Faith Christian Varsity Baseball Soars Past Greenfield School with a score of 12-2 in 5 innings.

A surging Faith Christian School rode the arm and bat of junior Chase Roupp as they cruised to an easy 12-2 win over CPIC foe Greenfield School in Rocky Mount. The youthful Patriots, who lost their first four contests of the year, have since won five of the last six to bring their overall season record to 5-5.

Mike Williams
Faith Christian's Christian davis is tagged out by Greenfield SS Andrew Smith on a steal attempt in the first inning. Looking on is Greenfield 2B Tristan Kosich

Roupp limited the Knights to only two hits and two unearned runsas well as drilling a solo home run over the leftfield fence to highlight a FCS four run third inning.

Faith Christian School had to replace longtime coach Joe Morrow as well as six starters off last year's state runnerup squad struggled in the early season but now seem to be putting it together under head coach Greg Clifton and assistant Tom Jones. The Patriots only setback in the past six contests came to NCHSAA 2-A Tarboro HS.

Greenfield threatened in the top of the first inning as Chase Whitehead and Robbie Stokely had back to back singles with two out. But Roupp got Andrew Smith to fly to center for the third out and proceeded to hold the Knights hitless the rest of the way.

	Mike Williams
	OOPS---Faith's Cody Manning was called out at third on this steal attrempt as Greenfield 3B Parker Lucas makes the play

Faith Christian then got all the scoring they would need in the bottom of the second. With one out Cody Manning was hit by a pitch from Greenfield starter Tas Pittman. Aaron Lancaster then drilled a double to left center to drive home the games first run. One out later, eighth grader Luke Mills, playing in his first game of the year after suffering a broken wrist during basketball season stroked a single to center, the first of his three hits on the afternoon to plate Lancaster. However the error bug infested Greenfield as Josh Overton then lofted a fly ball to left that the GFS leftfielder could not find the handle on resulting in a two base error and allowing Mills to race home. Christian Davis followed with a hard grounder to third that the the Knight third baseman could not get a glove on for the second error of the inning sending Overton home as FCS opened up a 4-0 lead after two innings.

The Patriots added on to their advantage in the third as Roupp opened the frame with his homerun easily clearing the fence in left. Brandon Sanderford followed with a single to right that eluded the GFS rightfielder allowing him to scoot to third. An infield out scored Sanderford and one out later Luke Cockrell and Mills hit back to back singles with ockrell taking third. Sanderford raced home moments later when the Ptriots attempted a delayed steal and the GFS 1B overthrew home. Josh Overton's double to right center scored Mills and when the dust had settled the patriots were in command with an 8-0 lead.

Mike Williams
Greenfield's Tas Pittman connects in the first inning

Greenfield finally found its way to the scoreboard in the fourth. Andrew Smith drew a walk and Ty Batts reached on a throwing error by the FCS second baseman. Prker Lucas lofted a fly ball to center that the FCS centerfielder got a glove but couldn't handle to load the bases. Smith tallied seconds later on a infield out and Batts crossed the plate on a passed ball before Roupp fanned Dwaynue Sutton to end the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth Faith Christian then put the contest away for good. Mills blooped a single to rght and Overton walked. Both runner moved over on a passed ball and Christian Davis' sacrifice fly plated Mills. Overton raced home on a passed ball and Roupp drew a walk. With courtesy runner Harrison Mosely at first Cody Manning lined a shot into right center chaing Mosley home with the game ending run.

Chase Roupp got the win for Faith Christian going the distance on the hill. Tas Pittman suffered the loss for Greenfield with late relief help from Andrew Smith. Luke Mills went 3-3 to lead the Patriot offense while Brandon Sanderford was 3-4. Chase Whitehead and Robbie Stokely had Greenfiel'd only hits.

Faith Christian ( 5-5 3-0 CPIC) is next in action on Thursday when they travel to Fayetteville to face Freedom Christian while Greenfield (7-4 2-2 CPIC) is home on Thursday to Oakwood.

(Article by Mike Williams)