CHINA GROVE — For the record, Heath Mitchem drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth and Dylan Atwell pitched a complete game four-hitter.
But the true hero in Carson’s 3-2 marathon nine inning victory over Hickory Ridge Wednesday night was third baseman Ryan Bearden. The burley junior played stonewall defense in the hot corner all night with seven assists, mostly of the sliding, diving, bang-bang variety.
The biggest out produced by Bearden came in the top of the ninth with one out and a man on third in a 2-2 game. A hot shot off the bat of Will Simoneaux was smothered by Bearden who jumped up and gunned a strike to catcher Matt Saul at the plate to cut down the go-ahead run.
“That play by Bearden right there,” Atwell stated. “That is a play that makes the difference in the game.”
With another bullet dodged, the Cougars finally got to Ragin’ Bull starter Drew Friends in the bottom of the ninth to settle it. With one out Matt Jones reached on a high throw by the shortstop. Michael Morrison then singled past the shortstop and Mitchem laced a liner into left field to bring home the game winner.
“We had a lot of opportunities tonight so I thought at some point we were finally going to score again,” Mitchem said of his game winner. “I never really felt like we were going to lose this game but I am glad we finally got the win,”
With their seventh win in a row, Carson improved to 13-4 overall and 9-4 in the South Piedmont conference. The tough luck Bulls fell to 4-13 overall and 3-10 in the SPC.
Before the ninth inning dramatics, the two teams deadlock at 2-2 early on then settled in for a pitching duel between Atwell and Friends. Carson struck first with RBI singles in the bottom of the first by Mitchem and John Daugherty. Hickory Ridge tied it up in the top of the second on a pair of singles and a throwing error. A clutch two out single by Nick Ryan brought in both runs. It would be another seven innings before anyone would score again.
Atwell allowed only one more hit the rest of the way striking out six and walking just one. He had stretches where he retired eight in a row then nine in a row. Atwell estimated his pitch count was well above 100 but said he felt fine despite chilly temperatures.
“Coach actually told me I was done after the ninth,” he said. “But my arm felt fine. And the team really persevered behind me tonight. Overall our defense played great”
His pitching counterpart Friends, a sophomore righty, was equally impressive with his complete game effort. He only allowed one earned run, fanned three and pitched around several jams.
“That is kind of the story of our whole season,” Ragin’ Bull coach Branden Knapp lamented of his team’s fourth one run loss. “Drew threw a great ball game today as he always does but their pitcher did well throwing strikes and keeping us off the bases. But we’ll keep our heads up and be ready for tomorrow.”
The biggest negative for the Cougars on an otherwise happy night, occurred in the bottom of the eighth when they almost won the game. They may have lost their star catcher for a few games instead. Senior Bryson Prugh led off with a double then trotted to third on balk call with no outs. But after a ground out to short, John Patella was unable to connect on the squeeze bunt play as Prugh broke for home. Not only was Prugh out easily but the home plate umpire ruled he made “malicious” contact with the catcher and ejected him. That may lead to a two game suspension for the star Cougar catcher.
Carson Coach Chris Cauble said he saw no malicious intent on Prugh’s part during the play but noted it was all up to the umpire and the way he reports the incident.
But Cauble was still pleased with the way the game developed. “Both teams had their chances down the stretch and both got out of a couple of jams,” Cauble said. “ Both pitchers gave gutty performances. I am just glad it ended the way it did with us on top.”
The same two teams will turn right around and face off again tonight at Hickory Ridge High starting at approximately 6:30. It will be hard to top the drama of their first meeting.