Rams Hush Chargers with Dominant Combined Score 16-2 in Two Games
GRIFTON— The Rams keep rolling.
Greene Central extended their perfect season with a decisive sweep against Ayden-Grifton this week, showcasing their dominance in the conference and underscoring their status as a powerhouse in state high school baseball. The Rams first secured a 5-2 victory at their home ground in Snow Hill on Tuesday, before delivering a resounding 11-0 win at Ayden-Grifton's turf on Thursday. This pivotal conference matchup fell during Greene Central's spring break, yet the team's focus and competitive edge were sharper than ever.
The back-to-back victories propelled Greene Central to an impressive 13-0 overall and 6-0 in the conference, cementing their position as the #9 ranked team in the state across all classifications—the only 2A East school to make the top 20. The Rams have now triumphed over Ayden-Grifton six times consecutively, a streak that dates back to over 1000 days since the Chargers last defeated Greene Central. Despite the historical edge, the Chargers arrived with high spirits and a strong verbal game that set the stage for a heated series.
Head Coach Ben Brann praised his team's approach, "I really loved the way they came out, a lot of energy ready to go. There were little chirps in the other game, but all we wanted to do was put that stuff to the side and focus on baseball." His commendation extended to the team's adaptability and focus during the spring break, a period when routines are disrupted, "I am really impressed. A lot of times, when high school kids are not in their regular routine all the time, you don't know what you're going to get from them, but I was really proud of them."
The Rams have six senior players with tons of experience and it carries over during the season. Brann believes Rams senior’s significantly contributed the team's uninterrupted focus and success during the break.
"Our seniors are really, really competitive. They want to win and come out to do their best all the time, that is something that makes it easy on the coach when you don't have to worry about people goofing off and messing around."
On the mound, Greene Central's pitchers were virtually untouchable, allowing only 4 hits against 47 Ayden-Grifton batters over the two games. Austin Hardy led the charge in the first game, delivering a masterful 5.2 innings where he gave up just 2 hits and no earned runs while walking 4 and striking out 11 Chargers. The second game saw Burress take the helm, pitching 5.0 innings, allowing two hits, no earned runs, walking two, and striking out four.
The Rams' offense was equally formidable. Noah Uzzell (2-6, 3 RBIs, 2 runs), Will Radford (2-5, 2 BB, 2 2B, 3 RBIs), and Easton Creech (3-4, 3 RBIs, 2 runs, 5 SB) were standout performers, delivering critical hits that drove Greene Central's scoring efforts.
Looking ahead, Greene Central is set to face conference opponent Washington in a highly anticipated matchup starting Tuesday at home at 7:00 PM.
