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May 28—William Carey Crusaders coach Bobby Halford has suggested that his team is on a special mission this week at the Avista NAIA World Series of baseball — and so far, the numbers back him up.
The Crusaders from Hattiesburg, Miss., who entered the Series seeded 10th and last, are now the last team standing with an unbeaten record in the double-elimination national championship.
In Wednesday's nightcap at Harris Field, they dismissed returning finalist Southeastern (Fla.) two innings ahead of schedule via mercy rule with a final score of 17-7.
Halford, whose team clamored to victory with three-run ninth innings in each of its first two games of the Series, had emphasized heading into this one that he was looking for an early charge from the Crusaders.
"We said, 'Guys, you've got to start fast every now and then,'" Halford recalled. "'You can't wait until the end.' That's what I was proud of — the way we took off."
With the win, William Carey did not quite put out the fifth-seeded Fire, who return to action today at 12:30 p.m. against Tennessee Wesleyan. The Crusaders take to the field after that for a second meeting of the Series with top-seeded Taylor at 4 p.m.
Big-time batting
The Fire (45-17) had burned hot earlier in the day to score their own mercy-rule win against IU Southeast, but seemed reduced to embers in the evening game against William Carey (41-18), with a tired pitching staff that continually struggled to keep the Crusaders at bay.
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The potential for the mercy rule to come into play loomed prominently after Jayden Mark launched a three-run home run over the left field fence to put the Crusaders ahead 11-2 in the bottom of the third inning. As he rounded the bases and arrived at home plate, Mark was greeted by a throng of his teammates who shouted and jumped in unison.
He explained afterward that the celebration, called the "boom," follows every home run struck by a Crusader.
"You deserve that after you hit a bomb," Mark said. "That's big time, right there."
Mark would finish with two hits and a game-high five RBI.
Also delivering a "boom" for the Crusaders was Tyler Ducksworth, whose sixth-inning shot narrowly cleared the center-field wall to put William Carey ahead 12-7. That kickstarted a six-run explosion that doused a midgame Fire rally and officially opened up the decisive double-digit lead.
"I didn't think we ever had enough runs because they can swing the bat," Halford said. "I knew no lead was safe, and that inning that we kind of blew it on out, that was big for us."
Cade Parry had a team-high three hits for Southeastern, while Charlie Collins drove in three Fire runs on a pair of doubles.
Closing it out
With a 10-run lead established heading into the top of the seventh, the pressure was on for William Carey to slam the door.
Junior infielder Taylor Walters, who had earlier notched two hits and two RBI for the Crusaders, made a highlight diving catch on a line drive to secure the second out and bring them to the brink of victory.
Southeastern loaded the bases in a bid to extend the contest, but William Carey relief pitcher Jackson Hawsey found what he needed in the nick of time, firing a fastball down the middle to end the game.
"This whole year it's kind of been like I walk two guys, but I always end up getting out of it and closing the game," Hawsey said.
Starter Matthew Davis was credited with his 12th pitching win of the season after going the first 5 2/3 innings.
"We've been blessed," Halford said. "We've pulled out a lot of games you'd just shake your head and say, 'That was divine intervention,' sometimes it seemed like. Still proud of these guys."
Statman has perfect game
Before the competition-proper ensued, statistician Denny Grubb threw the opening pitch in celebration of 700 games on the job at Harris Field, where the press box bears his name. His daughter Megan served as catcher.
The game was actually Grubb's 702nd, as his evening opening-pitch ceremony had been postponed a day due to inclement weather. Asked to provide his own career statistics, Grubb cited a single at-bat with one pitch and one strike (though some observers assessed it to have been a ball).
Southeastern 002 212 0— 7 14 4
William Carey 425 006 x—17 14 2
A. Peddycoart, G. Trentmann (1), G. Shearon (3), A. Harrington (6) and D. Flores; M. Davis, J. Hawsey (6) and F. Hernandez. W — Davis; L — Peddycoart.
Southeastern hits — C. Parry 3, C. Collins 2 (2 2B), C. Ciesielski 2 (2B), Flores 2 (2B), N. Hopkins 2 (2B), J. Essig 2, B. Bartholomae.
William Carey hits — J. Mark 2 (HR), T. Ducksworth 2 (HR), T. Walters 2 (2B), H. Carley 2 (2B), A. McLean 2, F. Hernandez (2B), R. John (2B), D. Booth, G. Hinnant.
Players of the game
Jayden Mark batted 2-for-4 with a home run and five total RBI for William Carey. His three-run homer in the third moved the score to 11-2, bringing the mercy rule into the picture.
Charlie Collins helped keep the Fire burning with two doubles and three RBI.
Quote of note
"We're the only guys in this facility that knew we could do it. Everybody counted us out since Regionals, and we're still here. We're going to keep plugging. — Taylor Walters
Wendt may be contacted at (208) 848-2268, or [email protected].
