Bulldogs Bite Ironmen in Series Sweep

Cherryville, NC (WNN) - Cherryville entered its two-game series with Burns undefeated and leading the conference. The Bulldogs changed that scenario dramatically by sweeping the Ironmen 7-0 on Tuesday in Cherryville and 10-3 at Burns on Thursday. Cherryville has now dropped to third place at 9-2 as Stuart Cramer and Burns are tied at 11-1. Burns has the easiest path left to win the conference, as Cherryville and Stuart Cramer will square off against each other on April 23rd and 24th. The Bulldogs split their series with Stuart Cramer and swept Cherryville. The Ironmen will first have to face a pesky East Gaston team on April 20. Cherryville is still mathematically alive for the conference title; however, they would need quite a bit of help from other teams. East Gaston is still alive at 6-3 with an outside shot, having one game left with Cherryville and two with Stuart Cramer. They did lose both games to Burns, so they would basically need to win out, and Burns would lose their remaining four games. In all probability, it is coming down between Burns and Stuart Cramer, unless a few upsets occur, and in baseball, one swing of the bat can turn a game completely around. It is needless to say, the remaining games for Cherryville are crucial, especially the next three.

Burns at Cherryville April 14, 2026

This series is one that most fans have had circled on their calendars all season. Game one lived up to the hype for the first 4 innings, before the Bulldogs took control of the game. The final score is not indicative of how tight this game was for most of the night. It was a 1-0 game for over half of the contest. Burns had outstanding defense and pitching. Gage Camp allowed 0 runs on 1 hit, struck out 7, and walked 6 over 4 innings pitched. Brock Bumgardner recorded his first loss of the season. He allowed 5 runs on 6 hits, 0 walks, and struck out 10 over 4 2/3 innings pitched. Drew Dixon and Lathan Peeler each had 2 hits for Burns. Parker Anderson went 1-3, and Kenan Fowler drew 2 walks. Both teams were perfect in the field, committing zero errors. Cherryville pitchers combined to get 14 strikeouts, but the Bulldogs came up with several clutch hits in the top of the fifth to score 6 runs. The Ironmen had 2 hits; however, they had chances to score but failed to get timely hits, leaving 11 runners stranded. 

hit a solo homerun in the second inning to give Burns an early 1-0 lead. That score would remain until the fifth inning. The Bulldogs scored 6 runs in the fifth to go ahead 7-0. Ethan Robinson singled, Mason Blanton sacrificed, Drew Dixon doubled to drive in Robinson, Yates Toney then doubled in Dixon, Toney scored when Andrew Yarboro singled, Mason Bralley walked, Max Davis also walked, Lathan Peeler hit a 2-run single that scored Yarboro and Bralley, followed by Davis stealing home for the final run.  

Cherryville at Burns April 16, 2026

After losing to the Bulldogs at home on Tuesday, this game became a must-win for the Ironmen to keep pace in the chase for the conference title. Burns once again found a way to shut down Cherryville on their way to a 10-3 victory. The win improved Burns’ record to 14-3 and 11-1, while Cherryville fell to 15-2 and 9-2. Freshman Brian Buttrick pitched a terrific game, allowing 3 runs (zero earned), 3 hits, 4 walks, and striking out 6 over 5 ½ innings. Lathan Peeler pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief, allowing 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 walks, and struck out 1. Parker Anderson absorbed the loss for the Ironmen, allowing 8 runs (7 earned), 7 hits, 2 walks, and striking out 7 over 4 innings of work. Mason Bralley went 2-4 with 4 RBIs, Max Davis had 2 RBIs, Yates Toney went 2-4 with a RBI, and Drew Dixon went 1-3 with 3 RBIs. Leading the way at the plate for Cherryville was Brock Bumgardner, going 1-3 and 2 RBIS, Kenan Fowler, 2-4, and Chandler Wooten, who stole 3 bases. 

Cherryville took a 1-0 lead in the first inning but would prove to be their only lead of the game. Kenan Fowler hit a line drive to right field for a single and moved to second on a throwing error. A passed ball sent him to third. He eventually scored on a throwing error by the catcher. The Bulldogs took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning, scoring 4 runs. Drew Dixon reached due to an error at shortstop, Yates Toney doubled, and then Max Davis was hit by a pitch. Mason Bralley drove all of them in with a grand slam home run. In the second inning, Drew Dixon launched a rocket for a solo home run and a 5-1 lead. Cherryville would close the gap to 5-3 in the third inning. Bryson Withers reached due to an error by the shortstop, and Brock Bumgardner belted a 2-run homer.

The Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the inning with 3 more runs. Ethan Robinson walked, Mason Blanton singled, Robinson advanced to third on a wild pitch, Drew Dixon walked, Andrew Yarboro grounded out to score Robinson, and Max Davis doubled to score Blanton and Dixon. Burns extended the lead to 10-3 in the fifth inning as an error allowed Lathan Peeler to reach; he then advanced to second on a passed ball, Gage Camp walked, Ethan Robinson advanced the runners with a sacrifice, Peeler was able to score on a wild pitch, and Camp scored on a throwing error from the catcher. The sixth inning ended with a very unusual triple play. Mason Bralley had two strikes when he swung and missed at a wild pitch that resulted in strike three. When the ball went behind catcher Chandler Wooten, Andrew Yarboro and Max Davis both attempted to steal. Wooten quickly retrieved the ball and threw to third base as both runners were caught between bases. Parker Anderson tagged Yarboro for out 2, and he threw the ball to Brock Bumgardner at first. Davis was caught in a pickle, and he threw to Karter Willis at second for the third out.

The Ironmen will travel to East Gaston on April 20, followed by a trip to Stuart Cramer on April 23, and then a home game against Stuart Cramer on April 24. All three games will begin at 7 pm. 

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