The Newton County Academy baseball team had its hand full in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.
The Generals took two exciting wins, beating Porter’s Chapel 7-6 on Tuesday and then taking a 9-8 win on Thursday.
NCA improves to 15-9 on the season. The Generals advance to second-round play and will take on Prentiss Christian. Prentiss beat River Oaks 19-1 and 10-0 in first-round action. NCA and Prentiss split games in the regular season with Prentiss winning 8-6 on April 11 and NCA willing 12-9 on April 16.
NCA 7, Porter’s Chapel 6
PCA 1 0 0 0 01 4 — 6 5 3
NCA 0 0 6 1 0 0 x — 7 8 0
Hitting: The Generals had eight hits as Ty Thrash was 2-for-3 with two RBIs while Taylor Burt was 2-for-3. Cooper Savell doubled and drove in a run while Logan Hitt and Stephen Duke each singled and drove in a run. Logan Heidelberg drove in two runs while Marshall Wright singled and scored.
Pitching: Stephen Duke started on the mound and pitched six innings, giving up two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out eight. Marshall Wright pitched the last inning and gave up four runs on two hits and four walks while striking out 1.
NCA 9, PCA 8
NCA 1 1 0 1 4 1 1 — 9 9 1
PCA 0 3 0 0 0 5 0 — 8 6 3
Hitting: The Generals had nine hits in the contest and four extra base hits. Logan Heidelberg was 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and three RBIs while Taylor Burt doubled and drove in two runs. Jackson Bunyard doubled and scored while Logan Hitt doubled and drove in a run. Ty Thrash walked twice and scored two runs while Vitaly Ferguson, Cooper Savell, Marshall Wright and Stephen Duke each singled and scored.
Pitching: Logan Hitt pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave ups runs on four hits and nine walks while Marshall Wright pitched 2/3 of an inning and gave up two unearned runs on one hits and two walks. Savell pitched the last inning and gave up just one hit.
