Oh, so close: Northside baseball nearly knocks off unbeaten East Carteret

Published 4:39 pm Friday, April 4, 2025

By Jason O. Boyd

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

YEATESVILLE, N.C. — Northside’s baseball team was THIS close to pulling off a huge upset.

In Tuesday’s Coastal Plains Conference game, the Panthers had matched East Carteret toe for toe through the first six innings. Both teams were scoreless going into the top of the seventh. The Mariners came into the game unbeaten (15-0, 5-0) and ranked among the top Class 2A teams in the state in several publications.

East Carteret took advantage of two mistakes by Northside to plate two runs in the top of the seventh and escape with a 2-0 victory. The two teams met again on Friday at East Carteret.

The outcome left the Panthers (4-10, 3-2) frustrated, but working the rest of the week in practice to try and see if they could have a repeat performance with a different outcome.

“You know, we played good enough to win. We just didn’t,” said a frustrated Northside baseball coach Parker Boyd. “Yeah, it’s baseball. Proud of the guys.

“I mean, I feel like ever since Manteo walked us off last week (8-7 loss), we’ve had a different attitude toward the season. We’ve kind of taken a … we have nothing to lose at this point.”

The Panthers had their moments to score off freshman starting pitcher Tanner Wade, who beat Washington in a non-conference game, 6-0, on March 26 after allowing no runs on two hits with five strikeouts and a walk in a complete-game win. Against Northside, he went 5.1 innings and gave up no runs on three hits with five strikeouts.

Northside’s best chance to score came in the sixth inning, when they eventually forced the Mariners to pull Wade for reliever Lukas Styron. The Panthers got two walks and had both in scoring position before Will Taylor struck out.

“The growth some of these younger guys have shown since Ayden-Grifton beat us 18-4 (on March 7) has been absolutely amazing,” Boyd said. “I mean, they’re maturing right before our eyes.

“We were toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the state. I mean, that is a good baseball team. I think it shows how their hard work is doing. They really … they’ve dug in, they’re buying into what we’re selling them. And then they’re working hard, and I’m proud of them.”

Northside starting pitcher Jayden Bass gave up three hits and struck out two through four innings. Trenton Allen took the loss, giving up the two runs, neither earned, on a hit with three strikeouts and three walks.

The Mariners scored both runs on Northside fielding errors with one out in the seventh. One came on a dropped pop-up and the other on a misplayed ball in left field.

Northside’s offense went out in order in the bottom half of the inning.

“Let’s just go play baseball and have a good time. Proud of the guys. They busted their butts,” Boyd said.

“Credit to (East Carteret head coach Troy) VanMeter. I mean, you don’t get 15-0 if you’re making a lot of mistakes. They played solid in the field. Their pitching was great. Even though they only scored two runs, I mean, the whole game they were just hitting it on the button.

“We’re just making good plays. And we played well enough to win until we didn’t. And that’s just how baseball works.”

More Sports

Terry Moore, Duke football halfway through spring workouts; accolades begin

High 5, Southside’s Austin Gerard: Seahawks’ senior captain talks pitching, hitting, being leader

Seahawks working through missed opportunities

Roundup: Bills could impact school mascots, pay for coaches

Print Article

SportsPlus

  • Polls

    What is the status of your annual income taxes?

    View Results

    Loading ... Loading ...