U.P. Baseball Beats Cardinal Gibbons

As of Friday, April 22, 2011

Union Pines topped Cardinal Gibbons 12-9 in a nonconference baseball tilt Tuesday at Viking Field.

The Vikings improved to 16-4 on the season and ran their current win streak to five games with the victory.

It did not take long for Union Pines’ red hot bats to produce runs in the afternoon ballgame, as the Vikes scored four runs in the first inning and two in the second to build a 6-1 lead.

Junior Seth Breasseale plated the first two runs of the game by lacing a pull shot down the right field line. Kelly then brought Breasseale home with a deep blast to center for a round tripper. The pair also accounted for both of Union Pines’ RBIs in the second frame with two bases loaded walks.

Justin Allred extended the Vikings’ advantage to 7-1 when he smashed a solo home run high and deep to center in the bottom of the fourth.

The junior shortstop continued his stellar stick work for the Vikings, going 2-for-3 with four runs and a walk.

“Coach (Chad) Hill preaches to us to take a backside approach at the plate,” Allred said, “and to have a solid two strike approach. As a team we have been doing that well, which has helped us get a lot of hits and runs.”

Over his last four games, Allred is 10-for-12 with the bat and has tallied 15 RBIs, 11 runs, five homers and three doubles. His home run count is second on the squad behind Breasseale’s 10, while Nic Collins has seven.

“Right now I am feeling really good up at the plate,” he said. “I cannot remember a time I have felt better.”

The visiting Crusaders rallied in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs on four hits, including a two-run dinger by John Humienny, to trim Union Pines’ edge to 7-4. But the Vikings answered back directly in the bottom half, posting a five-spot featuring two-run hits by both Collins and Kelly, as Union Pines carried a 12-4 lead into the sixth inning.

Kelly got the pitching win for the Vikings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out six. It was the senior’s eighth victory of the season as he tied the Union Pines’ school record for pitching wins in a season. He also helped his own cause with the bat, going 2-for-3 with five RBIs and a walk.

Gabe Gonzalez breezed through his one inning of relief work for Union Pines, retiring the side in order on 12 pitches in the top of the sixth inning.

Collins then took the mound for Union Pines in the top of the seventh inning. The Crusaders touched the junior captain for five runs on three hits, three walks and an error. A bases loaded two-run double eventually brought the potential game-tying run to the plate for Cardinal Gibbons, but Collins managed to retire the batter by forcing a pop up out to bring the game to a close.

The Vikings have now scored 12 or more runs in each of their last five games. Union Pines returned to the diamond Thursday in Robbins for a cross-county nonconference clash with North Moore.

The Vikings play host to the Pinecrest Patriots in another intra-county contest set for 7 p.m Monday.

Contact F.W. Manning II at frankw2@gmail.com.

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gardak 2 years, 1 month ago

Another cupcake bites the dust!

HeelsHoopFan 2 years, 1 month ago

you appear bitter Gardak. What's your beef with this team?

gardak 2 years, 1 month ago

Not bitter, just an observation of the schedule.

gardak 2 years, 1 month ago

You may not be able to control the conference schedule, but you sure as well can control who you play non-conference. Filling the schedule with the East and West Montgomery's of the world will not help your team in crunch time. Sure it makes your stats look good but comparing their non-conference schedule to Pinecrest's there is no comparison. There is a reason Pinecrest is #2 in the state and a reason Union Pines isn't ranked. It all has to do with strength of schedule. Should be a good game Monday night but I don't expect it to last more than 5 innings unless Pinecrest plays their underclassmen (which is a possibility). Hopefully next year Union Pines will beef up the schedule and let these boys challenge themselves before the playoffs. Again, not meaning to take away from a good season, just making observations. Keep up the good work Coach Hill!

RD28327 2 years, 1 month ago

'Twas another night at "the ol' lumber yard" .....

fwm2 2 years, 1 month ago

The Vikes are batting .410 as a team with an OBP of .512 and are slugging .710

Union Pines has six batters with a Batting AVG of .400 or better:

Nic Collins (JR): 571 AVG, 7 HR, 29 R, 32 RBI, 5 2B, .653 OBP, 1.107 SLG, 9 SB
Seth Breasseale (JR) .571 AVG, 10 HR, 22 R, 30 RBI, 6 2B, .662 OBP, 1.286 SLG
Justin "J-All" Allred (JR) .529 AVG, 8 HR, 28 R, 24 RBI, 4 2B, .607 OBP, 1.118 SLG
Keaton Thomas (SR) .468 AVG, 13 R, 10 RBI, 5 2B, .575 OBP
Gabe Gonzalez (SR) .459 AVG, 3 HR, 29 R, 15 RBI, 8 2B, .558 OBP .763 SLG, 24 SB
Carson Kelly (SR) .412 AVG, 4 HR, 19 R, 25 RBI .725 SLG

jkrahnert3 2 years, 1 month ago

It's been a really fun baseball season here in Moore County. Can't believe the regular season is almost over.

callred 2 years, 1 month ago

That a boy franco did you say .410 batting average and how many times have you said hit a ball ovr the lights this year and lets not forget two state records this team really rakes the ball for sure im with you keep hitting it boys!!!!

RD28327 2 years, 1 month ago

Looks like you got the makings of a serious "lumber company" there .....

HeelsHoopFan 2 years, 1 month ago

The main reason Pinecrest is ranked #2 in the state is they have an outstanding group of players. You can have the toughest out of conference schedule in the world and without the talent you don't have the ranking. Also, give the Pilot some props. They have chronicled (Charlie Bergman) for years since these guys were freshman, so it's not like we are all suprised by PHS' rankings, we applaud it and hope they will do as well next year when they lose the three Div. I players. The fact that UPHS is not ranked is non sensical, we'll see what the experts will have to say after this week of play.

Just don't be hating on the Vikes because they are so hot with the stick in Cameron you can here them sizzling at #2 in Pinehurst. The pilot (Franco Mannig) is just reporting the facts. The facts are: this group of country boys are hitting the ball hard and often. Additionally, I hope your prediction of an early inning exit by UP will make good bulletin board material for Coach Hill.

Best of Luck to both squads in this non conference tilt and Happy Easter.

gardak 2 years, 1 month ago

you seem bitter HeelsHoopFan. What gives?

I've given UP their props but anybody who knows anything about baseball knows the non-conference schedule is cupcake central. I would equate it with Pinecrest's football schedule the past 2 seasons. PC is beefing up their schedule next year, lets hope UP baseball does the same.

I have a hard time understanding why UP folks get so defensive.

HeelsHoopFan 2 years, 1 month ago

How does wishing both teams luck and a Happy Easter equate to bitterness. I am just excited that we have more than one team that can play baseball in Moore county. One of the favorite conversation starters around these parts is "you think Maples is ever going to wear Carolina Blue? That 'll give you a good 10 minutes of opining that quickly moves to whether he will pitch here next week?

No Gardak, no bitterness here just a steady drum beat of the bats of the Cameron Country Boys. You're the one who suggested PHS was going to beat UP in submission next week, UPHS opened up the "lumber yard" again tonight. This little ball club in Cameron hits the ball hard and often. Go Pats and Vikes and may the best team win.

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