Senior salute

Published 10:57 pm Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Tuesday night was Frazier Field was one to remember for the Charles Henderson Trojans.

While the team split its final two regular season games in double-header against Stanhope Elmore there was still much to celebrate as the CHHS faithful honored its seven seniors.

K.D. Edenfield, Nathan Barron, Quay Lawson, Mitch McLeod, Jawara White, Chance Shaver and Joel Agnew all played their final regular season game as Trojans, starting off the afternoon with a 7-2 win before falling 15-2 in the double-header capper.

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In game one between the two teams, CHHS was able to get a victory thanks in large part to its ability to hit the long ball.

Mitch McLeod, Chase Connell and Jalin Lawson all hit single shots over the outfield wall, as the Trojans went on to a 7-2 win.

On Saturday, head coach Derek Irons talked about getting as many of his pitchers out on the mound in the final two games of the regular season for a final tune up before the playoffs.

In game one, four different pitchers got work, as McLeod started the game and got the win, pitching two innings striking out one, while giving up one hit, two walks.

Nathan Barron replaced McLeod in the third, pitching two innings, striking out one and gave up three hits.

Harrison Reeves came in the fifth, and gave up the only two Mustang runs of the game, while striking out two.

Blake Hutchinson closed things out for the Trojans in the seventh, by striking out two of the three batters he faced.

At the plate, McLeod finished 2-4 with three RBIs while Lawson finished 2-3 with an RBI.

In game two, Irons followed the same pitching format he did earlier, getting four of his pitchers on the mound, however, this time around the end result was a bit different.

Jalin Lawson started off and gave up five runs on six hits in the first two innings.

Michael Fox took over in the third and gave up two runs on two hits, and was replaced by Edenfield, who gave up six runs on four hits, before being replaced by Shaver, who surrendered one run on four hits.

At the plate, the Trojans were only able to muster three hits and two runs, both of which came from the bat of Barron thanks to a two-run homer in the bottom of the third.

“We had some guys that had earned the right to play through a lot of hard work throughout the season,” Irons said.

“We wanted to give them some playing time (on Tuesday). I’m glad they got their opportunity,” the coach added.

The split gives the Trojans a 27-8 overall record for the regular season.

Despite the second game loss, Irons said he is glad pitchers were able to get one last chance before the playoffs begin.

“(These games) were a bit of a tough situation for our pitchers,” Irons said.

“We wanted to keep everyone fresh for Friday’s games so we had them pitched two innings – and that is something that they are not used to.

“The guys responded well though, and hopefully we will be ready to go on Friday,” he added.

Now, the No. 1 ranked Trojans will look to Friday afternoon, when it will host a first round playoff series against Monroe County.

“I’m proud of what the guys have done so far,” Irons said.

“But come Friday its the start of the second season. We are back at 0-0 again – nothing carries over from the regular season to the playoffs.

“Hopefully, we will have two good days of work and come out on Friday focused,” the coach added.

The double-header will begin at 4:30 p.m. at Frazier Field followed by the second game at 6:30 p.m.

If the Trojans split the first two games, the third game will be played at 1 p.m, on Saturday at Frazier Field, with the winner taking on the winner of the Rehobeth and Greenville series in the second round.