Knights host defending champs in semifinals

The BCA Knights, who entered the postseason as the No. 1 team in Class A, swept Randolph Southern 11-1 and 5-0 last Friday.

Coach Nick Pou’s team defeated Crisp Academy 5-2 during the first game of the season for the Knights.

“We had only been through two or three practices when that game was played,” Penney said. “We were mainly concentrating on our team. I did not feel like we were at full strength.”

The Crisp Academy players and coaches plan to arrive Thursday for the series to combat the long trip.

“Homefield advantage does make a difference,” Penney said. “We would feel better playing at home, especially with the travel we’ll face this week. We’ve had a couple of schools offer to let us use their fields to practice late Thursday.”

A trio of pitchers will help lead the Wildcats including senior lefty James Bodrey, whom Penney said is the team’s ace. Bodrey also is the team’s top hitter and is being looked at by various colleges.

Jordan Howard, a first baseman and pitcher, is a junior while Rush Brown is a junior right-handed pitcher for Crisp Academy. Both players will also be key for the Wildcats’ chances of success.

Howard leads the team in RBI, doubles and home runs.

“I know this will not be an easy series for us,” Penney said. “We have to play our best to have a chance. We aren’t going to take Bethlehem lightly, that’s for sure. Baseball is probably 75 percent mental. I just hope we can stay focused and remain in the games.”

“This will certainly be the best team we’ve faced in Class A,” said BCA coach Nick Pou. “We didn’t see their top pitcher in the regular season game. We didn’t see their best but I don’t think they saw us at our best either.”

Pou said the Wildcats have a solid lineup from 1-9 as does his Knights.

“I think it will be very even,” the BCA coach said. “We had a great week of practice leading into the quarterfinals and we hope to be able to continue that this week. I know by us beating them early in the season it probably fuels their fire a little more to come up here and defeat us. They are a program that knows what it takes to win. I think it will be a benefit for us not having to travel. Our pitchers get to throw on their home field mound and our players will go through their normal routines. However, we still have to play well whether we are at home or not.”