CFCA teams go into break with nonconference wins

by Dunn Area Sports Staff | Apr 6, 2023 | Articles, Cape Fear Christian Academy

Melanie Multerer had two hits for Cape Fear Christian on Tuesday.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Al Myatt)

Cape Fear Christian Academy moved into Easter break with varsity wins in baseball, girls soccer and softball on Tuesday.

The Eagles held off Grace Christian of Sanford for a 4-3 home win in softball.

CFCA topped visiting Bradford Christian of Mebane, 5-2, in girls soccer.

The Eagles won their eighth straight in baseball by an 18-3 margin over Wayne Prep at the Eastern Carolina Athletic Complex in Goldsboro.

Softball

Grace had the potential go-ahead run on base in the seventh inning before Kristina Kennedy got her ninth strikeout to end the game.

CFCA improved to 5-2 as Kennedy helped her own cause with a double, an RBI and two runs.

Aubrey Multerer had a hit and two RBIs. Melanie Multerer had two hits with a double.

Niah Torres had a double and scored a run. Rhyleigh Horne had an RBI and scored a run.

Aubrey Horne and Larah Tripp had hits in the win.

CFCA returns to action on April 18 at Freedom, with a suspended game to be completed and a regularly-scheduled game following a middle school contest at 3:30 p.m.

Girls soccer

Ella John Dupree scored two goals and had an assist as CFCA improved to 4-2 against Bradford, which is scheduled to join the Mid-Carolina Conference in the 2023-24 school year.

Lexie Crumley, Courtney Butts and Abby Taylor had goals in the victory. Gwynn Young and Nina Sauer provided assists.

Eagles coach Michael Breslin generally was pleased.

“This season, we’ve been waiting for the time when it would all come together,” Breslin said. “We’ve challenged the team to work as a unit, to communicate, to control the transition from defense to attack, and to play smart soccer in general.

“(Tuesday), we played as a team and were able to control all aspects of the game. With five middle school students playing on varsity, we are a very young and inexperienced team. One of the challenges for developing players is to know when to hold the ball and when to get rid of it; when to shoot versus pass. It’s those fundamental skills we’ve been working on this season. My philosophy is if you do the basics well, you’ll be ok. (Tuesday) we did the basics well and showed we are a very good team.

“We scored our first goal just five minutes into the match. Gwynn Young brought the ball down the right side and found herself in a position where she had a very narrow shooting angle. Rather than force the shot, she played a nice ball across the center where Ella John Dupree was able to slot it in.

“Eight minutes later, Ella John passed a ball in to Lexie Crumley who put it past the Bradford keeper. For the rest of the half, we controlled the flow of the game, and the backs and defensive midfielders did a great job preventing any sustained attacks from the other team. We took the 2-0 lead into the half.

“It was very warm and I was glad to hear the whistle for halftime. While we needed the break, I am always concerned about how we start the second half — especially when we are winning. It’s very easy for a team to lose focus when they enter halftime in the lead. Sure enough, Bradford scored just two minutes into the second half.

“Our goalkeeper, Grace Vyox, was screened and couldn’t see the ball until it was too late for her to react. In the 51st minute, Abby Taylor found space outside the opponent’s 18-yard box and took a great shot that went over the Bradford keeper. Five minutes later, Ella John Dupree scored again on a similar goal to Abby’s — an unassisted shot from the top of the 18. One minute after that, Ella John put a corner kick into the goal area, and Nina Sauer collected it and passed to Courtney Butts who scored. In the 72nd minute, Bradford capitalized on a defensive error and scored their second and final goal of the match.

“Overall, it was a very good showing for the Eagles. I’m always looking for ways we can improve, so I’d like to see us make faster decisions and for players to continue to get the ball off of their feet sooner. But overall, it was a very good day.”

Baseball

Trevor McLamb went 4-for-5 with two triples and a double for CFCA (8-1), which sealed its second win over the Generals (0-6) with eight runs in the seventh inning.

Cole Godwin had an RBI single to put the visitors ahead to stay in a 3-run first inning. The Eagles led 9-3 after four innings.

The seventh inning included singles by Zeke Brock, Cason Pope, and Godwin, walks by Fisher Stancil and Connor Shirley, and a double by McLamb.

CFCA collected 11 hits. Godwin, Brock and Cason Pope had two hits each. Rhett Alphin had one hit. brock and Godwin each had three RBIs.

Two Eagles pitchers were backed by errorless defense. Fisher Stancil went five innings for the win. He allowed two hits over five innings with eight strikeouts. Eli Burns went the last two innings with three strikeouts.

“We’ve had a great first half of the season as our guys have pushed forward through several injuries and some adversity,” said Eagles coach Bill Parrish. “I’ve had to move the guys around to different positions trying to figure out the lineup and how it works best with many of our guys being out due to the injuries or playing with injuries. I asked our upperclassmen to step up and they did a tremendous job over our 8-game winning streak.

“We’re ready for a break. We are hoping to get our guys healed up over the break and excited for when we return on to practice on April 17. I’m hoping to have all 12 players healthy and eligible to play. Again, I’m extremely proud of our guys and I appreciate them getting on board and working hard together towards achieving our preseason goals.”

CFCA plays at Cresset Christian on April 18.