FPD takes on Athens Christian in search of second straight trip to championship game

First Presbyterian Day School doesn’t boast a lineup of older guys with three or four years experience, but the Vikings play like they have that kind of roster.

Only one of the three seniors gets major playing time, though all three have an impact.

“They’ve accepted their role, and that has spoken volumes to all the underclassmen about what’s going on here,” FPD head coach Greg Moore said. “They have been great clubhouse guys.”

Connor Crosby, Wilson Corrigan and Peyton Howard are the three seniors, doing their part on a team loaded with juniors and a roster-wide hunger to make up for last year’s loss in the championship series.

It’s not a distracting hunger, thanks to steady leadership across the board

“Some of them have been there and done it, so they don’t have to say a lot. And the guys trust them,” Moore said. “So we’ve got a really good positive mix right now in terms of how our team’s being led by a whole bunch of different players.”

That and talent have FPD at 29-3 entering Friday’s GIAA Class 4A semifinal series against visiting Athens Christian (24-4). The series begins at 4 p.m. Friday at FPD.

The Vikings lost at this point two years ago, in two straight to Bethlehem Christian. They’re looking to return to the state championship series and possibly avenge the 7-3 and 9-5 losses to Brookstone in the final series a year ago.

The state championship series begins next Thursday at Synovus Park in Columbus, with the Class 4A game ending the night. Action begins at 10 a.m. each day with Class A.

There’s not a lot of familiarity between the Eagles and Vikings, but they’re undefeated against common opponents George Walton and Stratford.

FPD has beaten George Walton 8-3 and 17-2, while Athens Christian went 5-0 against them by scores of 4-1, 14-3, 7-6, 12-1, 13-1 and 12-1.

The Vikings have topped Stratford 6-0, 10-2, 6-5 and 7-1, while Athens Christian beat Stratford once, 9-6.

Athens Christian has won seven straight since losing two out of three to Bethlehem Christian, who the Eagles swept last week on the road in the second round.

The Eagles are 10-3 on the road, including 2-0 at GHSA Clarke Central.

Keaton Westbrook threw a complete-game four-hitter in last week’s opener before JB Rodgers followed with a complete-game, three-hit shutout in the clincher.

Those were efficient performances, with Westbrook registering no strikeouts and Rodgers only three, to four walks.

The bottom of the lineup came through in the 6-0 nightcap win, with Athens Christian aided by four BCA errors. Evan Wilkins and Dylan Brooks teamed for four of the Golden Eagles’ five hits.

“The word on them is that they are very fundamentally sound,” Moore said. “They don’t make a bunch of mistakes, and they do a great job of getting the ball in play.

“They like to put pressure on you defensively once they get guys on base, and I think they’ve got two or three that can really run,” Moore said of the Vikings’ opponent.

In other words, a lot like FPD.

While much attention is directed at shortstop and major-league prospect Keon Johnson, the Vikings ride on the shoulders of many.

Like in last week’s series win over Stratford.

A pitchers duel turned into a deceiving 7-1 FPD win in the opener, Brady McHugh leading off the sixth with a solo homer, and Major Simmons blasting a clinching grand slam later in the inning.

In the nightcap, McHugh stepped in for some clutch relief work, Tinsley Lewis led the way with three hits and two RBI, and Grant Martin delivered the game-winning single in the top of the seventh.

That’s the kind of script that has a shot to break FPD’s championship drought dating back to 2010.

“As the season progressed, we’ve gotten better and better at putting the ball in play and trying to put pressure on people,” Moore said. “We have been lights out all year in terms of starting pitching.

“That’s a pretty good recipe, when you’re doing a  good job of putting the ball in play and not giving the other guys a bunch of free stuff.

“You’ve got a good chance in high school.”