Webb Hughes ’22 tossed his bat to the ground and jogged to first base with the most satisfying walk of his career Tuesday night.
How to sum up the first true home win under Tripp Bourne ‘66 Field’s new lights?
In sports, a team can do everything to win a game, give it away, and somehow get it back again. Christ School varsity baseball rode this emotional roller coaster Tuesday, ultimately rallying for four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to outlast Asheville Christian Academy, 7-6.
The Greenies (6-9, 2-1) had blown a 3-1 lead an inning earlier, in effect squandering a solid pitching performance by Mac Kimel ’22, who went 6.2 innings, allowing two earned runs, four hits, and three walks to go along with five strikeouts.
“We’ve really had a kind of up-and-down season and tonight was the full display of that. We’ve had great moments and not-so great moments,” Mac said.
“It wasn’t looking good in that last inning, but I just think we have a bunch of hard-nosed guys. It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog. It is really great to share this, especially at home in front of our fans.”
Webb’s walk-off walk brought in the winning run in the eighth, which began with a walk by Matthew Hammel ’23 and included singles from Chase Gribble ’23 and Brody Raleigh ’23. Johno Pierce ’23 slid in headfirst at home plate to score the tying run off a wild pitch by the Lions (6-8, 3-1).
For the game, Johno, Brody, and Matthew had two hits each. RBIs were produced by Webb (two), Johno (one), Brody (one), and Ethan Rose ’24.
Tuesday’s game was originally scheduled to be played at ACA, but the Lions’ field was too rain-soaked to host. The Lions were the first-place team in the Carolinas Athletic Association and Tuesday was Christ School's first win in the conference series since 2019.
The Greenies will not play again until April 20 when they host Rabun Gap (Ga.).