Enka rallies to eliminate South Point in second round
SWANNANOA — South Point held Enka’s high-powered offense in check for five innings. And then the Red Raiders gave their opponent some help.
South Point outhit the Jets by one, but a crucial error in the sixth allowed the tying and go-ahead runs in Enka’s 5-4 second-round playoff victory Tuesday at Owen High School.
The Big South runner-up Red Raiders finish the season at 18-5 while Enka (20-6) advances to the third round against Tuscola (20-3), a 13-12 winner over R-S Central.
South Point right-hander Chris Harkey (9-1) pitched what his coach called his best performance of the year, but on this night it wasn’t enough to avoid his first loss — even after South Point led 4-1 through 5 1/2 innings.
“We had the game in our hands,” Harkey said. “I just hate we lost.”
The Red Raiders finished with seven hits to Enka’s six and had control until the pivotal sixth. Clemson signee Dale Innes started the rally with a leadoff home run, his team-leading 13th of the year. Five batters and two outs later, Anthony Gosnell drove in Enka’s third run.
The real damage, though, occurred when Gosnell took off for second and shortstop Ryan Huneycutt tried to throw him out. The throw was off the mark, and two runs crossed the plate for the winning margin.
“He was trying to make a play and when you try to make a play, sometimes you’re going to make mistakes,” South Point coach Jason Lineberger said. “He’s made a bunch of plays for us. We don’t fault guys for trying to make plays.”
On South Point’s last chance at the plate, Innes took the mound and retired the Red Raiders in order to preserve the win and earn his second save.
“It’s one of those games you’re happy for your team but you kind of feel for the other team because this was a game that could have gone either way,” Enka coach Mike Anderson said. “But that’s what baseball’s about. You keep playing to the end.”
Western Carolina signee Cody Jones also homered for Enka, which increased its season home run total by two to 50. The state record is 55.
Harkey battled against that potent lineup, limiting the Jets to three hits through five innings. The senior finished six strikeouts, two walks and three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.
“We couldn’t ask any more out of him,” Lineberger said. “I thought he pitched his best game of the year tonight.”
Huneycutt went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and Patrick Horne slugged his first home run to lead South Point at the plate. Dariel Rogers, Jordan Edgerton, Weston Lawing and Jeffrey Springs added a hit each.
South Point wasted no time putting runs on the board, scoring three in the top of the first. Lawing connected for an RBI single, driving in Edgerton. Horne then smacked his two-run homer to center for a 3-0 South Point lead.
That lead held until the fourth, when Jones led off with a home run, his 12th of the season. With South Point’s lead cut to 3-1, Innes reached on an error, and it appeared Enka had something going. But Harkey retired the next three batters to get out of the inning.
South Point nearly added two more runs in the fifth but had to settle for one. Edgerton was on Rogers’ heels as they rounded third on Huneycutt’s double, but Edgerton was tagged out just after Rogers reached home. Still, the Red Raiders led 4-1.
The game ended the high school careers for seniors Rogers, Josh Justice, Jonathan Ray, Huneycutt, Jimmy Henning, Lawing and Harkey.
“These guys have worked hard every day since they’ve been here,” Lineberger said. “When you put that much of yourself in it, that makes it tougher.”
Enka was the host school but held the game at a neutral site because its field has no lights. The Jets wanted to play the game at 5 p.m. but South Point didn’t agree to the earlier start.
You can reach Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843.
