Combine Academy made the short trip over to Charlotte Christian on Wednesday night to square off against the Knights.  A game that featured two teams with deep and talented rosters, would see the power arms of Combine Academy outlast Charlotte Christian. 

Charlotte Christian made noise in the 1^st inning when leadoff hitter JD Suarez (SS, 2021, Charlotte) blasted the first pitch he saw over the right field fence, giving the Knights a 1-0 lead.  Combine starter, Alabama commit, Austin Williamson (RHP, 2022) would settle in after that at-bat only allowing 4 more hits, while striking out 10 in his 6 innings of work.

Charlotte Christian starter Wesley Jones (RHP, 2023) worked to match Williamson through the first three frames.  In the 3^rd, Aidan Paradine (C, 2024) hit a hard line drive off of Jones foot.  Jones would stay in the game, but in the 4^th, with the lineup also getting a second look at him, Combine would begin to dial in.  David Zamora (3B/C, 2021) would single to start the inning.  Milan Prokop (2B, 2022) doubled to left center, tying the game at one apiece.  A single, walk, and hit-by-pitch would give Combine their lead, and they would go on to add two more in the frame.

In the bottom of the 4^th, Charlotte Christian showed some life with Calvert Clark (RHP/OF, 2022, Clemson commit) hitting a towering HR to left to leadoff the inning.  In the 6^th, up 5-2, Combine would put the game away.  JP Cunningham (OF, 2022, Clemson commit) led off with a walk, followed by a single from Aidan Evans (OF, 2021, UNCW commit).  With two on, Zamora would put the game out of reach with a blast over the trees in left field.

Combine’s arms combined to strike out 11, while only walking 1.  Both Williamson and Caleb Ketchie (RHP, 2021, Charlotte commit) were very impressive and were able to attack the Knights lineup with a mixture of 90+ mph fastballs paired with solid breaking balls.

 

Combine Academy Goats Highlights:
+ Austin Williamson – Win, 6IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 10K
+ Caleb Ketchie – 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
+ David Zamora – 2-3, HR, 3R, 3RBI
+ Milan Prokop – 2-4, 2B, 1R, 1RBI
+ Keegan Knutson – 1-4, 1R

Charlotte Christian Knights Highlights:
+ Wesley Jones – Loss, 3.1IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 7K
+ Justin Joseph – 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
+ JD Suarez – 2-3, HR, 1R, 1RBI
+ Calvert Clark – 2-3, HR, 1R, 1RBI

 

*Scout Blog with player notes and stats for both teams coming later today.