Chris Coy tosses complete game as Benton wins third straight
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) – Clouds hung low over Hyde Park on Thursday evening as Benton crossed the road to face Class 5’s St. Pius X, a team eager for revenge after last year’s state tournament loss. Despite a late push from the Warriors, the Cardinals held firm for a 2-1 win, marking their third straight victory.
“I knew it was going to be a pitcher's duel. Two pitchers that were pretty dominant all of last year and the year before,” Benton head coach Johnny Coy said. “We knew it was going to be a tight game, and it was that.”
For a sport that doesn’t always move quickly, the opening three innings breezed by in just 30 minutes. Bats on both sides were slow to wake up, thanks largely to two Division I-caliber arms pounding the strike zone with power and precision.
The first breakthrough came in the bottom of the fourth. With one out and the bases loaded, junior Cy Polley ripped a line drive back up the middle, ricocheting off the Warrior pitcher and creating just enough chaos for Porter McCarthy to cross the plate. One batter later, Titan Helfrey chopped a ball to third, and although it was fielded cleanly, the throw to second wasn’t in time, and another run was scored to make it 2-0.
Following a mound visit and pitching change, St. Pius was able to limit the damage, striking out Jayden Jackson to end the inning.
“We just have so many guys that are inexperienced, you know, we only have really two guys that have a lot of at bats at the varsity level,” Coy said. “When you have seven other guys that hardly have any varsity experience going up there, facing a big-time arm like that, you know, we can only hope that we try to do the best we can and put the ball in play.”
On the mound, Chris Coy delivered a complete-game gem for the Cardinals. The right-hander went the distance, scattering hits and keeping the Warriors off balance with sharp command and tempo, but it wasn’t without late drama. St. Pius X opened the seventh with back-to-back singles, and a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position with one out.
A deep fly ball to center looked like trouble, but Zaidyn Woodward ranged back and made the grab at full extension. Though the sacrifice fly plated a run, the tying tally was left 90 feet away. With two outs and the game hanging in the balance, a bouncing infield grounder gave the Warriors one last chance, but the throw to first base beat the runner by a step, securing the win.
“When Chris is on, you know, I mean, he's on, and he doesn't miss too many spots,” Coy said. He keeps hitters off balance, and when he's doing that and he's on, I feel like we can beat anybody.”
The Cardinals return to action at noon Saturday with a road test at Liberty North.
