CHERRYVILLE — Cherryville took a 6-2 victory over Caldwell County Post 29 in the first game of the second round of the Area IV playoffs Sunday night at Cherryville High.

Post 29, which includes Watauga players Adam Church, Trey Dunnigan and Jon Sharpe, hosts Cherryville at M.S. Deal Stadium in Granite Falls Tuesday night.

Adam Benfield pitched a complete game for Cherryville, giving up six hits and two earned runs. He struck out eight, walked three and hit a batter.

Caldwell countered with Aaron Bentley, who went seven innings. He scattered seven hits and gave up three runs. Bentley also struck out six and walked three.

Caldwell led 1-0 in the top of the third when Zac Greer scored on a Dalton Hall sacrifice fly. Cherryville scored two runs in the bottom of the third on a two-run home run by Jake Watts. Cherryville scored another in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead it would not lose.

Church drove in a run in the eighth with an RBI double, but Cherryville answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to seal the victory.

Last Thursday’s game
GRANITE FALLS — Caldwell County Post 29 got a complete game from Cody Poarch on the mound and beat Huntersville 10-2 Thursday night at M.S. Deal Stadium. It gave Caldwell a 3-1 series victory in the first round of the Area IV playoffs.

After losing four straight to Huntersville, which included a three-game sweep in last year’s playoffs and the first game of this year’s series, Caldwell beat Huntersville three straight times.

Poarch gave up just three hits and two runs, one that was earned. He struck out 15 Huntersville batters and walked just five.

Caldwell broke the game open in the seventh inning with a four-run rally to take a 10-1 lead. Huntersville scored a run in the eighth, but was held scorless in the ninth. Caldwell banged out 10 hits and took advantage of three Huntersville errors.

Hall led the Caldwell offense by going 4-for-5 with three singles and a home run. He had four RBIs, scored two runs and stole a base.

Cody Prestwood and Jon Grey also had multiple hits in the game. Joel Woods added two RBIs.

Aaron Spano took the loss for Huntersville, giving up three earned runs on six hits in four innings. He walked one, hit two batters and struck out two.