Narron's walk-off homer lifts Saints over Aycock

By Neil Fuller
Published in Sports on March 16, 2005 2:10 PM

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DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne baseball coach Trae McKee was simply looking for a few positives Tuesday night.

He got just that -- and a whole lot more.

Josh Narron hit a walk-off, two-run homer to lift the Saints to a 9-7 win over Charles B. Aycock in Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference play.

"This is something we needed. We needed some positive things," McKee said. "We played a good team very tough. Neither team wanted to quit."

That was for certain.

The Golden Falcons (2-3 overall, 1-1 ECC) rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh as Joseph Toler tied the game with a clutch RBI single.

There would be no eighth inning, however. Narron made certain of that by driving an Alex Raper fastball over the left-field fence -- sending the youthful C.B. Aycock squad to its third straight defeat in the process.

"It was in my wheelhouse," Narron said. "I didn't know it (was a home run) at first. I was just trying to get at least a double out of it. I was looking for a fastball. I knew it was coming."

Junior center fielder Austin Hood drove in three runs to lead Southern Wayne.

Chris Carr delivered a pinch-hit RBI single, and Hood added a two-run base hit as part of a four-run sixth inning that saw the Saints (2-2, 2-1) take a 7-5 lead.

Brady Wiggins recorded an RBI double in the fifth to help the Saints break out of their recent slump at the plate.

"Hitting is contagious," McKee said. "Once you start, you get that confidence going. That's what we've been struggling with a little bit at the plate -- it's all about confidence."

Golden Falcons starting pitcher Garrett Davis seemed to have that same confidence flowing through his veins on the mound despite spotting Southern Wayne an early 2-0 lead. The sophomore right-hander recovered to strike out nine batters through the first five innings.

But Davis allowed four hits with two outs in the sixth, leaving coach Charles Davis no choice but to pull his starter.

"His gas tank probably gave out, and I take full responsibility for that," Charles Davis said. "I shouldn't have left him out there that long. It was my mistake. He battled tonight, though. I was proud of his effort."

Narron was also proud. Proud to escape with a hard-fought conference win against a county rival.

"This one was very important," Narron said. "Plus, it gives us two wins in the conference ... that's good."

Indeed.

Notes: Matthew Holloman picked up the pitching win in relief of Southern Wayne starter Ashton Langston. ... Toler led C.B. Aycock with two RBIs. ... C.B. Aycock SS Will Spence had two hits and was hit by a pitch. ... Southern Wayne committed four errors. ... C.B. Aycock left nine runners on base.