Third time's the charm: Here's how Crest baseball upset South Point in NCHSAA playoffs

BELMONT — Crest baseball didn’t forget the last time it met Big South 3A rival South Point.

In mid-April, the Red Raiders made short work of Crest, outscoring the Chargers 22-2 on their way to an impressive two-game sweep. South Point parlayed such success into a second straight Big South 3A title, as well as the No. 4 seed in the NCHSAA 3A West playoff bracket.

None of that mattered Tuesday, as 29th-ranked Crest made the most of its third crack against an old nemesis.

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The Chargers are headed to the second round of the 3A West baseball playoffs, this after earning a 12-7 win over South Point.

“In those two matchups, we did a lot of the same things that kind of hurt them (Tuesday). They did a good job of taking advantage of those things, but we did our part to help,” said Crest baseball coach Adam McSwain. “We’re young; guys are starting to figure out they can play with some people. Last week (competing against Kings Mountain) helped us a lot. I thought we put together two good weeks of baseball, and once you get in everything is 0-0 and who knows? You get the right seed, the right matchups and you never know.”

Crest’s most important inning came with its batters barely taking the bat off their shoulders. Scoreless through three innings, the Chargers plated three runs courtesy of five walks and a hit batsman. They were more conventional with their scoring in the fifth, scoring six runs on three base hits, five walks and two hit batsmen, tacking on three more runs in the seventh for good measure.

Landry Ohmstead led Crest by going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Brock Melton finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Caleb Costner and Zack Rayfield had two RBIs apiece.

Meanwhile, Crest pitcher Parker Ramsey was in control for much of the night, going 5 ⅓ innings allowing four runs (three earned) on a hit and six strikeouts.

“I didn’t feel any pressure at all. I felt pretty good,” he said. “I went out there and played loose. My fastball was working pretty good and I was throwing it pretty hard today; my curve ball was on point too.”

South Point’s runs in the sixth and seventh as it was desperately seeking to retrieve its season.

Gavin Gibson had a hit and  two RBIs, while Zeke Pruitt, Colby Hamilton and Camden Ashe each had a hit and an RBI.

Crest moves on to play No. 13 Lake Norman Charter on Friday. The Knights defeated Atkins 7-1 to advance. Though tough, McSwain said his team will be ready to go.

“We told our guys they ‘are playing with house money; they are supposed to lose this game. There’s no reason to feel a lot of pressure,” McSwain said. “Just go compete, and whatever happens, happens.”

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Third time's the charm: Here's how Crest baseball upset South Point in NCHSAA playoffs