Pioneers blast Freedom 18-3

By Steve Behr
 
The biggest concern Watauga coach Pete Hardee had Wednesday going into the Pioneers’ game with Freedom was a letdown.

The Pioneers had just beaten Northwestern 4-A Conference power South Caldwell one day earlier and was facing a Freedom program that has hit on hard times. A loss to the Patriots would not have been good for the Pioneers if they want to make a realistic run at an NWC championship.

Hardee’s worries were put at ease thanks to four Watauga home runs and by Cal Hardee’s right arm. The Pioneers used those home runs to score nine of Watauga’s 18 runs in their 18-3 victory over Freedom.

“In this game, you still have to get ready to play,” Hardee said. “We warned them about that. You never know. It’s not like in basketball when you’ve got a stoppage of time to talk things over. One of the things about this game is that you have to come ready to play every day.”

Adam Church hit a pair of two-run home runs, one in the first inning and another in the second. Kyle Miller also hit a two-run shot in the first to give the Pioneers a 4-0 lead. Matt Phillips, who went in for Miller in the fourth inning, belted a three-run homer to give Watauga a 12-0 lead.

“In a game like this, the longer you fail to score, the more you feel the pressure to score,” Hardee said.

It was plenty of breathing room for Cal Hardee, who went five innings on the mound for the Pioneers. He did not give up any runs until the fifth, when Cameron Waters hit a two-out, three-run home run. Waters’ blast was Freedom’s lone extra base hit and his second hit of the game.

Freedom managed five hits off Hardee, who struck out six and walked one. Those three runs were the first three Hardee has allowed this season.

“I think he’s learning about who to pitch and about pitching, such as his release point,” Pete Hardee said of Cal. “It’s tough to keep up the intensity when you go up by that much in the second inning.”

Watauga banged out 12 hits, including three from Baine Martin, who had an RBI single in Watauga’s six-run fifth inning. He also drove in a run with a fielder’s choice in the third.

Phil Gordon added two hits, including an RBI single in the fifth, and Mitch Minford drove in two runs with a single in the fifth. Chris Shelton had an RBI double in the third inning.

The game was originally supposed to be played Friday, but was moved to Wednesday because of anticipated bad weather that’s expected to roll into the region. Watauga is scheduled to play West Wilkes on Saturday, but might not get the chance because of bad weather.

The Pioneers’ next NWC game is Tuesday at McDowell.

Watauga 18, Freedom 3
Watauga 432 36 — 18 12 1
Freedom 000 03 — 3 6 1
Hardee and Church. Timmons, Webb, Brown, Waters and Fullbright. W—Hardee (2-0), L—Timmons (0-2). LOB—Watauga 5, Freedom 5. 2B—Watauga, Shelton. HR—Watauga, Church 2, Miller, Phillips. SB—Watauga, Shelton. HBP—Freedom,