Boyan

The Kernersville Bulldogs found late-inning heroics to capture a 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Catawba Valley Stars in the winner's bracket final of the 2008 CVCL Championship tournament. Kernersville trailed 4-1 entering the home half of the eighth inning but plated two runs in the eight and two runs in the ninth to cap off the comeback win. With the win, Kernersville (39-11) moves within one win of capturing the 2008 championship. Reliever Ronald Phelps pitched five and one-third innings allowing only one run and striking out four Catawba Valley hitters to pick up his fifth win of the season.

Trailing 4-1 entering the eighth inning, the Bulldog offense finally came to life against Catawba Valley pitching. Through seven innings Kernersville could only scratch out four hits, but the Bulldog offense started the eighth inning with three consecutive hits. Seth Austin led off with a double and came around on a double by Myles Pearl. After a single by Nick Johnson put runners at the corners, Matt Hinson hit a sacrifice fly to cut the Bulldog defecit to 4-3. The Bulldogs would continue their comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning. Josh Strickland reached first on a hit-by-pitch. Afer Alex Starbuck put the tying run at second base, Nick Rogers put runners at the corners once again with a single to right field. Seth Austin would then tie the game at 4-4 with a sacrifice fly to left, but after the left fielder misplayed the ball, pinch runner Andre Nichols and Austin would move to second and third. Andre Nichols would then come home to score on a wild pitch that capped off the ninth inning drama and sent the Bulldogs to the championship game with an improbable 5-4 victory.

Leading the offense for Kernersville was Nick Johnson who recorded a 2-for-4 performance. Josh Strickland was 1-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI for Kernersville while Seth Austin, Matt Hinson, Ryan Lloyd, and Myles Pearl also drove in runs for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs advance to Monday's title game against the Catawba Valley Stars, who defeated the Pulaski Pirates in extra innings in the semifinals. First pitch of the contest is slated for 6:00 pm.