ELLERBE — It was a unique meeting between the Ellerbe and Cordova middle school baseball teams on Thursday.
Despite the news of all high school and middle school athletics being suspended due to COVID-19, the Wildcats and Cavaliers took to the diamond one final time before the stoppage in play begins Saturday.
Although the two teams were wearing different colors, 13 total players shared the football field as teammates during the fall. Ellerbe head coach Allen Adeimy said it was “a cool experience” to see players he’s coached sitting in both dugouts.
Ellerbe would rebound after a season-opening loss to Rockingham on Monday, defeating the Cavaliers 11-8. Eighth grader Sam Thompson took to the hill in the start, and threw four scoreless innings and collected seven strikeouts in the win.
The Cavs sent Nick Goins to the mound and was the pitcher of record in the loss.
A four-run bottom of the first inning put the Wildcats ahead early. Thompson, Mason Murray, Vance Goodwin and Garret Mabe all crossed the plate. Two more runs in the second put Ellerbe up 6-0.
Mabe scored his second run of the game in the bottom of the third after reaching on an error. He would relieve Thompson in the fifth, and gave up six runs in an inning and a third, while striking out two batters.
Cordova chipped away at the deficit with one run in the fifth, before plating five runs in the sixth.
Goodwin and Mabe helped keep the Wildcats ahead by crossing home safely in the bottom of the fifth, and two more runs in the home half of the sixth kept the Cavs at bay.
Coming in to close the game was Goodwin, who went the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing three runs and collecting three Ks.
Thompson and Mabe both scored three runs for the Wildcats and Goodwin and Blake Terry each scored twice. At the dish, Thompson was 2-for-4 with a double, while Goodwin added a double as one of his two hits.
Murray and Jake Richardson added hits in the win for Ellerbe. For Cordova, Eric Greene, Johnny Lunceford and Marquan Martin all scored two runs.
Lady Wildcats earn first win over Cordova
On the softball field, the Lady Wildcats picked up their first win of the season, defeating Cordova 25-10.
Cassie Locklear, Caroline Hunsucker and Saniyah Spencer each had two hits in the win. Mikayla English, Ally Maynor and Mackenzie Hill added a hit apiece.
No other stats were provided for the game.