Continue reading...
The Crusaders from Hattiesburg, Miss., who entered the Series seeded 10th and last, are now the last team standing with an unbeaten record in the double-elimination national championship.
In Wednesday's nightcap at Harris Field, they dismissed returning finalist Southeastern (Fla.) two innings ahead of schedule via mercy rule with a final score of 17-7.
Halford, whose team clamored to victory with three-run ninth innings in each of its first two games of the Series, had emphasized heading into this one that he was looking for an early charge from the Crusaders.
"We said, 'Guys, you've got to start fast every now and then,'" Halford recalled. "'You can't wait until the end.' That's what I was proud of — the way we took off."
With the win, William Carey did not quite put out the fifth-seeded Fire, who return to action today at 12:30 p.m. against Tennessee Wesleyan. The Crusaders take to the field after that for a second meeting of the Series with top-seeded Taylor at 4 p.m.
Big-time batting
The Fire (45-17) had burned hot earlier in the day to score their own mercy-rule win against IU Southeast, but seemed reduced to embers in the evening game against William Carey (41-18), with a tired pitching staff that continually struggled to keep the Crusaders at bay.
Advertisement
The potential for the mercy rule to come into play loomed prominently after Jayden Mark launched a three-run home run over the left field fence to put the Crusaders ahead 11-2 in the bottom of the third inning. As he rounded the bases and arrived at home plate, Mark was greeted by a throng of his teammates who shouted and jumped in unison.
He explained afterward that the celebration, called the "boom," follows every home run struck by a Crusader.
"You deserve that after you hit a bomb," Mark said. "That's big time, right there."
Mark would finish with two hits and a game-high five RBI.
Also delivering a "boom" for the Crusaders was Tyler Ducksworth, whose sixth-inning shot narrowly cleared the center-field wall to put William Carey ahead 12-7. That kickstarted a six-run explosion that doused a midgame Fire rally and officially opened up the decisive double-digit lead.
"I didn't think we ever had enough runs because they can swing the bat," Halford said. "I knew no lead was safe, and that inning that we kind of blew it on out, that was big for us."
Cade Parry had a team-high three hits for Southeastern, while Charlie Collins drove in three Fire runs on a pair of doubles.
Closing it out
With a 10-run lead established heading into the top of the seventh, the pressure was on for William Carey to slam the door.
Junior infielder Taylor Walters, who had earlier notched two hits and two RBI for the Crusaders, made a highlight diving catch on a line drive to secure the second out and bring them to the brink of victory.
Southeastern loaded the bases in a bid to extend the contest, but William Carey relief pitcher Jackson Hawsey found what he needed in the nick of time, firing a fastball down the middle to end the game.
"This whole year it's kind of been like I walk two guys, but I always end up getting out of it and closing the game," Hawsey said.
Starter Matthew Davis was credited with his 12th pitching win of the season after going the first 5 2/3 innings.
"We've been blessed," Halford said. "We've pulled out a lot of games you'd just shake your head and say, 'That was divine intervention,' sometimes it seemed like. Still proud of these guys."
Statman has perfect game
Before the competition-proper ensued, statistician Denny Grubb threw the opening pitch in celebration of 700 games on the job at Harris Field, where the press box bears his name. His daughter Megan served as catcher.
The game was actually Grubb's 702nd, as his evening opening-pitch ceremony had been postponed a day due to inclement weather. Asked to provide his own career statistics, Grubb cited a single at-bat with one pitch and one strike (though some observers assessed it to have been a ball).
Southeastern 002 212 0— 7 14 4
William Carey 425 006 x—17 14 2
A. Peddycoart, G. Trentmann (1), G. Shearon (3), A. Harrington (6) and D. Flores; M. Davis, J. Hawsey (6) and F. Hernandez. W — Davis; L — Peddycoart.
Southeastern hits — C. Parry 3, C. Collins 2 (2 2B), C. Ciesielski 2 (2B), Flores 2 (2B), N. Hopkins 2 (2B), J. Essig 2, B. Bartholomae.
William Carey hits — J. Mark 2 (HR), T. Ducksworth 2 (HR), T. Walters 2 (2B), H. Carley 2 (2B), A. McLean 2, F. Hernandez (2B), R. John (2B), D. Booth, G. Hinnant.
Players of the game
Jayden Mark batted 2-for-4 with a home run and five total RBI for William Carey. His three-run homer in the third moved the score to 11-2, bringing the mercy rule into the picture.
Charlie Collins helped keep the Fire burning with two doubles and three RBI.
Quote of note
"We're the only guys in this facility that knew we could do it. Everybody counted us out since Regionals, and we're still here. We're going to keep plugging. — Taylor Walters
Wendt may be contacted at (208) 848-2268, or [email protected].
Continue reading...
