WEBCAST
It was very simple for the Trojans as they entered play on Monday night. Beat Knightdale, and they make the playoffs. Lose to the Knights and Clayton goes to the playoffs.
Things got off to a good start for the Trojans as CJ Schmitt was hit by the Micheal Green pitch. Schmitt would later steal second base and score on a Matt Powell RBI single to left.
Garner would keep the 1-0 lead as Powell was dominate keeping Knightdale off balance all night as he struck out four hitters through the first three innings.
Unfortunately, the Trojan defense found a speed bump in the bottom of the fourth as Reese Bridgers walked to start the inning and would later score on an error. The big key in the inning was a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt allowing Bridgers to score but also allowed Micheal Green to reach third. When the inning was over, the Trojans had given up three un-earned runs and found themselves down 3-1 going to the fifth inning.
In the top of the fifth, the Trojans were in need of a run to get some momentum back on their side, and Jesse Fisher provided that spark. Fisher walked then advanced to third base when Micheal Green over threw first base on a pick-off attempt and Fisher scored on a pass ball to cut the lead to one run at 3-2.
With Garner still trailing by the same 3-2 margin in the top of the seventh, it was do or die time and after Aquail Sanders led off the inning with a base hit to left, the Trojans tried to play some small ball as Jesse Fisher tried to bunt Sanders to second, but after Fisher took ball one, Sanders was caught in no man's land and was tagged out at first base.
Jackson Pleasant was the next man to hit and on the first pitch, Pleasant grounded to short which retired Fisher going to second base, and that would be the end of the Trojan rally as Schmitt struck out to end the game.
While Garner's 3-2 loss is painful, you have to give a big tip of the cap to Matt Powell who was un-hittable on this night as Powell pitched a 6 Innings and did not surrender a hit while walking only three men and striking out eight.
The Trojans finish the summer with a 9-5 record, and have a lot to look forward to in the spring.
GAR 2 2 2
KNI 3 0 1
Winning Pitcher: Micheal Green
Losing Pitcher: Matt Powell
JV Finishes on a Positive Note
After a lead off home run in the bottom of the first, Scotty McCreery settled down as the JV Trojans down Knightdale 11-2 in six innings.
Powell No-Hits Knights, but Trojans Still Lose
