Who Are Those Guys?

Just as Butch Cassidy continues to ask Sundance: “Who are those guys?” so too has the same musing been muttered across the 4A West playoffs and now is echoing in the East as Ardrey Kell has earned their way into the state 4A title series against perennial 4A power Greenville Rose.

Pulling students mainly from overloaded schools at South Mecklenburg and Providence in Charlotte, Ardrey Kell opened their doors for business on August 25, 2006 without a senior class. The 2007 baseball season was the first for the Knights.

The baseball team had an immediate SW4A flavor as it was composed from eight former South Meck and six former Providence “farm hands” and two freshmen. But the real spice came from head coach Hal Bagwell who left his SW4A alma mater South Meck after winning 214 games, three SW4A crowns, three SW4A tournament titles, and two 4A West Regionals in 11 years for the Sabres to start a new program.

AK came out swinging (literally and figuratively) that first season by winning their first five games, including wins over Watauga and North Meck. Following a loss to what would become undefeated conference champion Butler, the Knights put together another five game winning streak. Eventually the rigors of the SW4A took their toll on the young Knights, as they finished fifth in the league, dropping seven of their final 13 regular season games, but the fire had hardened AK.

After beating Myers Park in the opening game of the SW4A tournament, the Knights gave Butler all they wanted in the conference semis. They then upset a number one seed in the opening round of the 2007 4A playoffs before falling 3-2 on a walk off inside the park home run on a ball lost in the lights.

A year under their belts, Ardrey Kell returned to the field in 2008 confident that they could compete for a SW4A title and make a run in the state play offs. While not nationally recognized like defending 4A state champion South Caldwell or loaded with high D-1 commitments like North Davidson, or having a tradition as long as a Mickey Mantle homer like Rose, they knew that had a solid squad. Even within their own league they were picked as low as fourth by some, behind Providence led by USA Olympic 16U team member Richie Shaffer, a heavily senior laden and talented Myers Park team, and a Weddington squad that featured UNC Charlotte signee Tyler Pilkington and a host of other college committed players.

AK started a little slow out of the blocks this season. They were hand cuffed early when their number one pitcher was still playing basketball as the cage team was battling in the 4A basketball playoffs and their number two starter was not throwing yet as he was recovering from an injury and would be limited in innings throughout the season.

In the opening contest, their one lone senior experienced pitcher was rocked for seven runs and did not make it out of the second inning. Behind a pitcher that was seeing his first varsity action, the Knights were able to get control of the game and rally for the first of seven come from behind victories this year.

Still not clicking on all cylinders, AK lost an extra inning affair at Richmond the second Saturday of the season on a walk off three run homer and followed that up by seeing the SW4A opener slip away to a last inning Butler rally two nights later which dropped them to 3-2.

Comeback victories over Myers Park and Providence the following week started the Knights on a roll. The won 10 straight before Charlotte Country Day beat them in the last game of the Jack Sink Tournament 1-0 on another walk off HR. Nevertheless, AK had jelled with a solid foundation of senior leadership; a defense that would make play after play; and a line up that was not dependent upon just two or three bats, giving notice they would be a force the remainder of the season.

They began to show their muscle the following two weeks when in a 10 day span, they played five teams ranked in the Charlotte Observer’s Sweet 16 and won all five. However, one of their toughest battles in that stretch was against blood brother South Meck even though they were not in the rankings. Once again the Knights spotted their opponent a big lead only to battle back to win in extra innings to capture their first ever SW4A title and a number one seed in the 4A west bracket.

Weddington was able to momentarily slow down AK in the SW4A semis. After getting only two runners on base through six and two/third innings in a scoreless contest, the Warriors picked up two infield hits before doubling home both runners to advance to the conference tournament finals, 2-0.


Winning easily 11-1 and 10-0 to start the 4A West playoffs, Ardrey Kell has trailed against MECA champion North Meck, CPC champion and preseason number one North Davidson, and arch rival Providence before coming back against them all to win the 4A West Regionals.

Currently, Ardrey Kell is 28-4 and won 25 of their last 27.

Many people expected to see the Knights in the 4A finals this year, just most thought it would be the Black Knights, not purple. And if you make time to catch some or all of the 4A championships beginning Friday you will find at Ardrey Kell is a club that plays hard, is fundamentally sound, and makes plays to win games both offensively and with their gloves.

Don’t be surprised at the end of the series that you will be asking yourself: “Who are those guys? And when did they become so good?

 

Break down

I know it's a little early, but will you be providing a breakdown as you have in the past? I look forward to those.

 

Possibly on Friday.

 

Reads like good bulletin board material... heeheehee

Looking forward to a fun series this weekend! Have a meeting scheduled through Sunday, hoping I can make it!

 

Meeting?....4H Club meeting this weekend?

Man, Diesel, it wouldn't be right you not being there.