Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Orlando, FL (WNN) - The Cherryville Ironmen baseball team has spent most of their Spring Break at the “most magical place on earth.” As they participated in Disney’s Spring Training at ESPN Wide World of Sports showcase, the team produced a little magic of their own.
Their 15-0 start is the best in CHS history for the modern era. The previous best start was in 2017 when that team began the season 13-0. This was achieved via a win over Notre Dame Catholic Jugglers of Utica, NY, on Monday by a score of 13-10, and then, on Wednesday, they defeated the Xavier Hawks of Appleton, WI, by a score of 6-3.
After Spring Break concludes, the Ironmen will play one of the most anticipated series of the season, as they face the second-place Burns Bulldogs. Cherryville will enter that series in first place with a 15-0 overall record and 9-0 in conference play. Burns come in at 10-3 overall and 9-1 in the conference. Game 1 is at Burns on April 14th, and Game 2 is in Cherryville on April 16th. First pitch is 7 pm both nights.
This game took around 4 ½ hours to complete due to a rain delay in the top of the seventh inning that lasted approximately an hour. It was an exciting game, albeit with a few uncharacteristic errors, that even the rain couldn’t dampen. Cherryville collected 11 hits, and Notre Dame recorded 10 hits. Both teams were evenly matched; the biggest difference was in the Ironmen’s ability to steal bases. Their trademark aggressive base running led to 14 stolen bases. Owen Bougord started on the mound for the Jugglers. He gave up 3 runs off 4 hits, walking 5, and striking out 2 over 3 innings of work. Leading hitters for Notre Dame Catholic were James Synakowski going 2 for 3 and 2 runs scored, Mike Fitsgerald went 1 for 4 and drove in 2 RBIs, Jamison Young went 2 for 4 scoring 2 runs and knocking in 2 RBIs, Antonia Padura was 2 for 4 with 1 run scored and 1 RBI, and Joshua Caruso went 2 for 5 scoring 1 run and 1 RBI. Camden Williams began the night pitching for the Ironmen. He allowed 6 runs (4 earned) off 2 hits, 3 walks, and struck out 3 in 2 innings. Karter Willis earned the win, pitching 2 2/3 innings, allowing 0 runs, on 3 hits, with 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Parker Anderson got the save with 1 inning pitched, allowing 1 unearned run, two hits, and 1 strikeout. Canon Whitesides also pitched 1 inning, allowing 3 runs (0 earned), 3 hits, and struck out 3. Top hitters for Cherryville were Kenan Fowler 3-4 with 3 RBIs, and 4 stolen bases, he had 2 doubles and 1 single, Canon Whitesides went 1-2 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs, Chandler Wootan 2-4 scoring 2 runs, 1 RBI, and 3 stolen bases, Parker Anderson went 1-3 with 2 RBIs and 3 stolen bases, Bryson Withers stole 2 bases, Talon Dalton added a stolen base, and Brock Bumgardner along with a stolen base had 3 of the Ironmen’s 13 walks.
Cherryville broke on top, 2-0 in the second inning when Davon Digh singled, Aaron Heavner sacrificed, and Canon Whitesides doubled to score courtesy runner Colton Robinson. Bryson Withers sent a line drive single to right field, then stole second, Kenan Fowler walked, and Whitesides scored off a Parker Anderson sacrifice fly to center field. The Ironmen added another run to lead 3-0 in the third. Chandler Wooten walked and stole second, Davin Digh walked, and Wooten stole third. Aaron Heavner also walked, and Canon Whitesides sacrificed to score Wooten. In the bottom of the inning, Notre Dame took advantage of a clutch inning and several errors by the normally sure-handed Ironmen. They plated 6 runs to take a 6-3 lead. Thomas Carville reached on an error, James Synakowski walked, Owen Bougord grounded into a fielder’s choice, and Jamison Young singled to score Carville and Synakowski. Joshua Caruso hit a line drive to center field for a single to score Bougord. A pickoff attempt allowed Young to score, and Daniel Williams walked. Antonio Padula then singled, Mike Fitzgerald was safe due to an error that allowed Caruso to score, and Nicolas Adorino grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored Williams.
