The past couple of seasons both Sacred Heart and Lumberton were guaranteed a playoff spot because of only four teams in its region. This season, however, each team had to claw its way in, and both have earned spots in the postseason.
Sacred Heart, a No. 3 seed, will play French Camp starting Friday, and fourth-seeded Lumberton is matched up with Nanih Waiya beginning Thursday. The Crusaders will travel to French Camp Friday for a 6 p.m. game, then return home for a 2 p.m. contest Saturday. Game 3, if necessary, will be back in French Camp Monday at 6 p.m.
“I’ve heard from a couple of coaches that they’re solid one through nine,” Sacred Heart coach Drew Dewease said. “They don’t strikeout a lot, so they’re going to put it in play and make us make plays. They don’t put up a lot of runs, but they don’t give up a lot of runs either.”
The Panthers have posted a 6-7 overall record entering their series with Sacred Heart. Their team batting average sits a .282, but the combined fielding percentage is a low .897. However, French Camp’s pitching staff has put together a 1.91 earned run average in 81 innings. Of the 79 total runs scored on the French Camp pitchers, 22 have been earned runs.
Senior John Weeks leads the Panthers’ offense with a .463 average, while three others hit better than .300. Weeks is also their leading pitcher, tallying a 1.38 ERA in 25.1 innings with 46 strikeouts to 21 walks.
“We’re going to have to play really good defense and throw strikes,” Dewease said. “Walks in the postseason, I don’t care what defense you have out there, there’s no defense for walks.
“We’re going to have to swing the bats, put pressure on them and see what they’ve got.”
Sacred Heart sophomore pitcher Luke Odom gives Sacred Heart a chance to win every time out. He’s 4-2 on the season with a 3.86 ERA in 32.2 innings. He’s also struck out 41 batters and has walked only nine. He’s posted clutch district wins the past couple of weeks, too.
“With him and (eighth grader) Levi (Odom), I honestly feel like they’re two of the better pitchers in 1A,” Dewease said. “The big thing is playing good defense behind them for us.”
Lumberton has a tall task ahead of it in the first round. It’ll travel to Louisville Thursday for Game 1 against Nanih Waiya (19-1), then Game 2 will be in Lumberton Friday. If necessary, Game 3 is back at Nanih Waiya Monday. All game times at set for 5 p.m.
Warriors junior Coley Taylor leads the offense with a .519 average and 21 RBI, and senior Roper Ball adds a .468 average. Nanih Waiya also has five other batters with .400 averages or better, which will make it difficult for Lumberton pitchers.
On the mound for Nanih Waiya, the team has a 1.67 ERA and opposing batters are hitting a slim .161 against its pitchers. Senior Bryce Stanton leads the way with 30.2 innings and a 1.37 ERA, and junior Jake Kight has a 1.12 ERA in 25 innings.
Lumberton has a team batting average of .340, with junior Davion Edwards hitting .500 with 16 RBI. Sophomore Jayson Buckley, junior Jared Tribett, freshman Andrew Townsend, junior C.K. Bowens and freshman Jeff Townsend all hit better than .300.
