Watauga pounds
West Wilkes
By Ian Bradshaw
Special to the Democrat
Watauga’s baseball team was able to channel an emotional season-opening night into a 17-1 thumping of West Wilkes Monday.
Before the Pioneers took on West Wilkes, there was business to attend. The Pioneers honored former player Drew Newell before the game by retiring his number 12 jersey. Newell was killed in an auto accident in November.
The school named left field, where Newell played, Newman’s Corner (Newman was Newell’s nickname when he played with the Pioneers) with a sign on the left field fence.
Former teammates and coaches joined the Newell family on the field for the ceremony, and Newell’s mother thanked the crowd and school for their support through this tough time.
Jon Sharpe pitches for Watauga against West Wilkes. Sharpe allowed two hits and did not give up a run in four innings’ work as Watauga rolled to a 17-1 victory. Photo by Rob Moore |
Watauga (1-0) had little trouble racing to a 13-0 lead after batting around twice in the first inning. Each of Watauga’s starting nine batters recorded at least on RBI. Cal Hardee led the Pioneers at the plate going 4-for-4 with three RBIs.
Trey Lowder knocked in three runs with a triple in the bottom of the first. Trey Dunnigan got two of his three RBIs off of a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth.
It was all that Watauga pitcher Jon Sharpe needed. Sharpe struck out four batters, allowing only two hits and no runs in four innings. Will Dicus finished the game on the mound for the Pioneers.
“We were aggressive at the plate and swung the bats real well. Jon Sharpe looked good pitching the ball tonight for us,” Pioneers coach Pete Hardee said. “I felt real good about our aggressiveness. I also felt real good about the night as a whole with Drew Newell’s dedication tonight and retiring his jersey. It was good night to see old players that played for me and no matter what happened it was just a good night.”
Defensively, Watauga played a very sharp game by not making any errors. West Wilkes’ only run of the game came off of a William Cotton RBI double in the top of the fifth inning.
Watauga is scheduled to play at T.C. Roberson Wednesday.
Watauga 17, West Wilkes 0
West Wilkes 000 01 — 1 4 5
Watauga (13)22 0X — 17 9 0
W—Sharpe (1-0), L—Absher (0-1).
HR— Dunnigan (1).
Left field at Watauga’s field was renamed Newman’s Corner in honor of Drew Newell, who was killed in an auto accident in November. Newell, whose nickname was “Newman,” played left field for Watauga.
Photo by Rob Moore |
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