NC: MAC Conference Tourney Championship

Hickory Grove Christian  0 SouthLake Christian Academy  5

PBR was at Metrolina Chrisitan Academy for the championship game of the NCISAA 3A MAC Conference Championship Game.  The finals matched up the defending 3A State Champion, Hickory Grove Christian, and the 2022 Regular Season MAC Champions, SouthLake Christian Academy.

Arms dominated the game early.  SouthLake's Tyler Herkey struckout 6 in the first two innings to set an early tone.  He was matched by HGC's Connor Barozzino who struckout 5 in his first two innings of work.

SouthLake had chances to score on Barozzino, stranding 2 runners in the 2nd as well as coming away empty with runners on 2nd and 3rd and no outs in the 3rd.  The Eagles broke through in the 4th.  Herkey helped his own cause with a 1 out single, followed by a double from Matt Asuma.  With runners on 2nd and 3rd Garret Brouwer singled between 1st and 2nd with the infield drawn in.  Barozzino would recored 2 strikeouts to get out of the jam, down just 1-0.

Herkey worked 5 solid innings, striking out 10 and surrendering 7 hits, without giving up a run.  In his 4th inning he gave up a two out double to Colby VanHook which was followed by a double from Langston Rupert.  VanHook did not score on the hit, allowing Herkey to record a strikeout to get out of, what became a bases loaded situation, after an intentional walk.

Brouwer came in for SouthLake in the 6th and immediately gave Hickory Grove a chance to score, walking the leadoff man, and then hitting a hitter with 1 out and a runner on 2B.  A great play in left field by Nick Coggins, up against the wall in the corner, was followed by a strikout to get Brouwer to the 7th.

In the top of the 7th, Herkey came through again, leading off with a double.  With two runners on and no-out, a SAC bunt was thrown out of play.  The umpires ruled the runner on 1B had reached 2B at the time of the throw, allowing both runners to score, and moving the batter-runner to 2B.  The Eagles would pile on from there, scoring 4 in the inning to secure the win and conference tournament championship.

With the win, SouthLake should have secured a top seed in the NCISAA 3A tournament.  They are currently 14-6 overall.  Hickory Grove Christian will await its fate for the post-season.  They finish the regular season 13-10-1.

Hickory Grove Christian Stats
+ Langston Rupert - 3-4, 2 2B
+ Jordan Rowell - 1-3

+ Colby VanHook - 3-3, 2B
+ Connor Barozzino - Loss, CG, 6IP, 12H, 5R, 5ER, 1BB, 9K

SouthLake Christian Academy Stats
+ Michael McConnell-Young - 2-4, 2RBI
+ Jim Burnham - 2-4, 2B

+ Tyler Herkey - 3-3, 2 2B, 1R

+ Matt Asuma - 2-2, 2B, 1R

+ Garrett Brouwer - 1-2, 1R, 1RBI
+ Tyler Herkey - Win, 5IP, 7H, 0R, 1BB, 10K
+ Garrett Brouwer - Save, 2IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 1K

SCOUT BLOG

Tyler Herkey, LHP, SouthLake Christian Academy, 2022
George Mason commit.  Average frame with strength present at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds.  Coils and closes his line at balance.  Loose hips.  Uncoils back to an on-line landing.  Level throughout.  Leg swings out to the landing.  Long arm swing.  Over-the-top slot.  Arm strength over arm speed with average to above arm speed.  Fastball created swing and miss, especially when elevated.  Six of ten strikeouts in the first two innings.  Seven of the ten strikeouts on fastballs elevated at the top of the zone or above.  Nine of the ten strikeouts on fastballs.  Fastball ranged

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