PILOT MOUNTAIN — East Surry bounced back from a loss to top-ranked Forbush by taking down North Stokes 6-1 on April 24.
The Cardinals honored four seniors ahead of the nonconference victory: Nickolas O’Neal, Colton Andrews, Will Jones and Jaxon Bottoms.
“Our seniors have done a great job for us this year,” said East Surry coach Chad Freeman. “We lost a lot of experience with last year’s graduates, and this year’s seniors had to step up and show leadership. We had some early season adversity, but these four guys stayed positive and set the example for the others.
“I’m thankful for Will, Jaxon, Colton, and Nick for the positive example they set for the other kids.”
Carter Motsinger pitched a complete game for the Cardinals (11-8). The sophomore finished with one strikeout, one base on balls, and one run allowed on four hits.
Elijah Whicker threw a complete game for the Vikings (10-13). The junior tossed five strikeouts, walked four batters, and allowed six runs on eight hits.
North Stokes put a runner on third base out of the gate. Jackson Lester singled, moved to second after tagging up on a fly ball then moved to third when East committed a fielding error. The runner was left on base after East caught a pop fly.
East Surry overcame its early mistake by scoring twice in the bottom of the inning. Stevie Keener was walked, then was joined on base after Vincent Pannutti singled and Porter Gibson was walked. Jones hit a 2RBI single to bring both Keener and Pannutti back to the plate.
Keener was walked again in the second inning before moving to second on an error. The junior scored the Cardinals’ third run on a single from Pannutti.
East went three up three down across each of the next three innings. North did the same in the third and fourth innings, but was able to score its first run in the top of the fifth.
Ryan Smith led the inning off by reaching first on an error. Motsinger struck out the next batter, then East forced a flyout for out No. 2. A wild pitch thrown to Lester allowed Smith to advance to second, then Lester sent a ball to right-center field to bring in Smith.
East Surry held North Stokes scoreless in the top of the sixth before the home team padded its lead with three more runs. Jones led the inning off with a single before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt from Andrews. Luke Bruner then scored Jones with a line drive hit to left-center field.
O’Neal followed by reaching first on a fielder’s choice. Motsinger singled up the middle to move O’Neal to second, then Keener scored O’Neal with a line drive to left field. Bottoms brought in the game’s final run with a ground ball hit to left field.
Pitching
North Stokes
Elijah Whicker — 6 IP, 5K, 4 BB, 8H, 6R
East Surry
Carter Motsinger — 7 IP, 1K, 1 BB, 4H, 1R
Scoring
North Stokes — 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0 — 1
East Surry — 2, 1, 0, 0, 0, 3, X — 6
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