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By Jay Spivey

For the Clemmons Courier

For most of the spring-sports teams last week at West Forsyth it was quiet because of spring break. 

That wasn’t the case for the baseball team. The team originally had four games scheduled for a showcase near Myrtle Beach, S.C. However, the number of games was cut to three because one of the games was rained out.  

In the first game last Tuesday, West Forsyth scored three runs in the eighth inning to defeat Socastee (S.C.) 10-7. 

“To get the trip kind of started off right, it was good to get a big win,” Coach Kevin McIntosh of the Titans said. “We battled. We fought back. We take the lead. They battled. Then finally in the eighth we came through and scored three runs, then came in, got them out to…We turned a big double play in the bottom of the eighth. 

“Runner on second and line drive hit to Luis (Acevedo) and turned a double play to get us two outs, and that kind of helped a lot.” 

The following day, the game was rained out, so West Forsyth played Penfield (N.Y.), and West Forsyth won 8-2. 

West Forsyth led 3-2 after the second, but it scored three in the sixth and two in the seventh to pull away.  

“That game (Penfield), I felt like we got really good defense, and we got six innings out of (starting pitcher) Jack (Vest) on the mound,” McIntosh said. “And then Logan Rodriguez came in and got three up and three down to close out the ballgame for us.” 

West Forsyth played its final game last Thursday morning against West Florence (S.C.) and lost 4-3. 

“Playing West Florence, if you look at where they are and where they’re probably going to finish that they’re a very competitive ball team,” McIntosh said. “They’ve got several guys that have committed for college baseball. Again, we battled. We had a chance in the seventh with the bases loaded. We had another chance early on, I guess in the sixth.  

“We tried to squeeze in a run and, you know, it just didn’t work. Hats off to West Florence for making a play. Anytime you lose a one-run ballgame it’s going to come down to one or plays here and there.” 

The last day of spring break was Monday and schools starts back for the fourth quarter on Tuesday. Barring rain, West Forsyth (10-4, 6-2 Central Piedmont 4-A) is scheduled to play at Parkland (2-9, 0-7) in a conference game. 

The same two teams are scheduled to play in Clemmons on Friday. 

Parkland has been outscored 202-36. 

In addition this week, West Forsyth has a home nonconference game scheduled for Wednesday night against Cornerstone Charter. It’s a rematch of a game played March 22 in which West Forsyth won 6-0. 

“This is a big week to kind of get back into the flow of things,” McIntosh said. “Back home, the kids are back in school starting fourth quarter. Again, it’s baseball and we’ve got to go out, and we’ve got to go out and play and we’ve got to execute. And I don’t care who you’re playing if you don’t execute bad things can happen.” 

Softball

Although spring break was in session with no school on Monday, the West Forsyth softball team traveled to Hillsborough to play Orange County High School in a nonconference game. 

West Forsyth is 12-2 overall and 7-1 in the Central Piedmont 4-A. Orange is 8-1. 

West Forsyth hasn’t played since March 29, defeating East Forsyth 14-1 in a conference game in Clemmons.  

The team was off all of last week because of spring break. However, the team did have some voluntary workouts late last week, one of which Coach Kevin Baity said they had almost full participation. 

“You know, I used to practice during spring break and stopped doing it actually, it might’ve been Mendy (McKenzie’s) year,” Baity said. “And they just came back refreshed and seemed like they were more raring to go and make a good run. And I just think everybody sort of needs a break sometimes.” 

In addition to the Orange game, West Forsyth is scheduled to travel to Ronda on Wednesday to play East Wilkes (11-2) in a nonconference game. 

“We start back with two very good teams, but it’s two nonconference, so it’s perfect, you know,” Baity said. “Give us some good competition. Both pitchers are going to be very good, but it’s not conference. So, it’s getting us ready for the last, you know, last round with Reagan and Davie and East (Forsyth, in the conference).” 

Girls lacrosse

The West Forsyth girls lacrosse team hasn’t played since March 28, but it is scheduled to face Reagan at home Tuesday night in a Central Piedmont 4-A game. 

“I can only speak for myself, but it’s been a nice break because lacrosse, it’s like every other sport, it feels like you go year-round, nonstop,” Coach Doug Brawley of West Forsyth (10-1,8-0) said.  

In the first meeting at Reagan (9-4, 7-2) on March 25 West Forsyth won 21-7. 

“I definitely feel like we know what we’re up against now,” Brawley said. “They had a couple players that had been out injured that were just returning back. As a matter of fact, I know one of them could only play either one quarter at the time or one half. So, I’m expecting them to be at full strength now. We also should be at full strength.” 

On Thursday, West Forsyth is scheduled to play a nonconference game at home against Bishop McGuinness (10-0). And on Friday, West Forsyth is scheduled to play another conference game at home against Davie County (3-8, 2-6). West Forsyth defeated Davie County 22-3 on March 12. 

“It’s tough because I believe Thursday we host Bishop McGuinness,” Brawley said. “And right now, they’re 10-0 and ranked eighth in the state.” 

Girls soccer

The West Forsyth girls soccer team hasn’t played since March 26 when it defeated Davie County 3-1 in a Central Piedmont 4-A game in Mocksville. 

“I think it’s (spring break) been great,” Coach Jeffrey Williams of West Forsyth said. “It’s something that I think we can use to get ourself better, having sort of a week in which we don’t just solely focus on a few things with school and soccer for them.  

“I think as long as we can get back in the next few days and the next week or two to get things rolling again i think it’s very much of a positive thing.” 

Although school resumes on Tuesday the West Forsyth (6-2-1, 5-0) doesn’t play until its scheduled game Thursday night in Clemmons against East Forsyth (4-4-2, 3-1-1). 

“Five weeks including this upcoming week (left in the regular season and then we’ve got playoffs,” Williams said. “So, we’re just going to take it day by day, enjoy each other, enjoy the moment, see if we can just get better. I think at this time of the year it’s all about getting better.” 

Boys lacrosse

The West Forsyth boys lacrosse team was also off this past week because of spring break. 

It might have been a good time to reset after being winless through the first 10 games of the season.  

West Forsyth (0-10, 0-8 Central Piedmont 4-A) is scheduled to return on Tuesday when it travels to Pfafftown to play Reagan (8-5, 7-2) in a conference game. West Forsyth is also scheduled to travel to King on Thursday to play a nonconference game against West Stokes (3-4). Also, this week, West Forsyth is scheduled to play a conference game at home on Friday against Davie County (4-7, 3-5).