No more Unbeaten Teams in Men’s Church League
Chayse Frye’s hitting has helped New Union stay atop the Men’s Church League standings.
The battle of unbeatens didn't just live up to the hype. It reshaped the Church League standings.
Living Word Fellowship outlasted New Union 14-12 Tuesday night in the season's first matchup of unbeaten teams, only to see its own perfect record disappear two nights later as Holy Sticks stormed into the title race with a 17-10 victory.
By the end of Thursday's action at Edley Newman Field, there wasn't an unbeaten team left in the men's league.
Living Word grabbed sole possession of first place Tuesday by edging New Union in a battle that had been building for weeks. The victory gave Living Word the inside track in the championship race and handed New Union its first loss of the season.
It didn't last long.
Holy Sticks made sure the top of the standings became even more crowded Thursday, overcoming an early five-run deficit to knock off Living Word 17-10.
Living Word wasted little time putting pressure on Holy Sticks, plating five runs in the opening inning. Holy Sticks answered immediately with six runs of its own in the bottom half and never looked back, adding six more runs in the fifth to put the game away.
Slayden Rogers was at the center of the offensive explosion, finishing 4-for-4 with four RBIs and three runs scored as Holy Sticks inserted itself squarely into the championship conversation.
Earlier Thursday, Holy Sticks also picked up a 16-12 victory over Hebron Church of Christ to complete a perfect week.
New Union made sure its stay out of first place was a short one.
Looking to bounce back from Tuesday's loss, New Union pounded out hit after hit in a 26-13 victory over Hebron. Xander Lee and Chayse Frye led the onslaught with five hits apiece, while Layne Roberts and Corey Richardson Jr. each added four-hit performances as New Union built a commanding lead through the first three innings.
Hebron tried to make things interesting late, scoring 11 runs over the final two innings, but the rally came too late to erase the double-digit deficit.
Hebron also split its Thursday games, picking up a 14-12 victory over Freedom Life Church behind another productive offensive effort.
In just two nights, the men's Church League race went from featuring two unbeaten favorites to a wide-open battle with multiple contenders believing a championship is within reach.
Standings
New Union 7-1
Living Word Fellowship 6-1
Holy Sticks 5-2
Hebron Church of Christ 3-4
Rock Island Church of Christ 2-4
Freedom Life 2-5
Martin Chapel Fellowship 0-8
