Blue Devils win, setup rematch vs Lake Norman

A lot was on the line Monday night for the Mooresville Blue Devils baseball team.  Playoff brackets have not been finalized and a loss was not going to help matters for the Blue Devils.

In an odd past week, Mooresville visited West Cabarrus and run-ruled them in 5 innings.  Everyone and everything got hit including the Mooresville Sports transportation in the parking lot.  It was a great game for the Blue Devils.

Two days later West Cabarrus makes the trip to Mooresville on senior night and beats the Devils 5-1.

Everyone knew this was going to be a great game.

Noah Hildebran started the game for Mooresville and went 3 innings.  He had 8 strikeouts and gave up only 2 runs.  West Cabarrus is a good team and can get after you quickly.  He kept them at bay for the first half of the game setting up Eli Bodine to finish off the Wolverines. 

In Bodine’s last start, he was given the pleasure of having to come in relief during a downpour.  And this was not rain, this was a monsoon.  It was not the outing he was looking for and not a representation of the crafty junior lefthander.  In tonight’s game, he was stellar in a tough situation giving up only 1 run in 3 innings and having 4 strikeouts himself.  We spoke to Eli post-game and you can hear the interview below.

Rowen Jackson started it off for the Blue Devils engineering the first RBI of the night in the second inning scoring Aaron Burchett. 

Burchett came out on absolute fire in the game with the bat gathering in 3 hits in 4 at-bats with a double on the night.

We expect Aaron to take the hill Wednesday afternoon at Hickory Ridge, 4 pm vs. Lake Norman.

A big moment offensively in the game came during the bottom of the fifth inning by Austin Emmert.  Emmert had runners in scoring position and the blue devils were down in the game 3-2 when Emmert hit a solid shot into the outfield which scored Rowen Jackson and Corbin Clonch.  Clonch also had 2 hits on the night and scored 2 crucial runs for the Blue Devils.  Emmert, as casual as always, gave a big spark to Mooresville and you could feel the game turning at this point. We spoke to Austin post-game and you can hear it below.

Defense.

The highlight of the game was Rowen Jackson’s huge catch in shallow right field.  Right off the bat, this ball was trouble.  Andy Granger took off like a rocket from second base as Rowen was charging in from right field.  Jackson called ball and immediately set up an angle and dove for the ball.  Somehow, he caught it and made the play of the night.  He jumped up and threw his fist in the air in jubilation and Burchett and Granger helped him up.  It was one of those key moments in the game in which coach Michael Park referred to as “HUGE” by the dual sport senior athlete.  (photo shown) Jackson describes the catch in his audio interview below.

Second and third huge defensive plays of the game.

Our guy Connor Robertson who was born to play third base and hit dingers, decided he was going to make some MLB style plays over at third tonight.  With the game tied 4-4 at the top of the 7 with one out and a runner on third base, a rather slow ground ball came at third.  In true athletic instinct, Robertson knew he was going directly home.  He fired a laser at Brandon Larfano who put a fabulous tag on the runner getting him out at home.  During the post-game Brandon mentioned he learned some great advice about tagging a runner at home and gave a shout-out to Johnny Meadows. (photo shown)  Like clockwork, you knew Robertson had an exact plan on what to do with the ball if it were hit to him, and made a big play because of it.  (Pay attention kids)

On the very next play with a runner in scoring position, Robertson came up huge again on a slow ground ball in the grass and a fast runner.  Like he has done all year with the pressure on, fielded the ball cleanly and fired it across the diamond to get the decisive third out of the inning, ending West Cabarrus’s chance to take the lead.  Robertson has the same type of look firing that awfully difficult throw across the diamond and looks like the real deal when doing it.

Andy Granger even had a Derek Jeter jump-throw opportunity at second base as well during the game. (photos shown)

On to the bottom of the seventh.

The bottom of the seventh in a tie game as the home team…  You know you are either going to lose a tough one or have that glorious walk-off.  It was up to Mooresville to come through now and make certain that the season was extended.

After working the count hard Austin Emmert drew a walk and managed to get on base.  A runner and a shot to win the game.  Emmert proceeded to get to second on a stolen base setting up Luke Modrak the shortstop with a runner in scoring position.  Modrak ripped a fastball down the middle into the outfield and Emmert was on his way.  He flew around third and West Cabarrus had no chance, scoring the winning run.  Modrak was mobbed in celebration between first and second being greeted by his senior brother Jake Modrak first, who also had a hit on the night and played a DH role.   The rest of the teammates hugged Luke and briefly celebrated in true walk-off fashion. (photos shown) Luke Modrak had 2 key RBI’s on 2 hits, a walk, with 4 plate appearances.

The rematch to the rematch.

This win sets Mooresville to face arch-rival Lake Norman for the third time this season, Wednesday afternoon at 4pm.  The location of the game will be Hickory Ridge high school as well as the remainder of the tournament.