You must be logged in to post comments. Please Log in or register.
 |
|
Prep Roundup
Columnists Brian Meadows Brad NormanMembersLocal Connection› Iredell County Young Athletes Association› South Iredell Athletics Association › SHS athletics › WIHS athletics › NIHS athletics › SIHS athletics › LNHS athletics Syndicate RSSAP NASCAR NASCAR Features A look at this year's schedule A look at this year's drivers Differences between stock car and open-wheel racing NASCAR Research & Development Petty Enterprises splitter testing Aerodynamic testing in Concord's wind tunnel Top 10 moments in Daytona history Site StatisticsThis page has been viewed 801409 timesPage rendered in 0.1938 seconds Total Stories: 2136 Total Comments: 34 Most Recent Entry: 08/15/2008 01:53 pm Most Recent Comment on: 04/17/2008 11:54 pm Most Recent Visitor on: 05/23/2012 08:56 am |
• Public Schools • North Iredell High School
2008 Mar-04
Raiders ready to runBy Brad Norman North Iredell’s baseball team got on base frequently and manufactured runs through bunts, singles and stolen bases during Monday’s 10-7 win over South Iredell. That’s indicative of what the Raiders hope to do all season, although maybe not quite to the degree of Monday’s performance — especially on the basepaths. Five different players swiped 10 bases on 10 attempts, with catcher Tyler Christenberry as the leader with three stolen bases. “It depends on who’s behind the plate and who’s pitching, but we’re going to try to run,” North coach Matthew Poole said. “We’ll go until they throw us out a couple of times, and that’s what you’re taught. We’re going to be aggressive until they show they can throw us out. “South is kind of a young team and they couldn’t really control the running game. Some of the better teams in our conference will control it a little bit better.” In addition to both having multiple stolen bases, Christenberry and Tyler Jordan each supplied two insurance runs against the Vikings with savvy baserunning in the top of the seventh. Jordan led off the inning with a single and promptly stole second and third base before scoring on a passed ball. Christenberry walked after an eight-pitch at bat and, like Jordan, immediately stole second and third before scoring on a wild pitch. Those two runs were critical, and very nearly game-savers. Only a great defensive play prevented the Vikings from scoring eight runs, which would have made it a tie game had the Raiders not been able to score twice thanks to advancing on stolen bases. “We have a lot of speed,” Jordan said. “We’re going to steal some bases and do some smallball. (Poole) likes to play smallball, and that’s what we have to do.” North has the makeup to be successful at smallball, an offensive strategy where a team tries to manufacture runs through stolen bases, hit-and-runs and bunts. Aaron Johnson and Marcus Ferguson have some power as does Casey Pharr, who smacked a home run against the Vikings, but North has a lot of contact hitters, which typically lends itself to more singles than extra-base hits. The Raiders scored 10 runs on just nine hits against South and have displayed a patient, efficient offense so far this young season. Seven of those nine hits were singles, and North stranded only two baserunners the entire game. More performances like that would probably be enough for the Raiders to advance to the state playoffs for the first time since 1987. “It’s a game of momentum,” Ferguson said. “By running, we can take it away (from other teams). And we have certain players who have green lights and can run whenever they want to.” Bookmarkz |
|
