Wednesday sports: Northpoint starts postseason with shutout of USJ

May 4, 2023 Bob Bakken

Wednesday night, the Northpoint Christian School baseball started back on the postseason road that the past two years have ended with the Trojans in the TSSAA D2-A state championship round in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

The Trojans blasted their way past the University School of Jackson, Tenn. (USJ) 17-0 in five innings, behind stingy pitching and defense, supported by two home runs and a 16-hit offensive attack.

“I really felt the guys were locked in and JB (Williams) set the tone in the first inning, striking out two of the first three,” said Northpoint coach Stephen Kirkpatrick. “We had a good first night, but now we have to have a short-term memory and play again tomorrow (Thursday) night.”

After a scoreless first inning, Northpoint broke through with a five-run second inning that included a long home run to center field by Hudson Brown. The Trojans added another run in the third for a 6-0 lead and then broke the game wide open with an 11-run fourth inning that was punctuated by a Connor McKnatt homer to right.

“We got production all up-and-down the lineup,” Kirkpatrick said. “That’s what you want to see, because you never know where that hit is going to come from and you never know who is going to have to step up.”

USJ finally got into the hit column in the fifth inning with a pair of base hits off reliever Conner Cavette, who then promptly shut the door to end any Bruins’ hopes of keeping the game going past the fifth.

Starter JB Williams did not allow a hit in his four innings on the mound for Northpoint and walked two.

“I felt he was in the strike zone a lot, had a lot of quick outs to set the tone early,” Kirkpatrick said. “His slider was on tonight and he was able to throw that a lot.”

In addition to his home run, Brown scored three times and drove in two runs. McKnatt doubled, homered, and drove in three runs.

Northpoint continues tournament play Thursday night at Northpoint.

Here is the Wednesday DeSoto County scoreboard:

Wednesday, May 3

Prep baseball

TSSAA D2-A West Region tournament at Northpoint Christian

Northpoint Christian 17, University School of Jackson, Tenn. 0 (5 innings)
- Northpoint: KL Farr (3 runs, 3 hits), Hudson Brown (HR, 3 runs, 2 RBIs), Seth Giamportone (2B, 3 hits), Connor McKnatt (2B, HR, 3 RBIs), Rob Hayes (2B), JB Williams (4 IP, 0 hits, 8 Ks)

Prep softball

TSSAA D2-A West Region tournament at Northpoint Christian