Enterprise closes in on 2A baseball title

By By Robby Atkinson/staff writer
May 1, 2004
The football program at Enterprise is legendary, and the championship run the Bulldogs had in the 1980s is something dreams are made of.
But the talk of the town these days centers around the baseball diamond.
The Enterprise Bulldogs continue their quest for a Class 2A State Championship on Monday against Mercy Cross in game one of a best-of-three series with the Crusaders.
The Enterprise Bulldogs had no problems scoring runs in winning the Class 2A tournament at home last weekend and the Bulldogs are hoping for much of the same story in round two of the playoffs.
Enterprise (21-6) will open its best-of-three series on the road at Mercy Cross (13-17), with game two taking place at Enterprise. The third game, if needed, will be be at Mercy Cross on Thursday. All of the games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m..
Enterprise scored 10 runs in all three of its wins in the opening round, with a home run spree having a lot do with that. The Bulldogs opened the tournament with a 10-6 win over St. Andrew's thanks to a great night at the plate from senior third baseman Zeb Swain, who drove in four runs with a two-run homer and a double.
Enterprise bounced back Saturday with a convincing 10-0 shutout win over Wesson to advance to the championship game on Monday. Adam Simpson had the big day at the plate in game two with a solo home run. Wade Weathers took the pitching win for Enterprise in game two to improve to 12-1 for the season.
Enterprise wrapped up the tournament championship on Monday with a 10-2 win over Division 7-2A rival Taylorsville, behind two homers and four RBIs from Lance Irby. Swain, Dennis Watson and Anthony Rawson also homered for EHS.
Mercy Cross has found its way into the second round against the Bulldogs by scoring runs in bunches. The Crusaders opened the Class 2A tournament at Lumberton with a 12-4 win over Philadelphia and followed that performance with a 6-5 win over Lumberton. Mercy Cross won the tournament over Philadelphia by a final of 11-3, after losing the first championship game to the Tornadoes 13-8.
J.J. Lang had the biggest weekend for the Crusaders with 10 hits. Freddie Schwan added a two-run home run in the championship game for Mercy Cross.
Game one will feature a pair of left-handed pitchers starting on the mound for each team. Weathers will draw the start in game one for Enterprise and senior Jared Kozlowski will take to the mound for Mercy Cross.