Baseball Recap: Grace Christian Comes Up Short in High-Profile Game with Ashley

Grace Christian faced Ashley in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Monday. The Crusaders fell just short of the Screaming Eagle by a score of 3-1. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest loss the Crusaders have suffered since April 19, 2024.

Luke Roupe

Base on Balls Against

04/14/25 @ Ashley	1
04/08/25 vs Cary Christian	2
04/05/25 @ East Wake Academy	0
03/29/25 vs High Point Christian Academy	1

Luke Roupe spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered three earned runs on four hits and racked up 11 Ks. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances.

At the plate, Grace Christian saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Jimmy Alfonsin, who went 2-for-3 with one stolen base.

Grace Christian's defeat dropped their record down to 13-4. As for Ashley, their record now sits at 16-2.

Coming up, Grace Christian will take on First Colonial in a tournament on Tuesday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (the Crusaders 2.6, the Patriots 1.7) so any runs scored will be well earned. As for Ashley, they will be taking part in a tournament against West Johnston at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (the Screaming Eagle 2.6, the Wildcats 2.7) so any runs scored will be well earned.