Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Alex Carver is fired up after scoring in Game 1 of the Class 1A West Region finals. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record)
RAMSEUR – Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team is back in the Class 1A state finals, seeking a third consecutive championship.
The Eagles swept Eastern Randolph in the West Region’s best-of-3 finals, winning 12-1 in six innings in Thursday night’s Game 2 on the road.
Two nights earlier, UCA won 2-1 in the series opener at home.
The Eagles (18-11) have leaned on their experienced players, with several seniors in their final high school postseason.
“You have your opportunity right now to lead us to another state championship,” UCA coach Rob Shore said of his message. At this stage of the season, seniors realize “I got to be that dog,” he said.
UCA will face Perquimans or Voyager Academy in the best-of-3 state finals May 30-31 in either Burlington or Holly Springs.
Just like two years ago, the West Region finals ended on Eastern Randolph’s field with UCA clinching the series in the second game.
The Eagles were up 7-0 through four innings, with Daniel Brandon’s three-run, two-out triple in the third the big blow.
“We put pressure on them early,” Shore said. “It builds confidence going into the state championship.”
Alex Carver had three hits and scored three runs, Jake Hunter and Grat Dalton both had two hits. Brandon finished with four runs batted in.
Logun Wilkins was the winning pitcher, striking out eight batters.
Alex Kivett, Lucas Smith and Cade McCallum all had two hits for Eastern Randolph (15-14-1). Starting pitcher Bryson Marley took the loss, while Chance Holdaway and Smith pitched in relief.
In Game 1, UCA’s Brett Smith threw a five-hitter with five strikeouts.
“For us to hold them to one unearned run, I think was great by Brett,” Shore said.
The Eagles went up 1-0 with an unearned run in the second inning. Jose Ramirez, who struck out twice earlier in the game, tripled and scored on Carver’s sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead in the sixth inning.
“(Carver) had a two-strike approach and drove it in the gap and Alex had a great at-bat getting him in,” Shore said.
Jake Hunter had two hits for UCA.
McCallum took the loss, allowing three hits and three walks with eight strikeouts. He had the Eagles largely out of kilter at the plate.
“A lot of times when you’re this deep into the playoffs, you just have to tip the cap to the other guy,” Shore said.
UCA won all four meetings against the Wildcats this year.
