Softball no-hitter, home run; baseball gets SAC win

by Dunn Area Sports Staff | Apr 12, 2019 | Cape Fear Christian Academy

Reid Miller pitched a complete game and drove in the winning runs.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Barbara Myatt)

Thursday was special for Cape Fear Christian Academy’s varsity baseball and softball teams.

In softball, the Eagles got a no-hitter from Rhyleigh Horne and a 2-run homer from Aubree Bass in a 12-0 nonconference win at Faith Christian of Rocky Mount.

CFCA coach Sterling Holmes noted that Horne, an eighth-grader, is the only pitcher with a no-hit shutout in the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association 1-A class this season, according to MaxPreps. It came against a 2-A program.

In baseball, CFCA scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to down Trinity Christian of Fayetteville, 10-7, for the Eagles’ first Sandhills Athletic Conference win of the season.

Horne helped herself offensively by going 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs as CFCA improved to 7-5. Jada Horne was 3-for-3 with a double, a walk and three runs.

Bass was 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs and four RBIs. Anslee McLamb went 3-for-3 with a triple, a walk, and a run. Harmony Horne was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs.

Trinity had defeated the host Eagles 14-4 in baseball in the first meeting on April 3. The Crusaders were designated the home team for the second game at CFCA.,

The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after Zeke Brock singled to center. He stole second and third before coming home on a passed ball.

In the second inning, Jackson Bolton was hit by a pitch with two out. Wyatt Medlin walked and Jaden Crumley singled to score Bolton. Brock delivered a 2-run single to left center for a 4-2 Eagles lead.

In the fifth inning, Trevor McLamb and David Clearman drew walks. River Ennis had an RBI single down the left field line. Trinity picked up four runs on three hits and two errors in the bottom of the fifth to lead, 7-5.

CFCA left runners at second and third in the sixth but fared better in the seventh after Clearman led off with a single to right. Crumley’s RBI single to center cut the lead to 7-6. Reid Miller’s deep drive and miscues by the Crusaders cleared the bases and allowed Miller to score as well.

Miller was exhausted from his run but managed to complete the game on the mound. First baseman A.J. McGarvey was down after a collision at the bag but eventually was able to finish.

Miller threw 92 pitches in a complete game. He allowed five earned runs on nine hits with one walk and nine strikeouts.

“A lot of hunger and determination in the dugout,” said Eagles coach Marty Priebe. “The effort was awesome.”

Crumley and Miller were each 2-for-4 with a walk for CFCA. Brock went 2-for-5. Clearman and Ennis were each 1-for-3 with a walk. McLamb and Medlin each drew a pair of walks.

Crumley had a diving catch in center in the sixth.