Wayne Country Day is two games away from a state title.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Chargers shut out Caldwell Academy 8-0 in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 2A semifinals.
The Chargers (17-1) advance to face The Burlington School in the state championship series. Game one is on Friday at 4:30 p.m. Game two is on Saturday at noon.
“I really thought our kids did a good job battling,” Wayne Country Day head coach Adam Pate said.
Pate said it is a special feeling, knowing his team will be able to compete for a state title, especially after last season ended so suddenly because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It feels really good. I’m happy for our kids after last year was taken away from them,” Pate said. “This is what you want you to do. You work to win the state championship, but for that to even be remotely possible, you have to get to there.”
The Chargers scored four runs in the top of the first inning. Tanner Willman drilled a two-RBI single, while the other two runs came off a two-run home run from Drew Spencer.
After taking a 4-0 lead, the Chargers never looked back.
“We did all that with one out, and that was really impressive and really good to see,” Pate said.
On the mound, Garrett Moffett gave up zero runs, zero hits, and fanned 13 Caldwell batters in four and one-third innings of work. Rowan Watt came in and pitched the rest of the game and allowed just two hits.
Caldwell Academy did not record its first of the game hit until the top of the sixth inning.
“Garrett on the mound and Rowan in relief were just really good,” Pate said.
Wayne Country Day scored one run in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings to build up a 6-0 lead.
And in the bottom of the sixth, Guyler Netchaeff hit a home run, while Moffett hit an RBI single to put the Chargers up 8-0.
“Guyler has taken everything he’s learned from sitting on the bench and was preparing for a time like this,” Pate said. “It was great to see him hit a home run.”
Spencer, Willman and Netchaeff all finished the game with two RBIs. Moffett and Gavin Johnson both had one RBI apiece.
