Greenies baseball on a tear

ARDEN – Asheville’s Doug Piercy earned a spot in Christ School’s lineup as an eighth grader in 2010.

Every season since then has been a small progression for the senior first baseman and the Greenies.

But nothing like this.

Christ School is believed to be off to its best start to a baseball season in more than 25 years and was 14-2 overall and 5-0 in the Carolinas Athletic Association going into Wednesday’s home game with Cannon School.

The Greenies are third in the NCISAA 3-A rankings and undefeated against North Carolina competition.

“The goal has always been to go farther and improve on what we did the year before. And that’s what we want to do,” Piercy said.

“We’ve been playing really well. We have some down games just like everyone else, but we know when to pick it up. A lot of people are surprised. They didn’t think this was possible.”

Leading hitters for the Greenies are Camrin Opp (.459), Anthony Vaglica (.438), Ian Mayers (.412), James Antley (.378) and Joe Keeler (.359). Players who have driven in the most runs are Vaglica (17), Opp (15), Mayers (14), Antley (11) and Keeler (11).

Mayers has stolen a team-high 10 bases, followed by Sam Grabenstein (nine) and Opp (seven).

“It’s a group that I thought could be pretty good, but the chemistry has made them more than just pretty good,” fifth-year coach Pat James said.

“No matter what happens, they’re always going to give it their best shot. They always think we have a chance.”

Opp (3.14 earned-run average and 26 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched) is a senior from London who has pitched six of Christ School’s wins.

Zak Lintz (2.05 ERA and 2.05 earned run average with 36 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched) and Piercy (2.55 ERA in 22 innings pitched) combined to throw a no-hitter when Christ School blanked Asheville Christian Academy, 14-0, on April 8.

Nearly half the players on the Greenies’ 16-man roster are seniors. Those seven 12th graders are Antley, Mayers, Opp, Piercy, Cameron Davidson, Mark Humble and Tommy Wehrkamp.

The NCISAA playoffs begin on May 10.