Providence baseball rolls past Weddington in high school season opener

The Providence Panthers knocked off the Weddington Warriors 5-2 in a dominant season-opening performance Tuesday night.

All eyes were on Panthers’ pitcher and University of South Carolina commit Eli Jerzembeck, and the senior did not disappoint. Jerzembeck went six innings, allowed no runs and one hit. He struck out 17-of-19 batters he faced.

His only other non-strikeout was a Weddington sacrifice bunt

“He’s a plus arm and a special kid on and off the field,” Providence coach Danny Hignight said of Jerzembeck. “We faced a good club tonight and (Weddington) coach (Travis) Poole is one of the best game managers I’ve ever gone against in 20 years. What we did on the mound, we did some good things running the bases, and got some timely hits from some guys. It was a good first win for us on the year.”

Leading 1-0, Providence broke open a close game in the fifth inning. Anthony Watson led off the frame with a center-field solo home run to the deepest part of the ballpark. Later in the inning Luke Wolff belted a two-run homer for Providence as the Panthers scored four times for a 5-0 advantage.

After Jerzembeck departed after six innings, the Warriors scratched out a pair of runs in the top of the seventh off reliever Colin McDougal on two singles, a hit batsman, and a passed ball. But McDougal got a strikeout for the final out to earn the save.

PHOTOS: WEDDINGTON AT PROVIDENCE

THREE WHO MATTERED

Eli Jerzembeck, Providence: The senior pitcher showed why he was a South Carolina commit as a freshman, and why he is on the radar of several Major League Baseball clubs. He opened the Panthers’ regular season Tuesday night by striking out 17 of 19 batters he faced while yielding no runs, walking none, and allowing just one hit in six innings.

Michael Colonna, Weddington: The Warriors’ starting senior performed well in holding a loaded Providence lineup to just one run in four innings, giving up one hit, while walking three, striking out seven with one hit batsman.

Tommy Walker, Providence: The Panthers’ senior catcher gave Providence a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first with an RBI double, while going 1-1 on the night. Walker was also hit by a pitch and walked in three trips to the plate.

WORTH MENTIONING

▪ Weddington catcher Colton Penner had the lone hit against Providence pitcher Eli Jerzembeck, a single in the fifth inning.

THEY SAID IT

“That’s outside noise. I’m sure our guys hear it, obviously I hear it, but it’s just next game, next pitch mentality around here. We’ve got a lot to get better at off of tonight. There’s a ton of things that we have to get better at.” Panthers’ coach Danny Hignight when asked if this might be the best team he has ever coached in his 20 years at Providence.

RECORDS

Weddington (0-1), Providence (1-0)

WHAT’S NEXT

Weddington will conclude a season-opening, two-game road trip when they’ll travel to Ragsdale (Jamestown) on Saturday with first pitch at 4 p.m. Providence will continue a season-opening, two-game homestand Saturday at 1:30 p.m. hosting Reagan High from Pfafftown.