Big week ahead for Big South 3A as baseball, softball decide league champions
In what seems to be an annual occurrence, the Big South 3A baseball title race again will be decided in the season’s final week.
South Point (13-5, 11-1 Big South 3A) controls its own destiny with two games left, up a game on second-place Kings Mountain. The Red Raiders regained the top spot Friday after a 5-3 win over the Mountaineers.
A five-run second inning staked South Point to an early lead, punctuated by Gavin Smith’s two-run homer. Such proved just enough for the Red Raiders, avenging an 8-6 loss days earlier to Kings Mountain (15-6, 10-2) on their home field.
After starting the season 0-3, South Point has won 13 of its last 15 games.
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“We didn’t play well (against Burns and North Lincoln); those were good teams and we were disappointed with a lot of things,” said South Point baseball coach Jason Lineberger. “Gradually we got better, and the latter half of the season we really began to swing our bats well. There’s definitely been a big difference and I’m glad we’re getting hot at the right time.”
A second straight Big South 3A title won’t come easily, however. South Point ends with a two-game set against North Gaston (15-6, 9-3), the Wildcats winners in 12 of their last 13 games.
“Absolutely a big series; they all get bigger as the season goes along,” Lineberger added. “We try to treat them all like they are the last game of the year. But there’s no denying they get bigger, so this will definitely be the biggest series of our season so far.”
Should the Red Raiders stumble, Kings Mountain could be there to pick up the pieces. A Mountaineer sweep of rival Crest (9-11, 6-6) could help them earn a share of the Big South 3A title; and with some good fortune, the whole thing.
The two-game set brims with importance for Crest as well. Six consecutive losses have the Chargers on the playoff bubble, currently one of the last three at-large qualifiers in the NCHSAA 3A West bracket.
“Anything can happen,” said Kings Mountain baseball coach Wil Sellers. “Of course, we’re in a position where we’ll need a little help. All we can do is take care of our business and good things will happen for us moving forward.”
Crest hasn’t suffered a losing season nor missed the playoffs since 2006.
Crest, Kings Mountain softball ready for Round 2
Kings Mountain is on the brink of claiming its first league title since 2015. Crest has won five consecutive Big South 3A championships.
Something has to give.
The Big South 3A title will be decided on the season’s final day, with Kings Mountain making the short trip Friday night to rival Crest.
Kings Mountain holds a one-game lead over Crest, taking a 1-0 win in the teams’ first matchup April 10. Pitchers Maddie Huffman (Kings Mountain) and Aidan Ledbetter (Crest) allowed three hits between them while striking out 30 batters.
The Mountaineers begin the week ranked second in the NCHSAA 3A West RPI rankings. Meanwhile, Crest is eighth.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: NCHSAA: Big South 3A baseball, softball to decide league champions
