Ninth-ranked Pioneers

eye NWC tourney
By Steve Behr

Watauga’s baseball team will have to settle for its 4-3 win over North Davidson Saturday to be its final tune-up for the Northwestern 4-A Conference Tournament, which was supposed to begin Tuesday.

A constant rain that fell Monday night into Tuesday morning left Watauga’s field in no condition to play a makeup game with T.C. Roberson Tuesday. So the Pioneers must wait until Thursday to see who they will play again.

“It’s supposed to rain all day,” Pioneers coach Pete Hardee said Tuesday morning. “We’ll just pass on it.”

The Pioneers will have to wait to see who wins the first round game between East Burke and Alexander Central, which was also supposed to be Tuesday, but may get pushed back to Wednesday because of weather.

South Caldwell was supposed to host Freedom and McDowell was to host A.C. Reynolds in the other first-round games. Both were to be played Tuesday.

While they’re waiting, the Pioneers were ranked ninth in the IMPACT baseball 4-A poll Monday. Watauga is 16-6 overall and won the NWC with a 10-2 league record. The Pioneers have played No. 3 Providence and No. 8 Ardrey Kell, losing to both teams.

Watauga also lost 2-0 to Jamestown Ragsdale, which is ranked third in the 3-A poll. Watauga also swept NWC rival and regional power South Caldwell, handing them two of the Spartans’ four losses. Hardee felt that playing these teams gets the Pioneers ready for the state 4-A playoffs, which begin May 16.

“It keeps you from being intimidated,” he said. “We played at Providence and it doesn’t get any harder than that. You may not necessarily win, but at least you don’t go into the playoffs already defeated. You’re not going to be intimidated by anybody.”

Hardee said he does not have a preference who the Pioneers play Thursday. East Burke, Alexander Central and A.C. Reynolds all tied for fourth place in the NWC, so the team that advances the farthest earns the league’s automatic fourth seed bid into the 4-A state playoffs.

It’s likely that East Burke’s top pitcher, Corey Rhoney, is likely to pitch against Alexander Central, meaning that if the Cavaliers win, Watauga would face a second-tier pitcher. Rhoney, one of the top pitchers in the NWC, pitched the Cavs to a win over Watauga last week.

Watauga beat Alexander Central in the Pioneers’ NWC finale last week, but the Cougars upset South Caldwell Friday night, which allowed Watauga to win the NWC regular season championship outright.

“We’ve matched up pretty well against Alexander as far as the regular season goes,” Hardee said. “They swing the bats really well. I feel they both will throw their ace in the first round. Whoever makes it the farthest gets the fourth seed to the playoffs, so that game is important to them. They’ll probably go after it like it’s for the conference championship.”

Hardee said Cal Hardee will start Thursday night no matter who the Pioneers play. Hardee struggled a bit against East Burke, but that was over a week ago.

Pete Hardee said Jon Sharpe would get the nod in the championship game should the Pioneers get that far.

Both Watauga’s game Thursday and the championship game are at M.S. Deal Stadium in Granite Falls.

Sharpe has battled a sore elbow, but has not pitched since last Tuesday in Watauga’s win over Alexander Central. Pete Hardee said Cal would be available in relief if necessary.

Watauga also has Will Littlejohn, who pitched a complete against North Davidson Saturday. Jake Wallace and Mitch Minford are also available.

“He’s doing better,” Pete Hardee said of Sharpe. “We’ve been working on some mechanics that are helping him some. He could be full speed by the tournament, so I feel he’ll be throwing like he’s capable of.”