Ironmen Baseball Remains Undefeated

Cherryville, NC (WNN) - The Ironmen are living up to their No. 1 preseason conference poll ranking, as they remain undefeated. This week’s games were both against Highland Tech. Three of Cherryville’s first four games have been decided by the mercy rule. Chemistry is strong with this team, due in part to returning last season’s entire starting lineup, a rare scenario that few teams ever experience. The next test for the Ironmen will be at home on March 10 when Shelby pays a visit to Fraley Field.

Highland Tech at Cherryville March 3, 2026: Clutch hitting, patience at the plate, outstanding pitching, and aggressive base running by Cherryville proved to be more than Highland Tech could overcome as the Ironmen won their third straight game 10-0 in five innings. As Cherryville improved to 3-0, Highland Tech dropped to 1-2. The Rams got their only hit from Grant Martin. In 2 innings pitched, Cooper Hartis struck out 5 and gave up 1 earned run for Highland Tech. Cherryville starting pitcher, Brock Bumgardner, pitched 3.1 innings, facing 15 batters. He gave up 1 hit, 0 runs, walked 4, and struck out 10 batters. Aaron Heavner pitched 1.2 innings of relief. He faced 5 batters, struck out 3, gave up 0 hits, 0 runs, and issued 0 walks. The Ironmen produced 10 runs off 9 hits and 7 walks. Davin Digh went 2 for 3, and Talon Dalton was 2 for 4. Brock Bumgardner, Talon Dalton, Davin Digh, and Chandler Wooten each knocked in 2 RBIs. Defensively, Cherryville played error-free baseball. They continued to rack up stolen bases as Parker Anderson stole 3, Talon Dalton stole 2, and Aaron Heavner, Jayden Adams, Kenan Fowler, and Chandler Wooten each stole 1 base.

Brock Bumgardner, Talon Dalton, and Aaron Heavner during pregame | March 3, 2026

Carrie Dalton

Parker Anderson got things rolling in the bottom of the first with a single. Talon Dalton followed with a single as well, and Brock Bumgardner reached on an error, which scored Anderson. Jayden Adams entered the game as a courtesy runner for Bumgardner and stole second. Adams and Dalton both score when Davin Digh rips a single to left field. After one, Cherryville led 3-0. Bryson Withers singled in the bottom of the second. Kenan Fowler reached on an error; they both scored off Talon Dalton’s single. Dalton is driven in by Chandler Wooten’s single. The Ironmen’s lead was now 6-0. The fifth saw Kenana Fowler walk, Parker Anderson walk, then a wild pitch sent Fowler to third. Anderson stole second before Talon Dalton was walked, a line drive single to left field by Brock Bumgardner scored Fowler, and Anderson scored. Dalton scored off Chadler Wooten’s sacrifice fly, and Bumgardner came home on a wild pitch. By the end of the fifth, Cherryville led 10-0, and the game ended on the mercy rule.

Cherryville at Highland Tech, March 6, 2026: Fans of classic baseball had a treat in this game. A well-played game, with strong pitching, strong defense, and patience at the plate, provided those in attendance with an entertaining game. The Ironmen were the victors by a score of 3-0 in their toughest challenge of the season. The win improved their record to 4-0 as Highland Tech dropped to 1-3. Cherryville scored 3 runs off 1 hit and 1 error. The Rams produced 0 runs on 2 hits and 0 errors. Greyson Lunsford had the answer to shut down the hot-hitting Ironmen. In 6 innings, he gave up 3 runs, 0 hits, 3 walks, and struck out 5 batters: Cherryville’s two pitchers, Parker Anderson and Camden Williams, combined for 16 strikeouts. Anderson threw 4 innings, gave up 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 walks, and struck out 9. Williams pitched the final 3 innings, giving up 0 runs, 0 hits, walking 1, and striking out 7. Kenan Fowler led in hits as he went 1 for 3, Talon Dalton and Brock Bumgardner each had 1 RBI, and Parker Anderson drew 3 bases on balls. Greyson Lunsford and Jackson Bradley each collected 1 hit.

Brock Bumgardner at 3rd base and Talon Dalton at short stop | March 3, 2026

Carrie Dalton

The game was scoreless through the first two innings. Things began to change in the top of the third when a pitch hit Jayden Adams, then Kenan Fowler and Parker Anderson both walked to load the bases. Adams scores as Talon Dalton walks, Brock Bumgardner hits a sacrifice fly to right field that scores Fowler, and Anderson comes home on a passed ball. The Ironmen led 3-0 and did not get their only hit of the game until the seventh inning. Highland Tech did a great job preparing for Cherryville, but the Ironmen produced enough runs to overcome their efforts.

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