Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Cherryville, NC (WNN)- The Cherryville High School baseball Ironmen advanced to the third round of the 2026 NCHSAA playoffs by virtue of an 8-5 victory over the visiting Mitchell Mountaineers on May 8th, 2026. Although it was a much closer game than they would have liked, they still advanced to the next round. Ironmen head baseball coach Scotty Heavner echoed this sentiment after the game as WNN’s Rusty Wise interviewed him.
“Tonight is what we came to do, we came to win. You know, when you get into the playoffs, they don’t have to be pretty, they just need to win and advance and that’s what we did tonight; and we played good and they played good. I thought they swung the bat well and maybe a little better than what we scouted them, but for the most part, you know, we made some base running errors early. We could have scored a few more runs, but it was a good high school baseball game. We’re glad to move on.” - Scotty Heavner
In a show of team unity, the players all agreed to dye their hair blonde for the playoffs. This was a move that seemed to work as the “Blonde Bombers” amassed 13 hits on the night. Coach Heavner was asked about the 13 hits. He responded, “Yeah, you would think you would score more than 8 runs with 13 hits, that’s the nature of the game sometimes, but I’m proud of our guys, and you know that was the goal, to move on to the next round, and that’s what we did. “Talon Dalton, Kenan Fowler, Davin Digh, Chandler Wooten, and Bryson Withers each had 2 hits. Fowler also added 3 RBIs, and Wooten had 2 stolen bases. Missing from the lineup again was Parker Anderson, as he is still nursing a lingering hamstring injury—no timetable on his return. Jacoby Dale and Hudson Buchanan led the way for the Mountaineers as they each had 2 hits and 2 RBIs.
Pitcher Brock Bumgardner - Cherryville vs. Mitchell - Round 2 - 2A West NCHSAA State Baseball Championship, Fraley Field, Cherryville, NC - May 8th, 2026
Rusty Wise (WNN)
Brock Bumgardner picked up the win for Cherryville. He tossed 3 2/3 innings, allowing 2 runs, 2 hits, striking out 9, and issuing 3 walks. Karter Willis and Aaron Heavner pitched in relief, with Heavner earning the save. Taking the loss for Mitchell was Jacoby Dale. He pitched 4 innings, allowing 7 runs, 12 hits, 0 strikeouts, and 2 walks. The loss eliminated the 12-14 Mountaineers. The win improved the Ironmen to 20-4, and they will host East Wilkes on May 12th in Cherryville’s John L. “Buck” Fraley Field at Cherryville Memorial Stadium. The Ironmen would love to see more history added to this historic stadium.
Sam Jones swung at strike three in the third inning, but the ball was not located in time to throw him out at first. Noah Vines walked, and Jaxon Rohr drilled a line drive to left field that was stuck in the fence. After some discussion, the umpires awarded both Jones and Vines home plate, giving Mitchell a 2-0 lead. In Cherryville’s turn at bat, Bryson Withers singled to second base, then Kenan Fowler ignited the Cherryville dugout and the fans as he hit his first career home run onto Hwy 150 just beyond the outfield wall.
Ironmen celebrate the Kenan Fowler Home Run - Cherryville vs. Mitchell - Round 2 - 2A West NCHSAA State Baseball Championship, Fraley Field, Cherryville, NC - May 8th, 2026
Rusty Wise (WNN)
Talon Dalton kept the hitting going as he sent a line drive to left field for a double. He scored when Brock Bumgardner singled, giving the Ironmen a 3-2 lead. The Mountaineers looked poised to add a few more runs when Kaden Buchanan hit a sizzling line drive to first base. Canon Whitesides snagged it and threw to second. The ball missed the mark; however, left fielder Kenan Fowler was backing up the infield and threw to third base to complete a non-routine double play. Maddox Carrigan got things rolling in the fourth when he singled to right field, and Canon Whitesides then bunted into a fielder’s choice. Bryson Withers singled to right field, then Kenan Fowler singled on a unique play that saw the ball go between the legs of field umpire Richard Howell.
Mitchell stealing Second Base -Cherryville vs. Mitchell - Round 2 - 2A West NCHSAA State Baseball Championship, Fraley Field, Cherryville, NC - May 8th, 2026
Rusty Wise (WNN)
Whitesides was able to score on the play. Talon Dalton singled to score Withers. A line drive hit to center field from Chandler Wooten scored Fowler and Dalton. Cherryville was now leading 7-2. In the fifth inning, Noah Vines walked, Hudson Buchanan singled, and Jacoby Dale singled to right field to score Vines. The Ironmen added another run in the sixth inning. Chandler Wooten walked, then stole second base. Davin Digh hit a fly ball deep to left field that looked as if it might clear the wall as it headed in the direction of the coaches’ perch (the new wooden structure in the corner of left field). It would instead bounce off the outfield wall, giving Wooten time to come home for an 8-3 lead. The Mountaineers came up short in their rally during the final inning. Noah Vines walked, and A.J. Mackey then hit a ball that exploded off his bat for a graveyard smash over the left field fence for a 2-run home run. The ball presumably landed in the graveyard located across Hwy 150 behind the outfield fence. They would be unsuccessful in adding any more runs.
After the game handshakes - Cherryville vs. Mitchell - Round 2 - 2A West NCHSAA State Baseball Championship, Fraley Field, Cherryville, NC - May 8th, 2026
Rusty Wise (WNN)
