03/03/2025
Northwood Wins Opening Day
February 28th, 2025
The Eagles of Northwood Temple Academy win opening day of the 2025 Varsity Baseball Season vs Lee Christian 18-8.
It was a day everyone was talking about since the first day of school. A team that has played together since middle school. A group of players who have been putting in the work with coaches during the off-season to get better. Now the bulk of the team in the sophomore class has realized it is time to shine. Kaden Burns got the call on the mound for the Eagles, retiring the first nine batters he faced, striking out six. On the day on the mound, Kaden Burns fanned seven total, walked four, while allowing two hits and 3 earned runs. Offensively, Burns drew 3 walks, scored twice, and stole 3 bases.
Centerfielder Antonio Banks led off the game for the Eagles with a single, stole second, Catcher Chason Vogt walked, Banks scored on a passed ball on the catcher, while Shortstop Patrick Guest reached on a fielder’s choice scoring Vogt. Guest later stole second then third and scored on a passed ball as well. Lee Christian had some issues on the day at the plate allowing six runs to score on passed balls. Lee finally got on the board in the 4th inning with leadoff hitter J. Victorero beating the throw from third baseman Landon Kay which got by first, and he advanced to second. Lee’s Jordan Wilson then walked and then starting Pitcher Kayden Brower hit a booming double in the gap to left center scoring Victorero and Wilson. Brower advanced to 3rd on the play on an overthrow. Then before the next pitch, Kaden Burns picked off Brower at 3rd. Lee then had the bases loaded with one out and Kaden Burns then got back his rhythm striking out Ryder McCoy and a ground out back to Burns to end the inning.
Northwood had its troubles on the base paths with mental base running errors, which stopped the Eagles’ momentum. Even though the Eagles scored 3 runs with running mistakes, Lee had their best inning in the 5th, scoring five runs on 3 hits, and Eagles relievers allowed 5 hits and 4 walks. This tied the game at 8-8. Going into the bottom of the 6th inning. As in years past, the Eagles started flying high with their “IN THE BIG INNING”. The Eagles batted around, sending 12 batters to the plate. Scoring 10 runs on 5 hits, 6 walks, 6 walks, and 2 pass balls. Chason Vogt led off the inning with a single, then the next 4 batters walked and got hit by the pitch. Then reliever Jaden Vogt got an RBI with a single to left. First baseman Elijah Piereria got hit by the pitch, which loaded the bases for freshman Lathen Hairr. Hairr, for the second year in a row vs Lee Christian, gets a bases-loaded single scoring 2 runs. With the score now 16-8, Antonio Banks got his 4th hit of the day, stole his 3rd base, and scored on a pass ball. Catcher Chason Vogt then smacked a double and advanced to third on a steal. Patrick Guest then was hit by the Pitch. Stealing second with C. Vogt on 3rd. Vogt was thrown out at the plate, and Guest advanced to 3rd. Guest then scored the game winner on a pass ball for the 18-8 mercy rule win.
The Eagles’ next home game is on Tuesday, March 4th, vs Neuse Christian at 3:30 p.m.
SEE YOU AT THE NEST!
Head Coach David Huff
