Sports - May 2003

Wise hits two homers, Post 100 gets 1,000th win

Published May 30, 2003

Historic victory comes on the road against Caldwell County

By Mike Powell, LTN correspondent

GRANITE FALLS--It was a special night for David Wise and a special night for Cherryville Post 100.

Wise, a former West Lincoln standout and a rising sophomore at Limestone College, hit a pair of two-run home runs to power Cherryville to a 6-0 win over Caldwell County Wednesday at M.S. Deal Stadium.

It was Cherryville's first win of the 2003 season, but more importantly, the shutout gave the storied American Legion program its 1,000th victory.

Cherryville started playing Legion baseball in 1937, and the all-time record going into Wednesday's Area Four game was 999-668.

"What a fine way to get 1,000," Post 100 coach Bobby Reynolds said.       

"Wise hits two out and we get some dominant pitching from Chris Mason. It was enjoyable to watch."

Wise's first homer in the sixth inning cleared the wall in center field near the 380-foot mark, breaking a scoreless pitching duel between Mason and Mikey Oxendine. The Post 100 catcher stood at home plate and watched the ball leave the park.

"I knew as soon as I hit it, it was gone," Wise said. "I was seeing the ball good. It was a fastball. We did our damage tonight on fastballs."

Wise connected again in the eighth inning, this time to left field. The homer was Cherryville's third of the game. Brock Alexander, who joined the team Wednesday after Cherryville High was eliminated from the state playoffs, hit a two-run shot in the seventh.

The show of power was more than enough for Mason, who needed only 105 pitches to take care of Post 29. He worked quickly, stayed ahead of the hitters, and mixed a lively fastball with off-speed pitches. The righthander from UNC-Greensboro struck out nine and gave up only three hits.

"A year of college ball has made him better," Reynolds said of Mason. "He was a good pitcher before, but now he knows how to pitch."

Mason agreed.

"In college I was a closer, and they work fast. When I became a starter, I stuck with the fast pace. I also learned how to locate my pitches. And I developed a change-up to go with my other stuff," Mason said.

Cville 000 002  220--6 6 1

Caldwell 000 000  000--0 3 0

Mason and Wise. Oxendine, Beane (8), Harrison (9) and Morris. W--Mason. L--Oxendine. HRs, Cherryville, Wise (2), Alexander.

Thursday’s game

In a makeup game Thursday night, Cherryville defeated Taylorsville 14-4 to even its record at 2-2.

Tonight, Cherryville faces Shelby at 7 in the first game of a weekend home stand. Taylorsville visits Fraley Field on Saturday, and Sunday Post 100 hosts Hendersonville.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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