Garrett Moffett mashed a three-run home run, while Guyler Netchaeff, Everett Johnson, and Drew Spencer each had three RBIs during Wayne Country Day’s 18-0 victory over John Paul II in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 2A quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon.
The Chargers (16-1 overall) entertain Caldwell Academy (12-7) in the NCISAA 2A semifinals at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday with the chance to play for a state title on the line.
“I look forward to seeing these guys compete on Tuesday and going from there. Hopefully, we can take care of business,” Wayne Country Day head coach Adam Pate said.
Braeden Collins got the start on the mound for the Chargers. He and struck out the side in the top of the first inning.
In the bottom of the first, Rowan Watt drew a walk to get on base and later scored the first run of the game off Moffett’s sacrifice fly.
John Paul II had runners on second and third base in the top of the second, but Collins struck out the Saints’ Ian Trent to get out of the inning.
Wayne Country Day then scored seven runs in the bottom of the second to take an 8-0 lead.
“Offensively, we hit a lot of balls hard. Some that were fly balls and outs, but we hit a lot of balls hard that I was very proud to see,” Pate said.
The Chargers manufactured another run in the bottom of the third when with the bases loaded, Drew Spencer was hit by a pitch that enabled Watt to cross home plate.
Cohen Waddell came in for Collins in the top of the fourth, and Waddell promptly shut down the Saints.
The Chargers had another big inning in the bottom of the fourth. Wayne Country Day scored nine runs in the inning, including Moffett’s home run and a bases-clearing double from Johnson that made it 18-0.
Sterling Bass came in to close out the game in the top of the fifth, and he struck out two of the three batters he faced to help the Chargers advance to the semifinals.
“I thought our pitching was really good. We pounded the strike zone and didn’t really let at-bats slip away at the plate,” Pate said. ”Kudos to our three pitchers that threw. They did well.”
Moffett finished the game 3-3 with six RBIs, a home run, and a double. Johnson was 2-5 with three RBIs and a double, while Spencer went 1-2 with a double and three RBIs.
Netchaeff was 2-3 with three RBIs and a double. Collins, Waddell, and Bass combined to throw a one-hitter and struck out ten Saint’s batters.
