North Iredell   0 Oak Grove   4

NCHSAA 3A 4th Round | 05.19.23 at Oak Grove HS

With a spot in the Western 3A Regional Finals on the line, Ethan Yarbrough came up big on the bump for the Oak Grove Grizzlies.  The senior lefty fired a complete game shutout, striking out 10 without issuing a walk. 

Yarbrough threw 100 pitches, 67% for strikes on the evening.  The first and third innings saw North Iredell get the leadoff man on, and add a second baserunner before Yarbrough closed the innings.  Getting stronger as the night continued, Yarbrough faced the minimum number of hitters from the 4th inning through the end of the game, retiring the final 14 hitters hie faced.

Offensively, Oak Grove plated 1 in the 1st on a 1 out single from Dawson Shelton, scoring Jake Smith.  In the 2nd, the Grizzlies threatened to blow the game open.  Jake Smith singled home Landon Dixon with one out but with the bases loaded, North Iredell starter, Dan Loyd got an inning ending double play when Shelton flew out to right and Bryson Morrison cut down the would-be 3rd run of the game for Oak Grove, at the plate.

In the 4th, the Grizzlies would get the insurance runs they wanted.  A bases loaded 1 out single from Shelton gave him RBIs two and three on the night, pushing the lead to 4-0.

With the win, Oak Grove will play in the 3A West Region Finals vs. West Henderson.  They will be on the road in game 1, TUE May 23rd, for the best of 3 series.  North Iredell ends their season at 15-12 overall.

North Iredell  Stats
+ Bryce Morrison - 1-3
+ Cole Johnson - 1-2

+ Colby Umbarger - 1-3

+ Thomas Shumaker - 1-3

+ Dan Loyd - Loss, 3.1IP, 8H, 4R, 4ER, 0K, 1BB
+ Brooks Kinser - 2.2IP, 0H, 0R, 3K, 1BB

Oak Grove  Stats
+ Jake Smith - 2-4, 2R, 1RBI
+ Dawson Shelton - 2-4, 3RBI

+ Kaden Hart - 1-3

+ Cam Sharpe - 2-3, 2R
+ Ethan Yarbrough - CG Win, 7IP, 4H, 0R, 0BB, 10K

SCOUT BLOG

Ethan Yarbrough, LHP, Oak Grove HS, 2023
Undersized but athletic on the bump.  Clean arm through a high-3/4 slot.  Good direction.  Repeats the delivery.  Three pitch mix with each pitch causing some issues for hitters.  Fastball at