But by midweek, all of that was essentially a distant memory.
After scooting by Burke County Post 21 in three games in the first round of the Area IV playoffs, Huntersville was on the brink of elimination entering Wednesday’s home game with Hickory Post 48.
How quickly things can change.
With a 9-8 loss to Charlotte in the regular season finale being its only previous setback, Huntersville suffered 14-0 and 14-3 losses Monday and Tuesday— in contests shortened to seven innings by the mercy rule — in the first two games of the second-round best-of-five series. That meant Huntersville, back-to-back Eastern Division champions, needed a win Wednesday (after this edition’s press time) just to stay alive and victories Thursday and Friday as well to advance to the third round.
Huntersville coach Trevin Smith said Tuesday that his team, though previously getting by, had been off its game prior to meeting Hickory, the Western’s No. 4 seed.
“We struggled through Burke, too, didn’t play as well as we should,” said Smith. “We just scratched through Burke.”
Huntersville (22-3 through Tuesday night) entered the series with Hickory shorthanded. Catcher/first baseman Adam Venditti suffered a hand injury on a collision at first base in last Friday’s series clinchingwin over Burke and was unavailable. And fellow infield starters Mikal Hill and Travis Hallman had to report to their respective colleges. The loss of three starters in one swoop was tough, said Smith. Venditti had homered in the first two games of the Burke series, and Hallman had a grand slam in the series opener. Hill had started every game at second base and also posted a hit in every contest.
Factor in the loss of third baseman Diego Perez two weeks ago — he also reported to college —and the Huntersville team that showed up against Hickory hardly resembled the one that was outscoring its opponents by an average of 12.4 to 4.5.
Smith said it’s just unfortunate that the players had to leave, but he understands their obligations.
“I can’t fault them for it,” he said. “I’d be going, too.”
Hickory’s Tyler Poole, a Coastal Carolina recruit, shut down Huntersville Monday at North Meck High. He tossed a complete-game two-hitter, only allowing base hits to Post 321’s Sam Remick and Hunter Conley.
Tuesday, Hickory’s Cole McGraw drove in seven runs. Hickory led 11-0 in the fourth inning before Daniel Whitecavage hit a solo home run for Huntersville.
Huntersville won the series opener with Burke 15-11 and took Game 2 9-8. A complete-game, three-hitter by pitcher Hunter May helped Huntersville close the series with a 5-2 win.
Smith praised his remaining players for not giving up and also those behind-the-scenes in the program for making the year a success. But facing elimination, Smith could not help but feel some deja vu this week. Last year, Huntersville had a strong regular season and swept Henderson County in the first round before Cherryville bounced it from the playoffs in three straight games.
“It’s like our downfall is the playoffs,” said Smith.
