NC: Cardinal Gibbons and Leesville Fight for Cap Six Lead

Cardinal Gibbons HS  8 Leesville Road HS  6

PBR was in Raleigh on Wednesday for a key conference game with Cardinal Gibbons visiting Leesville Road.  Cardinal Gibbons was 1 game back with 4 games to go in the Cap Six 4A Conference.  Two big innings book-ended the game for the Crusaders as they captured the road win and moved into a tie with the Pride.

The first four batters of the game scored for Cardinal Gibbons HS, with the key hit being a 2 rbi double by Luke Evans. Leesville Road chipped away at the lead and only trailed 5-4 after six innings. 

In the top of the 7th, the Crusaders would plate three runs.  This cushion was needed as Leesville continued to fight, scoring two of their own in the bottom of the 7th.  The key hit in the seventh inning for Cardinal Gibbons was by freshmen pitch-hitter Zach Bender who drove in two runs with a bases loaded single. 

Cardinal Gibbons pitcher, James Masterson, was a one man wrecking crew.  He threw six innings with eight strikeouts and was 4-4 at the plate. Leesville was led at the plate by Andrew Clifford who smacked a double and home run, scoring 3 runs and knocking in 2. 

Cardinal Gibbons moves to 10-8 overall and 6-1 in conference, tying Leesville for the top spot with 3 games left to play.  The Crusaders are scheduled to play a conference game with Athens Drive on Thursday and then a 2 game conference series with Sanderson next week.  Leesville breaks their 5 game win streak, falling to 11-6 overall and 6-1 in he Cap Six 4A.  The Pride will play Sanderson on Thursday and then a two game series with Enloe next week.

Cardinal Gibbons HS Stats
+ James Masterson, 4-4, 2 runs, 1 rbi.
+ Collin Brang, 4-4, 2 runs, 1 rbi

+ Luke Evans, 2-4, 2B, 3 rbi.

+ Zach Bender, 1-1, 2 rbi.
+ James Masterson, Win, 6IP, 9H, 4R, 4ER, 1BB, 7K
+ Matt Hord, 1IP, 0H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 2K 

Leesville Road HS Stats
+ Brooks Booth, 1-3, double, HBP, 2 runs.
+ Andrew Clifford, 2-3, 2B, HR, BB, 3 runs, 2 rbi.

+ Drew Thomas, 1-3, 1 rbi.

+ David Ziolkowsky, 2-3, BB, 2 rbi.

+ Cole Lanford, Loss, 6IP, 8H, 5R, 4ER, 1BB, 7K
+ Adam Smith, 1IP, 4H, 3R, 2ER, 0BB, 2K 

SCOUT BLOG

Luke Evans, C, Cardinal Gibbons HS, 2022.
Strength present with a defined lower half.  Stands 6-foot-1, 195 pounds.  Strong arm. 

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