Sanderson to Battle it out for State Baseball Championship

Sanderson is capping off one of its best seasons in school history this weekend as the Spartans face Ardrey Kell of Charlotte for the NCHSAA State 4-A Baseball Championship.
The 19-11 Spartans seeks its first state championship, and makes only its second finals appearance ever, with a runner-up finish back in 1992.
Sanderson, the third seed out of the Cap 7 Conference is a great turnaround story after posting a 3-20 record just three years ago.  This year, its veteran corps of seniors has stepped up to the plate to deliver winninig performances and play in leadership roles.
Charles Wolfe, is the '09 Cap 7 Player of the Year, batting a sizzling .450 to go with a 7-6 mark on the mound and a 2.12 ERA.
Ardrey Kell is in the championship series for the second straight year after falling to Greenville Rose in the 2008 finals.
Kell overcame a tough North Davidson team in the regional series.  Pitcher Alex Wood delivers excellent pitching and will next be seen at the University of Georgia.
Other top players and teams in North Carolina high school baseball will be trying add hardware to their trophy cases this weekend, which marks the 93rd Annual NCHSAA State Baseball Championship Series.
The 2A series has a team in its first final, Morganton Patton (27-7), against Mayodan Dalton McMichael (25-6)
At Five County Stadium, the first game on Friday will start the 1-A series in a battle between South Stanly (23-5) and Hampstead Topsail (24-6).
The 3-A series sends Eastern Wayne (25-4) against Lake Norman (26-2).
The Raleigh Sports Consortium and the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau are serving as host city sponsors for the Raleigh games. The Greensboro Sports Commission is assisting with the games in Greensboro. Wendy's is the presenting sponsor of the NCHSAA sports program.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 93RD ANNUAL 2009 STATE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
All Series; Best of Three Games

CLASS 4-A: DOAK FIELD, NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Raleigh Sanderson (19-11) vs. Charlotte Ardrey Kell (25-8)
Game 1: Friday, June 5, 8 p.m.; Game 2: Saturday June 6 at 2 p.m.; Game 3, if necessary, Saturday, June 6 at 8 p.m. (5 p.m. if no third game in 2-A)

CLASS 3-A: FIVE COUNTY STADIUM, ZEBULON
Eastern Wayne (25-4) vs. Lake Norman (26-2)
Game 1: Friday, June 5, 8 p.m.; Game 2: Saturday, June 6, 11 a.m.; Game 3: (if necessary), Saturday, June 6 at 8 p.m. (5 p.m. if no third game in 1-A)

CLASS 2-A: DOAK FIELD NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
Mayodan Dalton McMichael (21-10) vs. Morganton Patton (23-5)
Game 1: Friday, June 5, 5 p.m.; Game 2: Saturday June 6 at 11 a.m.; Game 3: if necessary, Saturday, June 6, 5 p.m.

CLASS 1-A: FIVE COUNTY STADIUM, ZEBULON
Hampstead Topsail (21-10) vs. South Stanley (23-5)
Game 1: Friday, June 5 at 5 p.m.; Game 2: Saturday, June 6 at 11 a.m.; Game 3 (if necessary): Saturday, June 6 at 5 p.m.


NCHSAA FAST FACTS

Event: 93rd Annual NCHSAA Baseball Championships
Date: June 5-6, 2009
Site: Doak Field at NC State University (2-A; 4-A); Five County Stadium, Zebulon (1-A, 3-A)
First Championship Held: 1914
Qualifiers: Eastern and Western champions meet for state title in best two-of-three series; 64 schools initially qualified for playoffs in each classification
Defending Champions: 1-A: Cherryville; 2-A Orange; 3-A: Rocky Mount; 4-A: Greenville Rose
Ticket Cost: $8
Of Interest: The Most Valuable Player of the 2002 class 3-A Championship, Cameron Maybin of T.C. Roberson, started the major league season as the center fielder for the Florida Marlins