Providence Christian and King’s Ridge Christian combined for 60 runs in their playoff doubleheader Tuesday.
After a wild, wind-aided Game 1 and a dramatic game-winning hit in Game 2 on Tuesday, the teams are set for a rubber game Wednesday in the Class A quarterfinals.
The Stars won the first game 27-18 behind two homers and a 5-for-5 day at the plate from Christin Stewart, and the Tigers took the second 8-7 on a Jason McCoy RBI single.
The 27 runs in the first game were the most Providence Christian has scored all season, as an unseasonably cold and breezy May afternoon turned into a wild one for both teams.
“That’s the craziest game I’ve ever been around,” Providence Christian coach Adam Cantrell said. “Both teams hit the ball well, and neither team fielded the ball well.”
The Tigers came back from a 15-4 deficit to take the lead in the fifth inning, but the Stars’ six-run fifth put them back in the lead for good.
The bats calmed down a bit in the second game, as both the pitchers settled down.
Most important, King’s Ridge starter Luke McCracken held the Providence Christian offense mostly in check until Stewart hit his third home run of the day, a grand slam that tied the game 7-7 in the seventh inning.
It wasn’t quite enough, though, as McCoy’s single ended up giving the Tigers the win on their next at-bat.
The hero for King’s Ridge may have been McCracken, who got a complete-game victory after the Tigers used several pitchers during the 27-run avalanche in the first game.
With a third game looming Wednesday, King’s Ridge needed a long outing on the mound to keep some arms fresh for the next day.
Stewart was the hitting star of the day, going 6-for-10 with three home runs, six runs and 10 RBIs.
About the Author
