Tough night at the Point: Baseball, softball both fall in sub-state play

Photo: Northpoint’s Kayden Clayborn takes a lead off first base during the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader against Providence Academy. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)

Northpoint Christian baseball and softball teams had chances to punch tickets for a return to the TSSAA Spring Fling state finals Wednesday on their home diamonds. 

However Providence Academy in baseball and Grace Christian in softball stripped the Trojans and Lady Trojans of those ducats and the East Tennessee teams will make the trip to Murfreesboro instead.  

The baseball Trojans, which have been in the D2-A state tournament finals the last three years, including last spring’s championship season, fell to Providence Academy 6-2 and 9-5.  

The Lady Trojans, an improving softball program under coach Molly Beth Ferguson, lost their two games to Grace Christian of Knoxville, Tennessee 7-4 and 7-1.  

Both were playing in best-of-three series at the sub-state round where the winner would have one become of the final four teams heading to play in the state finals.

Here’s a recap of the games Northpoint’s baseball and softball teams played on Wednesday:

BASEBALL-PROVIDENCE ACADEMY 6, NORTHPOINT CHRISTIAN 2: One year ago, Northpoint’s baseball team made the 10-hour trip to Providence Academy in Johnson City, Tenn. and play for the return trip to the Spring Fling. This time, it was the Knights’ turn to make the long trip west to battle the Trojans.  

Providence came away with the game-one victory with three runs in the second and three more in the seventh inning. Northpoint scored single runs in the second and again in the third innings. 

A recurring theme for the Trojans in both games Wednesday was the lack of offense, held to just three hits in the first game, although one of the hits was a double by KL Farr.  

Farr again was stellar on the mound, with 10 strikeouts in 5.2 innings on the mound. However, Farr walked two and allowed three runs, two earned runs, and seven hits. Alex Love came into the game in relief and gave up three runs, one hit, while fashioning one strikeout and one walk.  

BASEBALL-PROVIDENCE ACADEMY 9, NORTHPOINT CHRISTIAN 5: A seven-run third inning gave Providence Academy an 8-0 lead on the way to the series triumph over the defending state D2-A championships. Pitching problems troubled the Trojans, especially in the third inning, leading to the loss. Losing pitcher Jace Robinson suffered with a wild pitch and two hit batsmen, while Alex Love was tagged for two wild pitches and another hit batsman.  

Robinson tossed 2.2 innings, gave up two hits and six runs, five of which were earned. Robinson walked two and struck out three. Love was not credited with any innings, but walked three and gave up two runs, one of which was earned.  Carson Jones tossed 3.1 innings, allowed one hit and one run, walked four and struck out two.

In all, Northpoint walked nine batters and allowed only four hits in dropping the nightcap of the contest.  

Offensively, Robinson did help the cause with a double as Northpoint tried to mount a comeback, scoring all five runs for the game in the fifth innings.  

“Things just didn’t go our way,” said Northpoint coach Stephen Kirkpatrick. “They swung the bats better than we did and they got the timely hits and we didn’t. Credit to them, they did a good job.”  

SOFTBALL-GRACE CHRISTIAN 7, NORTHPOINT CHRISTIAN 4: The Lady Rams from Knoxville, Tenn., chipped away at the Lady Trojans in the first game of the series Wednesday with a solo run in the first, then two runs in the four, fifth and seventh innings. Northpoint answered with two runs in the fifth and again in the seventh inning. 

The Lady Trojans were troubled by five errors and fashioned only four hits in the loss.  Macie Dever-Boaz scored twice for Northpoint, and Hannah Bostain had two hits, including a double, and drove in all four Lady Trojans runs. 

Trinity Garvin was tagged with the loss, throwing all seven innings, giving up eight hits and seven runs, four of which were earned. Garvin walked one and struck out three.  

SOFTBALL-GRACE CHRISTIAN 7, NORTHPOINT CHRISTIAN 1:The Lady Trojans took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, only to see Grace Christian score seven unanswered runs to clinch the series.  The Lady Rams scored once in the first, three more in the third, one in the fourth and two more in the sixth.  

Northpoint was held to three hits and committed two errors in the loss while Grace Christian got nine hits. Macie Dever-Boaz scored Northpoint’s only run of the game and the only RBI with a first-inning solo home run. 

Trinity Garvin pitched the complete game once again, giving up nine hits and seven runs, four of which were earned. Garvin walked none and struck out two.  

PREP BASEBALL PLAYOFFS

TSSAA D2-A state baseball playoffs – sub-state round (best-of-three series)

• Providence Academy 6, Northpoint Christian 2
• Providence Academy 9, Northpoint Christian 5 (Providence Academy wins 2-0)

MHSAA 7A state baseball championship final series – best of three

At Trustmark Park, Pearl

• Hernando vs. Brandon – 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 21
• Hernando vs. Brandon – 7 p.m., Thursday, May 23
• Hernando vs. Brandon – (if needed) TBA Saturday, May 25 

*-time to be determined by the number of series requiring a third game 

MAIS 5A state baseball championship series – best of three

Magnolia Heights vs. Oak Forest, La. 

• Magnolia Heights 11, Oak Forest, La. 1 – (Magnolia Heights leads 1-0)
• Magnolia Heights at Oak Forest, La. – 5 p.m., Friday, May 17
• Oak Forest, La. at Magnolia Heights (if needed) – 5 p.m., Saturday, May 18

PREP SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS

MHSAA 7A softball State Championship playoffs – best of three

Hernando vs. Northwest Rankin – at Southern Miss, Hattiesburg

• Northwest Rankin 5, Hernando 4 (Northwest Rankin leads 1-0)
• Hernando vs. Northwest Rankin (Game Two) – 6:45 p.m. Thursday, May 16
• Hernando vs. Northwest Rankin (Game Three, If Needed) – Time TBD* Saturday, May 18

*-time to be determined by the number of series requiring a third game 

TSSAA D2-A state softball playoffs – sub-state round (best-of-three series)

• Grace Christian 7, Northpoint Christian 4
• Grace Christian 7, Northpoint Christian 1 (GCA wins 2-0)

PREP BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS

TSSAA D2-A West Region boys’ soccer sub-state playoffs

• Notre Dame (Chattanooga, Tenn.) at Northpoint Christian – 2:30 p.m., Sunday, May 19