Furies capture NCISAA 3-A baseball title

By Sam Davis
Triad Sports Weekly

            Forsyth Country Day’s baseball team began the season with a loaded deck. The Furies, who finished as runnerups in last year’s NCISSA 3-A championship, were the favorites to take home the crown in 2011. FCD did just that two weeks ago, defeating Charlotte Country Day in a two-game series. However, the Furies had to overcome a rash of injuries to take the crown.

            Early in the season it appeared the Furies would never be at full strength. From the outset they were beset with injuries. That trend continued until the final games of the season.

            The Furies lost outfielder and Univ. of South Carolina signee Seth Constable to a broken leg during their stretch run. Nevertheless they were able to bring home the school’s first state baseball championship.

            With only 12 healthy players, the Furies swept through the semifinals and championship series in three games. In the semifinals they defeated High Point Christian by an 8-5 score. They went on to win the series in two games, sweeping Charlotte Country Day 6-1 and 4-3. They concluded the season with a 23-7 record.

Several Furies came through with clutch performances, including George Carter, who got the win in the semifinal, pitching two innings of relief. Carter also got the victory in the first game of the championship series, pitching a complete game. Closer Brandon Culbreath picked up the win in the series-clinching victory, tossing 2 1/3 innings of relief work.

             The Furies were a power team throughout the season, smacking a whopping 62 homers in 30 games. Catcher Robert Deluca led the way with 13. FCD hit six homers in the semifinals and championship series, paced by Carter, who hit two. Another key for the Furies was a commitment to the weight room, which they began last November.