Pioneers face

South Caldwell

a third time
By Steve Behr

Many people believe that beating a good team three times in a season can be a very difficult thing to do.

Watauga’s baseball team hopes they can do that to South Caldwell in the finals of the Northwestern 4-A Conference Tournament, which is Monday night at 7 p.m. at M.S. Deal Stadium in Granite Falls.

Watauga, ranked ninth in the state 4-A poll and the NWC Tournament’s No. 1 seed, swept No. 2 seeded South Caldwell during the regular season en route to winning the Northwestern 4-A Conference championship this season. The Pioneers take a 17-6 overall record, 10-2 in the NWC, into the game.

Watauga surprised South Caldwell (18-4, 9-3), ranked No. 3 at the time, 12-6 during the first meeting. The Pioneers followed with a 4-1 victory in Sawmills after scoring three runs in the first inning.

The game Monday night was originally scheduled for Friday, but was moved to Saturday after first-round games were postponed because of bad weather. A storm watch was the reason why the game was postponed Saturday.

Watauga reached the final by beating East Burke 9-4 Friday night. Cal Hardee pitched the entire game for the Pioneers, scattering eight hits and striking out four.

South Caldwell reached the final by beating Freedom 8-4 in the first round and A.C. Reynolds 7-2 in the semifinal.

Watauga opens the state 4-A tournament Friday against the No. 5 seed from the powerful Southwestern 4-A Conference.