Photo: Northpoint catcher Seth Giamportone, shown in action earlier in the playoffs, hit a two-run single to win the second game of Wednesday’s playoff doubleheader. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Nmorthpoint Christian’s baseball team needs to win a game Thursday, May 18 to be able to head back to Murfreesboro for the TSSAA Spring Fling state baseball tournament and a third try at a D2-A state championship.
Northpoint, after losing the first game of the playoffs’ second round series to Providence Academy 1-0, rallied in the second game of the day for a 6-3 victory. It sets up the deciding contest Thursday afternoon at Providence Academy, located in Johnson City, Tennessee.
PROVIDENCE ACADEMY 1, NORTHPOINT CHRISTIAN 0: In the opener, Providence Academy scored a run in the first inning, then kept the Trojans off the score for the rest of the game and the victory. Winning pitcher Tyner Simpson scattered four hits, one of which was a double from Conner McKnatt. Simpson struck out seven and walked just two in the contest.
McKnatt also pitched well for Northpoint, as he allowed just three singles, fanned eight and walked just two in the loss. Each team committed one error.
NORTHPOINT CHRISTIAN 6, PROVIDENCE ACADEMY 6: The Trojans’ bats came alive in the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader, amassing 11 hits and scoring three times in the sixth inning to break open a 3-3 tie and get the victory.
Being the home team in the nightcap, Northpoint took a 2-0 lead after two innings, but Providence came back to score a run in the third. The Trojans added a run in the fourth, but the Knights came back with two runs in the top of the sixth to knot the contest at 3-3.
That’s when Northpoint loaded the bases and finished the sixth inning with three runs for what would turn out to be the final score.
With the bases loaded, KL Farr singled to center to score what became the winning run. Seth Giamportone followed with a hard smash single to center that scored Hudson Brown and Conner McKnatt.
JB Williams reached base safely with three singles for the Trojans. Brown and McKnatt garnered a pair of hits, including a double from Brown. Giamportone led Northpoint with two RBIs.
Williams was dominant on the wall, allowing just two hits, but both were extra base hits, a double and a home run. Williams walked two and struck out 11 in getting the mound victory.
Providence Academy did not help its own cause in the field, committing three errors to Northpoint’s none.
Northpoint is Thursday seeking its third consecutive state tournament appearance and sixth overall. The Trojans won the state title in 2009 as Southern Baptist Education Center. Northpoint finished second in the state finals the last two seasons.
Wednesday, May 18
Prep baseball
TSSAA D2-A state playoffs – Second round – best of three
Providence Academy 1, Northpoint Christian 0 (game one)
Northpoint Christian 6, Providence Academy 3 (game two-series tied 1-1)
