometimes,” Burns head coach Alex Leonhardt said of the errors. “The good thing is when these players make a mistake, they pick their heads up and move on to the next play
Burns pitcher Mason Bralley left a pair of Bunn runners in the top of the first. He also struck out a pair of Wildcat batters in the second. Andrew Yarboro led off the bottom of the second with a walk and Bralley beat out a bunt hit. Both were left stranded, though, as the score remained 0-0.
BEST IN THE WEST: How Burns baseball punched its ticket to NCHSAA 4A championship series
HIGH STAKES: Here are NCHSAA baseball, softball state championship series schedules
Bunn loaded the bases with one out in the top of the third. The Bulldogs' defense blinked, committing two errors on the same play. That allowed all three runners to score unearned runs and give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead. The Bulldogs got two of those runs back on a booming double by Yates Toney, scoring Drew Dixon and Ethan Robinson to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Bunn added a run in the top of the fourth on a single by Tariq Stone as they led 4-2. Meanwhile, Wildcat pitcher Jared Hagwood kept stranding baserunners.
Bunn kept pushing its lead out on a RBI single by Keagan Price, making the tally 5-2. The Wildcat defense also flashed the leather as leftfielder Dylan Mitchell made a running catch to rob Max Davis of extra bases.
The Bulldogs mounted a threat in the sixth, drawing a pair of walks to start the frame. Gage Camp came through with a single to right to cut the deficit to 5-3, but Hagwood settled down to strikeout the side to keep Bunn in front.
Bunn put the game away in its final at bat, using another Burns error to plate two runs and lead 7-3. Burns put the first two runners on in the bottom of the seventh and Toney came through with a double to left to pull the Bulldogs to 7-5, They could get no closer, though, falling 7-5
Before the series, Burns Ethan Robinson was given the NCHSAA Sportsmanship award. The Bulldogs conclude their season with a 25-5 record.
“We still had a great season,” Leonhardt said. “There is still a lot to be proud of. We have a lot of Juniors and Sophomores coming back next year. Hopefully, we can use this experience as motivation to work and be right back here next season.”
This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: NCHSAA 4A baseball championship Bunn vs Burns 2026
Continue reading...
“It happens sometimes,” Burns head coach Alex Leonhardt said of the errors. “The good thing is when these players make a mistake, they pick their heads up and move on to the next play
Burns pitcher Mason Bralley left a pair of Bunn runners in the top of the first. He also struck out a pair of Wildcat batters in the second. Andrew Yarboro led off the bottom of the second with a walk and Bralley beat out a bunt hit. Both were left stranded, though, as the score remained 0-0.
BEST IN THE WEST: How Burns baseball punched its ticket to NCHSAA 4A championship series
HIGH STAKES: Here are NCHSAA baseball, softball state championship series schedules
Bunn loaded the bases with one out in the top of the third. The Bulldogs' defense blinked, committing two errors on the same play. That allowed all three runners to score unearned runs and give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead. The Bulldogs got two of those runs back on a booming double by Yates Toney, scoring Drew Dixon and Ethan Robinson to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Bunn added a run in the top of the fourth on a single by Tariq Stone as they led 4-2. Meanwhile, Wildcat pitcher Jared Hagwood kept stranding baserunners.
Bunn kept pushing its lead out on a RBI single by Keagan Price, making the tally 5-2. The Wildcat defense also flashed the leather as leftfielder Dylan Mitchell made a running catch to rob Max Davis of extra bases.
The Bulldogs mounted a threat in the sixth, drawing a pair of walks to start the frame. Gage Camp came through with a single to right to cut the deficit to 5-3, but Hagwood settled down to strikeout the side to keep Bunn in front.
Bunn put the game away in its final at bat, using another Burns error to plate two runs and lead 7-3. Burns put the first two runners on in the bottom of the seventh and Toney came through with a double to left to pull the Bulldogs to 7-5, They could get no closer, though, falling 7-5
Before the series, Burns Ethan Robinson was given the NCHSAA Sportsmanship award. The Bulldogs conclude their season with a 25-5 record.
“We still had a great season,” Leonhardt said. “There is still a lot to be proud of. We have a lot of Juniors and Sophomores coming back next year. Hopefully, we can use this experience as motivation to work and be right back here next season.”
This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: NCHSAA 4A baseball championship Bunn vs Burns 2026
Continue reading...
