Jackson dominates as C.B. Aycock shuts out Fike

Published in Sports on March 3, 2005 2:10 PM

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PIKEVILLE - After dropping his season opener, 8-0, at C.B. Aycock, add Wilson Fike softball coach John Jones' name as the newest member of the Jenny Jackson fan club.

"I had never seen her before, but I sure had heard a lot about her," he said. "She's as good, if not better, than any pitcher I've ever seen."

Despite the cold and bone chilling wind, Jackson appeared in midseason form. Her first five pitches were strikes. She threw only 50 pitches in the five innings. Only one batter reached base. Only one ball left the infield. She struck out six and did not walk a batter.

"For the first game of the season, I thought my control was very good," said Jackson. "The weather wasn't a factor. My only complaint was giving up that one hit."

If that wasn't enough, Jackson was also a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate. Her pinch runner, Lyndsay Lowe scored twice.

"This was a great opening season win for us," said Golden Falcons coach David West. "Everyone played. Everyone contributed."

Aycock wasted little time teeing off on Fike starting pitcher, Kellen Skinner. With two outs in the first inning, first baseman Candice Burroughs reached on an error. Subsequent singles by Jackson and Meredith Wilkerson brought in Burroughs and Lowe with the first runs of the new season.

Burroughs played a great game offensively and defensively. She went 2-for-3 and scored two runs at the plate. In the four innings she played, she had seven putouts -- four unassisted.

Before West started substituting liberally, the Lady Falcons scored in each of the first four innings. Right fielder Jazzmine Lee drove in two more runs with a homer to right center field. She was three for four on the day.

Lowe, running for Jackson again in the third, was sacrificed in by Wilkerson. The big inning, however, was the fourth. Consecutive singles by Lee, Brittany Edgarton, Burroughs, Jackson, and Wilkerson resulted in three more scores.

Julia Lancaster relieved Jackson in the sixth and was equally effective. In the two innings she pitched, she struck out four.

"We're blessed to have two great pitchers," said West. "To open the season against a quality opponent like Fike, shut them out, play errorless ball, and get 13 hits is a wonderful way to start," said West.

That potential will be challenged in their next game. The Golden Falcons travel to Harnett Central on Tuesday.

"Our two teams have had quite a history over the years," said West. "It will be another good early test."