By Mike Williams

Analyst

WILSON – Greenfield School rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull out a come from behind 4-3 win over Northeast Academy in an NCISAA 1-A quarterfinal contest.

Robbie Stokely’s base hit to left scored Dwanyae Sutton from second with the winning run stopping the Eagles’ bid for a first ever berth in the NCISAA 1-A baseball final four.

The contest was played at Moe Bauer Field on the campus of NC Wesleyan University after the playing surface at Fleming Stadium was deemed too wet for a second straight day.

Pitchers Robbie Stokely of Greenfield and Will Glover of Northeast both went the distance and both worked themselves out of numerous jams in the nip and tuck affair.

Northeast committed two crucial seventh inning errors and stranded 12 runners on base which contributed to their downfall.

Greenfield drew first blood in the bottom of the first as Sutton was hit by a pitch, stole second, took third on a Tas Pittman single and raced home on an infield out off the bat of Chase Whitehead.

Meanwhile, despite struggling with control problems early, Stokely held Northeast scoreless in the opening frame after walking both Ryan Williams and Clay Robbins.

NEA loaded the bases in the second when Benton Barrett was hit by a pitch and both Brad Johnson and Trey Futrell drew walks. However Stokely got Williams to pop to short and Willie Rose to hit into a force out to quell the threat.

Northeast was able to get on the scoreboard in the third.

Clay Robbins was hit by a Stokely offering and Glover reached base when the Greenfield leftfielder dropped his fly ball. Logan Simonowich popped up to GFS catcher Chase Whitehead who made a fine running catch for the first out, but his momentum carried him into the home dugout which allowed the runners to advance a base.

Jason Williford hit a slow roller back to the mound which Stokely made a fine play on looking the runner back and firing to first for the second out. However, moments later Stokely uncorked a wild pitch allowing Robbins to score and Brad Johnson ripped a single up the middle plating Glover to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead.

Glover held the Knight bats in check allowing only one baserunner in the third, fourth and fifth innings, that coming on a Parker Lucas single.

Northeast added another tally in the sixth as Williams singled to right and Willie Rose was hit by a pitch. Williams went to third on a fielder’s choice and came home on Robbins infield out as NEA increased their advantage to 3-1.

Glover and his Northeast teammates seemed to have things well in hand going into the bottom of the seventh, but Greenfield would prove to have other ideas.

Tristan Kosich opened the fateful frame singling off Glover’s glove and moving on to second when the NEA third baseman fielded the ricochet and overthrew first. Christophe LeMaire then lofted a fly ball to center which was dropped putting runners on first and third.

Sutton singled to center to score Kosich and both runners advanced an extra base when the Eagle centerfielder overthrew home. Tas Pittman was intentionally walked to load the bases to create a force at any base.

Chase Whitehead’s sacrifice fly plated LeMaire knotting the score and Stokely then slapped a single between short and third scoring the speedy Sutton from second with the game winning run.

Robbie Stokely got the win on the mound despite struggling with control problems at times. The 6’-9” junior fanned seven but walked six and hit three batters.

Will Glover was saddled with the loss. Glover had five strikeouts, walked one and hit two batters.

Offensively, Greenfield had a balanced attack with eight hits with no one having more than one. Chase Whitehead had two RBIs. Northeast was led at the plate by Brad Johnson who was 2-for-2 and Benton Barrett who went 2-for-3.

With the win Greenfield School upped their season record to 16-6 and will face CPIC foe Wayne Country Day in the NCISAA 1-A state semifinal contest Friday at 4 p.m. at Fleming Stadium in Wilson.

Northeast concludes one of their best ever baseball campaigns at 12-6.