Hopewell, N. Meck decide it on field

Flip a coin, or decide it on the field?

North Mecklenburg and Hopewell, ME-CA 7 4A rivals and tied for the baseball conference lead, picked the green grass.

They’d split two regular-season games, and played Monday to determine which would receive the No. 1 playoff seed. North Meck won 13-9 in a an eight-inning game filled with crooked numbers (baseball slang for innings that don’t have 0’s and 1’s on the scoreboard).

North Meck had two four-run innings, and a three-run top of the first. Hopewell scored three in the first, and four in the fifth.

North Meck (18-4) jumped to an 8-4 lead. Hopewell (21-4) rallied to tie at 9. North Meck scored four in the top of the eighth.

Adam Eckstenkamper was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Sean Pope had a home run and three RBIs for North Meck.

Hopewell’s top hitters were Adam Waters (2-for-4), Keith Prowse (3-for-5, two doubles, two RBIs) and Cody Murtle (2-for-4, RBI).

It was an exciting game between rivals, on a beautiful spring night.

Detractors might say the coaches should have flipped a coin, and rested arms and legs for the playoffs, which begin Friday.

Others say what could be more exciting than a third meeting - winner take all?

What do you think?

Post your thoughts in the comments section below.

-- Cliff Mehrtens