Bradley Fleck deals for the Wildcats.  Photo: Calvin McGowan

New Hanover managed to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh and then scored a walk off win on a wild pitch.

Ashley got on the board in the top of the first on an RBI single by Cody Bridges and Screamin’ Eagles’ starter Caleb Long kept New Hanover at bay until the bottom of the third when New Hanover tied the score.  After walking, Matt Brown scored on a single by Ryan Gause.

The score stayed tied at one until the seventh and in the top of the inning, Ashley had a golden opportunity.  With the bases stacked and only one out, New Hanover pitcher Jordan Betts got a huge strikeout for the second out and then wiggled out of the jam by getting Long on a soft line drive to second base.

In the bottom of the seventh, it was New Hanover’s turn to load the bases with one out.  After a pretty well pitched game, featuring solid defense from both teams,  Alan King, who was hit by a pitch, came in to score when Caleb Long’s pitch to Matt Brown wound up going to the backstop.  

The difference in the game came down to the Wildcats being able to get out of the top of the seventh unscaythed and Ashley not being able to do likewise in the bottom of the frame.  New Hanover skipper John Thomas said of the tight game, “Fortunately, we came out with the win, and it was our pitching and defense that really stepped up.  Jordan Betts hasn’t pitched much; he did a great job on the mound and made some good plays covering first.”

For Ashley head coach Brian Stewart, it came down to execution.  “We just didn’t execute and are a very undisciplined team right now.  We’re undisciplined at the plate, some of our better hitters are free swinging instead of understanding they are good hitters.”

The win gave the Wildcats their second Mideastern victory this week, bumping their league record over .500 at 3-2, as they downed White Oak 14-2 on Wednesday.  New Hanover plated eight runs on just four hits in the first inning and went on for the convincing win.  Ashley was rained out of their other games, and with the loss sit at 3-3 in the conference.

Next week, Ashley hosts their annual tournament consisting of all four Wilmington schools, Butler (Charlotte), Hopewell, Pinecrest, and North Brunswick.