Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor
Westbrook Christian’s onslaught through the Class 2A state baseball playoffs continued last Thursday (May 6) in Decatur.
The Warriors (25-7) blasted Decatur Heritage Christian Academy, 15-2 and 10-5 in the third round to earn a state semifinal berth for the second straight full season. Westbrook defeated DHCA in the 2019 quarterfinals as well. The Warriors are 6-0 this postseason while outscoring the opposition 71 to 11.
Westbrook (25-7) hosts Mars Hill Bible, who defeated Spring Garden, 13-0 in a deciding third game on May 7. The dates and times of the Westbrook/Mars Hill series for next week have yet to be determined.
Will Noles set the tone in Thursday’s opener with a four-hitter. In five innings, he allowed two earned runs and three walks while striking out seven. He helped his cause with a hit and a pair of RBI. Presley White (pictured above) had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run, five RBI and two runs scored. Brodie Self went 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Cole Patterson went 2-for-3 with an RBI double. Carson Wiggins added a hit an RBI and a run scored.
In Game 2, the Warriors went ahead 7-0 by the second inning before holding off a late Eagle rally. Presley went five innings for the win, scattering three hits, four earned runs and six walks with five strikeouts. Self and Martin Beall each pitched an inning of relief. Noles led the way at the plate by going 4-for-4 with a triple, four RBI and a run scored. Caiden Wyatt had a hit, three RBI and a run scored, while Micaiah Myers had a hit, two RBI and run scored.
“I thought we pitched well and hit well and played good defense,” said Westbrook head coach Matt Kennedy. “We had a good day all the way around. I was proud of the guys for keeping focused when they had to travel for the second straight week. It was a big win for us.”
Mars Hill is the defending Class 1A state champion from 2019. The Panthers defeated Westbrook in three games in the 2018 Class 2A quarterfinals.
“Coach Jay [Mitchell] always does a good job up there,” said Kennedy. “Whether its baseball or football, that school knows how to win state championships. But we’re thrilled to be playing in the semifinals and even more thrilled to be playing at home.