While the weather and the schedule continue to try to work things out, the Community Christian baseball team wasn’t taking any chances Friday afternoon. With dark clouds filling the sky before the Mid-Atlantic Christian Athletic Association home game against Gramercy Christian of Newport even started, the Cyclones made the most of their only turn at bat by plating eight runs in the bottom of the first inning.
With the rainfall increasing by the minute, the game was halted after one inning with CCS ahead 8-2.
Cyclones head coach Andy Jackson said the game will be resumed from that point, he just doesn’t know what date yet.
“I was pleased with the start of it,” Jackson said. “I was looking forward to trying to finish it out, but disappointed. From what I had seen, I was thinking the rain might come in around 6 and we’d be able to get the game in, but I was pleased with the way we started. We were kind of aggressive swinging the bat. Now, of course, they helped us with walks.”
Indeed, the Cyclones drew six walks in the half inning and only needed three hits to record their biggest single-inning output this season. Sophomore Ian Whitley doubled and drove in three runs while eighth grader Tanner Pierce was 1 for 2 with two RBIs. Starting pitcher Tyler Spivey was 1 for 2 with an RBI. Tee Bohne and Nathan Baker also drove in a run each.
“Got a lot of new guys on this team but I like this team,” said Jackson, who lost seven players off last season’s roster. “I think we’re starting to come along a little bit. I’m learning who can play where, but we’re just getting better. The main thing is pitching is better than I thought it would be.”
Spivey was tagged with two unearned runs in his inning of work, but he didn’t allow a hit and walked just one batter while striking out one.
The Cyclones have displayed a propensity toward hitting the ball, blasting 15 h its in a 19-6 cruise past Victory Christian in the opener March 15. Community Christian lost its next game against New Life Academy of Elizabeth City, 4-1, as it committed five errors and left runners on base. Jackson pointed out that starting pitcher Colby Barnhill struck out 10 New Life batters but two reached base due to dropped third strikes and both eventually scored. The Cyclones also had the bases loaded with one out but the next two batters whiffed.
Then, Friday’s performance was a return to the offensive fireworks.
“It seems like when one guy can get a hit, we kind of put some hits together,” Jackson said. “I feel like we’ve been a little bit up and down with that but the kids are improving. I was worried at the beginning of the season just for the fact we lost seven guys off last year’s team. We had five seniors graduate and two to transfer to public school.”
The Cyclones get their chance at revenge against New Life on Monday when they head to Elizabeth City. Community Christian will then visit New Life Christian in Rocky Mount on Tuesday before taking more than two weeks off for spring break. The Cyclones are back April 12 against Ahoskie Christian, the first of six games left, not counting the resumption of Friday’s game. It’s been the story all year though, Jackson said.
“We had our first two games canceled; they were rained out,” he said. “It’s been a little rough. You know, we’ve had some beautiful days, just didn’t have games. We got good practice in, which has helped us. I love to play the games, but you know, we’re only going to improve getting some practice in. We had a real good practice yesterday, got a lot of hitting in. Our middle school (team) was away so we didn’t have both teams on the field at same time and we were able to hit a little bit more so I think going into today’s game, we were ready to hit.”