Trojans beat defending champs to reach state championship round
Another rematch with Goodpasture set for MTSU stadium
Photo: Northpoint pitcher Conner McKnatt fires a strike against Goodpasture Christian School Wednesday afternoon, May 24. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Northpoint Christian School baseball Trojans won its second straight game of the TSSAA Division II-A Spring Fling Final Four tournament with a 4-1 victory over Goodpasture Christian School (Madison, Tenn.) Wednesday afternoon.
The victory over the defending champions put Northpoint into the state championship round on Thursday, May 25 for the third straight year. Goodpasture took the title away from the Trojans one year ago in the 2022 state championship.
It’s also the third straight year for the Stephen Kirkpatrick-coached Trojans in the final round of the double-elimination tournament, but Northpoint is looking for the school’s second state crown.
The SBEC Trojans won the state championship in 2009.
KL Farr was the offensive hero for Northpoint in Wednesday’s victory. Farr had three hits on the day and drove in two runs.
“Two-out hits are what wins championships,” Kirkpatrick said. “KL came through with some big two-out hits. He’s just a sophomore but he stepped up today big time.”
Teammate Hudson Brown had two hits, including his third double of the tournament, as Northpoint earned eight hits in the victory.
For the tournament thus far, Brown, a Kentucky signee, is 7-for-7 with three doubles, a walk and four runs-batted-in. He has reached base every time he has come to the plate through two games.
On the mound, it was Conner McKnatt who was dominant for the Trojans against the Cougars. Throwing six innings, the Northeast Mississippi Community College signee struck out nine Cougars and threw 16 first-pitch strikes. He also allowed just two hits, although one was a solo homer to Goodpasture’s Tyler Cross for the Cougars’ only run of the game in the fifth inning. Farr came in to relieve in the seventh and set down the side.
“Conner McKnatt was the story of the game,” Kirkpatrick said. “”He set the tone early with two strikeouts in the first inning.”
“I felt great,” McKnatt said about his day. “All four pitches were working and our offense was able to come back after a very good night last (Tuesday) night.”
Northpoint again got off to a quick lead, much like Tuesday night’s 12-3 win over CAK (Knoxville). The Trojans took a 1-0 lead after one inning and made it 2-0 after three complete.
After Cross hit his solo homer, the Trojans quickly answered again with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth for what would become the final score.
The Trojans’ defense has also been stellar through two tournament games, again playing errorless baseball.
Thursday’s state championship round will be a rematch of Wednesday’s game, as well as the state finals last year, as Goodpasture returns to face the Trojans. The Cougars ousted Silverdale Baptist Academy later Wednesday afternoon 8-0 to reach the final round.
The 10 a.m. game will be played at Reese Smith Jr. Field on the Middle Tennessee State University campus. Northpoint needs only to win Thursday to take the state crown. Goodpasture needs the beat the Trojans twice.
“We’re going to see a really good team and it’s going to be a battle,” Kirkpatrick said.
