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Prep Roundup
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• Public Schools • Mooresville High School • top story
2008 May-19
Mooresville is ‘believin’ heading into big game tonightBy Brad Norman
MOORESVILLE — Mooresville senior Chris Beaver emerged from the dugout before Monday’s practice softly singing the chorus to Journey’s hit song “Don’t Stop Believin’.” “I have ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ on my MySpace page,” Beaver said, before breaking into tune once again. “It’s become our team motto.” It’s working. As the North Piedmont 3A’s No. 2 seed entering the postseason, the Blue Devils haven’t stopped believing in themselves. As a result, they haven’t stopped playing. Mooresville is one of eight 3A teams still alive for a state championship. The Blue Devils will get a monster challenge tonight when they play at East Rowan (25-2). The winner will advance to the West Regional final and take one step closer to a state title. “Honestly, I think this game will pretty much decide the West,” Blue Devils senior Matt Markofski said. “I think we’re the two best teams in the West, and we’re from the best conference. It should be a good game.” The Devils know what they are getting into. The two NPC teams met twice during the season, with East Rowan winning both contests. East Rowan drubbed Mooresville 10-1 on April 15, when both teams had 10-game winning streaks, but Mooresville’s players are focused on the first result. The Mustangs defeated Mooresville 6-3 way back on March 7 in a frigid environment. “Had that first game not been on a Saturday and 35 degrees, it may have been different,” Markofski said. “We had the bases loaded in the last inning ... and that second game, we just didn’t show up.” On a tear most of the season, the Mustangs have won 21 consecutive games and are ranked No. 1 in the state among 3A teams in the most recent IMPACT baseball poll. “It will be pretty difficult, but I think we can beat them,” Mooresville senior pitcher Jonathan Mayes said. “We’ve been playing our best baseball at the right time. We know we can play with them from the first game.” The Blue Devils (21-5) have relied on pitching, most notably Aubrey Meadows’ left arm, to get them this far. Meadows has two wins and one save in Mooresville’s three playoff victories. He’s logged 13 innings and given up seven runs while starting one game. “He’s just really focused,” Mooresville coach Jeff Burchett said. “Aubrey is just showing senior leadership. He wants the ball, and he’ll get it (tonight).” East Rowan will start Justin Roland opposite Meadows. Roland pitched against the Blue Devils during the first meeting. “He’s going to stand there and say, ‘Here it is. Hit it,’ ” Burchett said. “He’s a fast worker and throws a lot of strikes. As soon as he catches it, you better be ready.” Today’s winner will play either South Point or R-S Central in the best-of-three regional finals, and Mooresville knows it must play near-perfect baseball to advance. “East Rowan doesn’t have a weakness,” Burchett said. “We’re going to have to play a great ballgame, limit our mistakes and take advantage of our hits. They have some good players, but we do too.” Bookmarkz |
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