Spartans roll on

Jeff Parham exited the field at M.S. Deal Stadium Saturday with a box of baseballs under one arm and a trophy under the other.

The Spartans have the former with them every game. The latter, well, it just seems that way.

South Caldwell won its fourth straight Northwestern conference tournament title - and its second tournament of the year - on its home away from home, defeating Watauga 4-1 in Granite Falls.

It marked the second win for South Caldwell against the Pioneers, the lone team to defeat the Spartans this season.

“I think this is a good way to go into the playoffs,” Spartan pitcher Cody Penny said. “Any time you can beat a good team like Watauga, it's a good way to go.”

The Spartans (21-1) will begin their pursuit of a second straight state title and a third consecutive state finals appearance on Friday. But the South Caldwell mindset was already on the 64-team 4-A bracket in the post-game moments Saturday.

“This is like another step to get where we want to be,” South Caldwell first baseman Cody Prestwood said.

Penny threw a complete-game, four-hitter, struck out 11 and did not allow a run until the top of the seventh. Combined with Jimmy Messer's performance Friday, the two Spartan hurlers combined for 14 innings, five hits and 25 strikeouts in the tournament. And each player also had RBI-doubles.

They were named co-most valuable players for the event.

Penny helped himself with an RBI-double in the first inning, one that drove in two runs after Lucas Jackson reached base on a single and Prestwood reached on an infield error.

The Spartans added one more run in the third off Pioneer starter Austin Story when a Prestwood single to left scored Dom DiBernardi. Watauga then inserted Tyler Moore - the pitcher that one-hit South Caldwell in the March 17 win - and he fared better. With the bases loaded, he struck out the first two batters he faced before Dalton Hall drew a walk to plate Jackson.

Moore again had the Spartans stumped. In four innings, he struck out seven and allowed just one hit, a Brad Chavis single to short.

“(Moore) was tough,” Parham said. “He did a great job. And I thought we just went through the motions.”

Watauga (16-10) had its first two hits in the third, but the team was unable to bring a run across the plate until the seventh. Watauga loaded the bases with singles by Trey Lowder and Moore and a walk by Kyle Miller. Then, with two outs, Ethan Moyer drew a walk to score Lowder and bring the potential go-ahead run to the plate in the form of Cal Hardee. But Penny forced Hardee into a groundout to Jackson at second to end the game, one that played out the way the Spartans had planned.

“Look at these guys,” Parham said. “It's an expectation. You've gotta give the guys that wear the uniform credit. They know what it's about.”

Not that the Spartans, victors in 15 straight outings, ever get tired of winning.

“It doesn't get old,” Prestwood said.

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