LAWNDALE — Scribbled on a dry-erase board inside the Burns baseball dugout is a simple question, capitalized to ensure Bulldog players understand its importance.
“Do you want to be elite?” Facing its first bout of adversity in months, Burns baseball coach Alex Leonhardt figured his team would provide a response in one way or another.
The Bulldogs’ skipper couldn’t be happier with his team’s answer, Burns rallying on three different occasions to take a 9-6 win over East Rutherford in Game 1 of their NCHSAA 2A West championship series.
“We had a little bit of adversity, and early on not everyone handled that well,” Leonhardt said. “But I have to give credit to our team and coaches for re-establishing order, and making sure everyone had each others’ back. This is a tight-knit group, and I’m proud of how they bounced back.”
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East Rutherford (26-2) put Burns on its heels early, leadoff man Chase Powell hitting a home run before many had settled into their seats. The Bulldogs answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning, Colby Putnam’s base hit scoring Marshall McGowan after starting the frame with a double.
The Cavaliers surged back in front moments later, Matthew Pinkerton’s two-run homer in the second giving his team a 3-1 lead. It was Burns’ turn on the seesaw two innings later, a McGowan two-run homer to left tying the game at 3-all.
East Rutherford answered in the top of the fourth, Kalem Curtis’ two-run shot to left field putting the Cavaliers back in front, 5-3. They’d add another run later in the inning on a Burns error.
The Bulldogs seized command for good in the bottom of the fourth. With the bases loaded, Putnam sent East Rutherford starter Jordan Dixon’s 2-1 delivery over the fence in right center for a grand slam.
“Whenever (Putnam) gets a moment, he always seems to rise to the occasion,” Leonhardt said. “It’s just who he is; we’ve become accustomed to him doing things like this.”
Burns (30-0) added two more runs in the sixth on a Jackson Toney base hit.
McGowan particularly savored Tuesday’s game, taking on his former team in a series with high stakes. Thrust into relief duty, the Bulldogs’ slugger allowed no runs on two hits with four strikeouts in three innings on the mound.
“We didn’t come out with the type of energy we’re used to having, so I had to light a fire for our team,” McGowan said. “Once I got on the mound, it was all about competing and putting my best foot forward.”
McGowan finished 2-for-3 with a double, home run and two RBIs. Putnam was 2-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs. Hagan Hoyle led the Bulldogs with three hits, while Nick Williams had two hits and scored two runs.
Powell and Elliott Tisdale each had two hits for East Rutherford.
Burns can clinch a berth in the NCHSAA 2A state championship series Thursday with a win at East Rutherford. First pitch is at 7 p.m.
3A West softball
▶ (4) Piedmont 3, (2) Kings Mountain 1: Jailyn Thomas struck out 10 Kings Mountain batters Tuesday, doing her part to help Piedmont take a 1-0 win in the NCHSAA 3A West championship series.
The Panthers scored two runs in the first, aided by two hits and a Kings Mountain (22-1) error. Another error in the fourth helped Piedmont (23-3) up its lead to 3-0.
Kings Mountain’s Kayla McSwain scored her team’s only run, a Paige Fleming sacrifice fly bringing her in after legging out a triple a batter earlier.
Maddie Huffman allowed three runs on six hits in hurling a complete game. She struck out 11.
Tuesday’s loss was Kings Mountain’s first of the 2024 season. The Lady Mountaineers will look to stave off elimination Thursday when it travels to Piedmont for Game 2 of the 3A West title series. First pitch is at 6:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: One up, one down: Here's how Burns baseball, KM softball started their regional finals
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