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New Bern catcher, Gabe Brown, left, talks with pitcher Nate Healy during Friday’s first-round playoff game against Holly Springs.
Jess Huffman/Sun Journal
New Bern advances to second round of playoffs
Prior to Friday, the last time the New Bern baseball team had faced a live opponent was on May 1.
The Bears might have had to shake off a little rust, but they still were able to knock off Holly Springs, 6-3, on Friday in the opening round of the Class 4-A playoffs at Boykin Field,
"I thought we played like we haven't been on the field in nine days," said New Bern coach Gary Smith. "I think we did a good job at the plate having not being on the field."
New Bern (15-9) pounded out 10 hits, but stranded seven runners on base. The Bears left the bases loaded in the bottom of the third, and stranded two more on base in the fourth inning.
"It felt like 107," Smith added. "That is the feeling when the bases are loaded and you have run-scoring opportunities and you don't drive them in."
The Bears advance to the second round of the state playoffs where they will play at Wilmington Hoggard (19-4) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Nathan Healy, who dyed his hair green for the game, earned the win on the mound for New Bern. The senior pitched seven innings, while allowing three runs on nine hits. He also struck out eight and walked none.
"I thought Nate battled and competed, but I've seen him sharper," Smith said. "Nate was able to make some quality pitches in a lot of innings with runners on."
After the Golden Hawks were unable to score in the top of first inning, New Bern scored twice in the bottom half of the frame.
Matt Hardeman ripped a one-out single and advanced to third on a base hit from Brett Williams. Williams stole second, and both runners scored on a two-run single by catcher Gabe Brown.
"We have kind of preached all along, even on nights when we are not hitting, we can still run the bases well," Smith said. "That ought to be a constant. I thought we did a good job putting pressure on them."
Holly Springs (13-8) added a run in the top of the second, when Hayden Williams crossed home plate on a wild pitch.
New Bern came right back with a run in the bottom half of the second. Sam Sanders singled to lead off the inning, stole second and moved to third on a groundout by David Cook.
Sanders then scored on another groundout - this time off the bat of Anthony Holloway.
The Bears bumped up their advantage to 4-1 after scoring another run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Hardeman doubled to drive home Holloway, who led the inning off with a single.
New Bern added two more in the bottom of the fifth when Rod Sawyer scored on a wild pitch and Sanders crossed home plate on a single from Cook.
Holly Springs - a team with no seniors - still would not give in.
The Golden Hawks scored two runs in the top of the sixth, cutting their deficit to 6-3.
"They have got a good club with no seniors," Smith said. "They gave us more than we wanted tonight."
Sanders, Hardeman and Williams led New Bern's offense with three hits apiece. All but two batters in the lineup recorded at least one base hit.
Adam Thompson can be reached at (252) 635-5670 or at athompson@freedomenc.com.