Cherryville tied the game 6-6 in the fourth. Kenan Fowler walked, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Brock Bumgardner walked, Fowler scored off Talon Dalton’s line drive to center field, and Bumgardner scored off Chandler Wooten’s line drive to left field. Wooten advanced to second on a wild pitch, and Dalton scored when Davin Digh hit a sacrifice fly. In the fifth, the Ironmen were able to add another run. Kenan Fowler doubled to left field and stole third. Parker Anderson drove Fowler in with a single. In the sixth, Cherryville began to stretch the lead. Chandler Wooten singled; a balk sent him to second. Aaron Heavner walked, and Wooten stole third and scored on the throw. Canon Whitesides walked, and Maddox Carrigan singled. Kenan Fowler flied out. Heavner tagged up and scored. Parker Anderson and Brock Bumgardner walked to score pinch runner Bryson Yarbro. The Ironmen were leading 10-6.
The Jugglers refused to quit, they closed the score in the bottom of the sixth to 10-9. Owen Bougord singled; Jamison Young was safe due to an error, and Bougord then scored on a wild pitch. Antonio Paluda doubled, scoring Young and Mike Fitzgerald singled to score Padula. Cherryville was attempting to add some insurance runs and was down to 1 out left when Aaron Heavner reached base due to an error by the shortstop. Canon Whitesides walked, Bryson Withers made it safely on an error to second base, and Heavner scored. Kenan Fowler hit a line drive to left field for a two-run double that scored Whitesides and Withers. The Ironmen were now ahead 13-9. The Jugglers attempted a rally at the bottom of the final inning. James Synakowski singled, Owen Bougord singled, and an error allowed Joshua Caruso to reach and Synakowski to score. Daniel Williams flied out to Bryson Lamacchia in right field to end the game 13-10.
The final matchup for Cherryville at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex was against the Xavier Hawks of Appleton, WI. The Ironmen lead the whole game, but that doesn’t mean the Hawks made it easy. This was another hard-fought game, with Cherryville coming out victorious 6-3 to remain undefeated this season at 15-0. Neither team committed an error. Xavier turned 1 double play. Gavin Wiese started the game on the mound for the Hawks. He allowed 3 runs, 6 hits, and struck out 2 in 2 1/3 innings. Frankie Cavaiani and Easton Stempa each had 2 hits and 1 RBI for Xavier. Parker Anderson started for Cherryville. He began the game red hot, throwing 3 1/3 innings of perfect ball before the Hawks were able to start hitting. Anderson pitched a total of 5 innings, giving up 4 hits, 2 runs, and striking out 5. Aaron Heavner came in relief for 1 inning, allowing 0 hits, 0 runs, and 1 walk. Brock Bumgardner also saw 1 inning of action. He allowed 1 run, 2 hits, and 3 strikeouts. The Ironmen had a total of 11 hits. Maddox Carrigan, in the designated hitter role, went 2-2. Davin Digh was 2-3 with 1 RBI. Talon Dalton went 2-3. Brock Bumgardner was 1-3 with 1 run and 1 RBI. Kenan Fowler went 2-4 with 2 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Cherryville stole a total of 4 bases, much lower than their season average.
The game was scoreless through 2 ½ innings. Parker Anderson started things when a pitch hit him. Brock Bumgardner doubled to score courtesy runner, E. Johnsone. Talon Dalton hit a line drive to center field that scored Bumgardner. Davin Digh’s single scored Dalton. After 3 complete innings, Cherryville led the Hawks 3-0. Xavier fought back in the top of the fourth, closing the core to 3-2. Q. Comerford blasted a triple, followed by #6 singling to center field to score Comerford. Easton Stempa then singled to score #6 but was thrown out advancing to third. Cherryville added another run in the bottom of the inning as Maddox Carrigan sent a line shot to left field, Canon Whitesides laid down a sacrifice bunt, Bryson Withers grounded into a fielder’s choice, Carrigan was thrown out at third, and Kenan Fowler singled to score Withers.
In the fifth, the Ironmen went up 5-2 after Talon Dalton singled, Davin Digh singled, and was thrown out advancing to second. A wild pitch allows Dalton to score. B. Sommers took the mound in relief to begin the bottom of the sixth. His first pitch hit Maddox Carrigan. Bryson Yarbro came in as a pinch runner and proceeded to steal second. A wild pitch then sends him to third. Kenan Fowler hit a line drive to center field to score Yarbro. Cherryville now led 6-2. In the top of the seventh, Easton Stempa singled to center field and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Frankie Cavaiani hit a line drive to right field to score Stempa. Brock Bumgardner then struck out Sommers and Tykinski to end the game for a 6-3 Ironmen victory.
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