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LANDIS — When Drew Callicutt hit two homers in one game against Piedmont High’s all-everything pitcher Scott Manshack last month, most people figured that they’d just witnessed the game of Callicutt’s life.
Tuesday night, though, the talented left-hander from West Rowan High raised the bar a little further. After shutting out Mocksville 5-0 for the South Rowan Legion team, Callicutt had every reason to make a brand new “this was the greatest game of my life” entry in his secret diary.
Callicutt was an All-Rowan County player during the high school season because of his bat, but was only an average pitcher (2-4 record, with a 4-plus ERA). However, something’s clicking for him in Legion ball. He’s now thrown 16 strong innings in two starts.
“I really don’t know what it is,” said Callicutt, whose longest high school outing was five innings. “All I can say is I feel great, and tonight was the best I’ve ever felt on a mound.
South Legion coach Allen Wilson says the key for Callicutt is pitching coach Chas Welch.
“Chas has worked on Drew’s mechanics,” said Wilson. “And he’s got him pitching smart. Chas calls the pitches and has Drew mixing it up. He threw some nice 2-0 changeups and some great 3-2 sliders.”
Most of the suspense came in the top of the ninth, with Callicutt trying to nail down the win, the shutout and the complete game all at once.
Callicutt got the first two batters in the ninth — one of them on a running catch by center fielder Derick Efird — but the final out proved a struggle.
First, Callicutt walked slugger Drew Ridenhour on a 3-2 slider that appeared to catch a good bit of the plate. The South crowd went a little nuts as Ridenhour trotted to first. Then the crowd really got restless when Matt Dellacona followed with a ringing double and Kevin Shuping walked on a not-close 3-2 pitch to load the bases.
Now, Wilson had to worry not just about Callicutt’s pitch count, but about holding on to a precious win. Reliever Drew Lyerly indicated he was ready, but Wilson chose to stay with Callicutt as Andrew Jones (fortunately for Wilson, not the Braves’ star) stepped to the plate.
Callicutt came through, getting Jones on a routine fly to right that was gathered in gently by Matt Morgan.
“That was Drew’s last batter, no matter what happened,” said Wilson.
Wilson said he was pleased, but hardly amazed at Callicutt’s effort.
“I figured all along that he would be one of our best,” Wilson said. “He battles and throws strikes, and that’s what it’s all about.”
It’s also about defense, and South’s was terrific. No errors and a half-dozen nice plays.
“They were really behind me,” said Callicutt.
Callicutt, who struck out nine and tossed a five-hitter, owed the loudest thank-you to catcher Brian Yon, who handled his pitches flawlessly and gunned down a pair of would-be basestealers.
In the seventh inning, when Callicutt showed signs of weakening, Jeremy Teague, John Brooks and Efird came up with three straight gems to pick him up. Third baseman Teague went high in the air to field a kangarooing grounder; Brooks snared a hooking liner to left field; Efird ran down a ball that was walloped a mile to center by Shuping.
Mocksville (4-2 overall, 3-1 in the Western Division of Area III) was missing two of its big bats, Steve LeFaivre and Chris Brake, who were working out for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Their sticks may have made a difference, but then again, the way Callicutt was rolling, maybe not.
South (2-3), which beat Statesville 12-0 behind Teague on Monday, now has posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time in its history.
South’s offense was not a pretty sight, as it accumulated just three hits against Mocksville starter Travis Allen and reliever Skipp Crider. But aggressive baserunning turned those three hits into five runs. Mike Lovelace’s Mocksville squad helped seal its own fate with four errors and five wild pitches.
“We didn’t hit a lot,” admitted Wilson. “But we did put the ball in play. We got some quality swings from guys like (Jared)Barnette and Yon. They just didn’t necessarily get hits to show for it.”
Efird doubled and scored on a wild pitch in the first. South scratched out two runs in the second, with one scoring on Michael Hill’s tapper to the mound and another on Efird’s bunt. Teague scored from second in the fourth when catcher Ridenhour threw the ball down the right-field line trying to pick Efird off first. And in the seventh, Callicutt blistered an Allen fastball to center for a double to chase home the ever-present Efird with South’s final run.
It all added up to a great night for Callicutt and an equally great one for the South team. It hasn’t had many better ones in its five-year history.
“We’re off now, but the way we played, we wish we could come right back out here tomorrow,” said an ebullient Wilson. “This was a great team win over a quality opponent. There were a lot of kids hugging each other in the dugout and pulling for each other tonight.”
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NOTES: Rowan County Athlete of the Century Billy Ray Barnes threw out the ceremonial first pitch, then shook hands with the South players and coaches. Best known as a football player, Barnes was also a terrific third baseman on Wake Forest’s 1955 national champions. ... South is idle except for voluntary workouts for the next several days. ... South returns to action against Kannapolis on Tuesday. Mocksville hosts Rowan on Saturday.
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MOCKSVILLE SOUTHROWAN
ab r h bi ab r h bi
Greene cf 3 0 1 0 Efird cf 2 2 1 1
Dywalt 2b 4 0 0 0 Shore 2b 3 0 0 0
Crider 1b 4 0 1 0 Cllctt p 3 0 1 1
Rdnhur c 3 0 0 0 DPinyn 1b 2 0 0 0
Dllcna lf 4 0 2 0 Yon c 4 0 0 0
Shuping 3b 3 0 0 0 Morgan rf 4 0 0 0
Shmker dh 3 0 0 0 Brntte ss 3 1 0 0
Jones 1b 1 0 0 0 Teague 3b 3 2 1 0
Infante ss 3 0 1 0 Hill lf 2 0 0 1
Smith rf 2 0 0 0 Brooks lf 2 0 0 0
Totals 30 0 5 0 Totals 28 5 3 3
Mocksville 000 000 000 — 0
South Rowan 120 010 01x — 5
E— Allen, Ridenhour, Shuping, Daywalt. LOB — Mocksville 7, South Rowan 7. 2B — Efird, Callicutt, Dellacona. SB— Greene 2, Barnette. CS— Dellacona, Greene. S — Efird.
IP H R ER BB K
Mocksville
Allen L 7 3 5 2 6 5
Crider 1 0 0 0 0 0
South Rowan
Callicutt W, 1-1 9 5 0 0 4 9
WP— Allen 5, Crider, Callicutt.
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