Middle Creek clinches NCHSAA 4-A baseball title

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DURHAM -- Middle Creek jumped out to an early 5-0 lead and made it stand up as the Mustangs rolled past Cornelius W.A. Hough 10-4 on Saturday afternoon to clinch the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 4-A baseball championship series at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Middle Creek took the best of three series in two straight. Jimmy Boyd pitched a one-hit shutout on Friday night as Middle Creek won the opening game 2-0 in just 91 minutes. Boyd, who was the designated hitter on Saturday, had one hit in two official trips, walked twice, stole a base and scored two runs in the second game, earning the championship Most Valuable Player honor.

Graham Edwards earned his ninth pitching victory of the year, fanning five and walking four. Spencer Venator, who was knocked out of the game in the second, was the loser.

Hough had cut it to 5-3 in the top of the third but Middle Creek added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third and then scored three in the fifth.

The Mustangs unleashed a nine-hit attack, led by Tyler Shorter's three hits, but also took advantage of five walks issued by Hough pitching, two hit batters and six Husky errors.  David Salmon had a single and a double and drove in two for Middle Creek.

Will Champion, A.J. Girting and Jared Sobo each had two hits for Hough. Girting drove in two runs.

Middle Creek improved its overall record to 26-7. Hough, in only its second year of operation, finished 23-12. Both teams were in the NCHSAA baseball finals for the first time.

 
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
STATE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Durham
Class 4-A: Game Two
 
Cornelius W.A. Hough                0  0  3      0  0  0      1-- 4   10   6
Apex Middle Creek                      3  2  2      0  3  0      x--10    9   1

WP--Graham Edwards  (9-1).   LP--Spencer Venator (6-4).