Burns baseball can’t hold early lead in Game 1 of NCHSAA championship

HOLLY SPRINGS — Burns scored two runs in the top of the first, but the Bulldogs were shut out the rest of the way, falling to Bunn 3-2 in Game 1 of the 4A State Championship Series in Holly Springs.

“It was tough today,” Burns head coach Alex Leonhardt said. “It was what it was supposed to be, a good game between two good teams. We just didn’t get the job done today, but we can still come back tomorrow.”

Brian Buttrick was the tough-luck loser for the Bulldogs, giving up two earned runs in five innings of work.

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As the visitors, Burns (25-4) mounted a threat in the top of the first as Max Davis and Drew Dixon walked. Lathan Peller brought both of those runs in with a solid single to left as Burns led 2-0. Bunn (25-3) wasted little time tying the contest as Caleb Johnson garnered a two-run single up the middle.

The Bulldog defense flashed the leather in the bottom of the second, turning a 4-6-3 double play as pitcher Brian Buttrick escaped a jam. Both pitchers settled down from that point as the score stayed at 2-2 after 3 frames.

“Our defense kept us in the game,” Leonhardt said. “We were very strong up the middle.”

Davis made a diving stop at short in the bottom of the fourth, but a wild pitch by Buttrick allowed Jackson Alford to score and gave Bunn a 3-2 lead. Davis led off the top of the fifth with a single to right. He stole second, but was left stranded.

Peeler was hit by pitch to lead off the sixth, but was caught stealing as Burns still trailed 3-2. The Bulldogs could not mount a threat in the seventh, falling 3-2.  Game 2 is set for Thursday, May 28 at 11:00 am.

“We can’t win it in one game tomorrow and we can’t win it as a bunch of individuals, but we can certainly win it as a team. We just have to win the first game tomorrow and see what happens.” Leonhardt said.

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: NCHSAA baseball 4A championship Burns vs Bunn game 1