Five home runs highlighted a 17-hit attack as the Morganton 11-12 all-stars hammered Watauga National 16-4 on Monday in the N.C. Little League District 7 baseball tournament held at Boone Optimist Park.
Morganton’s victory forced a final winner-take-all D7 title game, which was played late Tuesday in Morganton.
Morganton shortstop Chase Crump, infielder/outfielder Daxton Bostian and first baseman Philip Pieto cranked three straight long balls in the sixth inning.
Crump’s grand slam – which scored Tripp Causby (fielder’s choice), Alek Thomas (single) and Payton Hightower (pinch-runner after Alex Whisnant was hit by pitch) – was the rising Draughn High freshman’s first-ever homer over the fence and fueled Morganton’s six-run sixth, which put the game out of reach.
“I hit a 2-1 fastball over the right-field fence,” said Crump. “It was awesome hitting my first-ever home run, plus the fact that Daxton and Philip followed was great.
“Our pitching was really good. That was the main reason we were in the lead the whole game.”
Morganton was also tough at the plate, batting .472 (17-for-36) in the contest.
The team’s offensive leaders were Graham Martin (home run, two singles, two RBIs, run), Bostian (two HRs, single, walk, five RBIs, three runs), Pieto (home run, two singles, two runs, two RBIs), Crump (home run, double, three runs, six RBIs) and left-fielder Matt Curtis (two singles, RBI).
Center fielder Alek Thomas (single, three runs, walk), Ty Causby (double, run) and catchers Alex Whisnant (single, hit by pitch) and Riley Caraway (single) each produced one hit.
Morganton only used two pitchers in the game. Pieto (2 1/3 IP, 10 batters faced, three hits, unearned run, no walks, two Ks, 20 pitches) gained the win while reliever Tripp Causby (3 2/3 IP, 19 batters faced, seven hits, no walks, five Ks, 62 pitches) secured the save on the mound.
The Morganton defense was led by Crump’s two groundouts at short, Martin’s two catches at second and two forceouts while playing third, Tripp Causby’s two groundouts at pitcher, Pieto’s unassisted putout and four assists at first and Ty Causby’s accurate throw to Whisnant at the plate for the final out of the opening inning.
Morganton 12, Wilkes American 0 – The Morganton All-Stars claimed the loser’s-bracket finale with a shutout against Wilkes American on Saturday in North Wilkesboro.
The Morganton pitching staff only surrendered one hit. Daxton Bostian (five batters faced, two Ks), Matt Curtis (11 batters faced, three Ks, one hit) and Tripp Causby (two batters faced, K) led the charge.
The offensive explosion was led by Pieto (home run, single, walk, three runs), Curtis (home run, single, run), Martin (double, home run, three runs), Tripp Causby (two singles, double, two runs), Bostian (single, run) and Crump (single, two runs).
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