The Calvary Day Cavaliers swept the Savannah Christian Raiders in the Class A-3A Private state championship Monday at JI Clements Stadium in Savannah. The Cavaliers won Game 1 9-1 and Game 2 4-3 on their way to their first state title since 2007.
Game one was sparked by a six-run first inning by the Cavaliers and an outstanding performance on the mound by Region 3-3A Player of the Year, junior Quinn Johnson, who pitched 6 ⅓ innings while allowing five hits and one run that was earned while walking two batters and striking out five.
The Cavaliers offensive barrage was led by Gordon State-commit Brody Dawson who went 2-for-3, recording a two RBI-double in the bottom of the second inning scoring Cutter Powell and Max Arnold to increase the lead to 8-1. Calvary Day recorded four extra base hits in Game 1 which were all at the hand of Savannah Christian’s Brody Schuman.
“Playing with emotion I feel like helps me play better sometimes”, Dawson said. “But when I get too emotional it hurts me.”
Game 2 was more tight as the Raiders’ Dawson Kelly and Cavaliers’ Cutter Powell had a pitchers duel that saw both of them walk four batters.
Kelly pitched 6 ⅓ innings in the loss allowing six hits and four runs (three earned) and struck out three batters. He gave up a run in the first inning off a passed ball, resulting in Arnold scoring for the Cavaliers.
Powell’s outing lasted five innings with him allowing five hits and three runs (two earned) as he struck out two batters. He gave up an RBI single and double to Weston Hughes.
Ryan Wallace was able to shut down the final effort from the Raiders as he only allowed a base hit by Harding Dennis, but as Dennis was trying to steal second base Wallace made the throw over to the shortstop Russell Christian for the championship-clinching out.
“When I come in to close I think short and sweet”, Wallace said. “The less pitches you throw the less chance they have of scoring.”
“I was very proud of our guys”, Cavaliers head coach Phillip Lee said after the game. “This was something that I felt like was a long time coming for us.”
This championship is very special for Lee as he announced last month that he will be stepping down as head coach of Calvary Day to become the new Director of Athletic Development at Benedictine Military School.
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