Eagles victimized by errors in loss

Published in Sports on April 7, 2005 1:58 PM

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A comedy of errors

Unfortunately, for the Rosewood baseball team, there would be no happy ending as in the Shakespearean play. Six errors punctuated their loss to visiting North Johnston, 8-4, in a game played Wednesday evening at The Nest.

Nor did coach Scott Adams find any positives from the loss.

"Just a very sloppily played game," Adams said. "We just did not do the little things out there tonight that it takes to be successful. When you make that many errors, you simply aren't going to win."

It was, however, a big, big win for North Johnston. The Panthers evened their Carolina 1-A Conference record to 2-2, while 3-6 overall. "We're back in the hunt," said coach Tim Jones.

Rosewood(6-5) fell to 1-3 in the conference.

After two tough losses to Princeton, Jones was elated with his club's approach to the game.

"The difference tonight was attitude," he said. "We were mentally tough and good things happened for us."

Before things got sloppy, fans were treated to an outstanding pitchers' duel between Rosewood's Dustin Overman and North Johnston's Josh Parrott. Overman, whose earned run average was under two, struck out 10 batters.

In picking up his first win of the season, Parrott was supported by strong defense. Both the first and last innings of the game ended on double plays. The Panthers were also able to cope with a strong tail wind, blowing directly from the plate to center field.

North Johnston took a 1-0 lead in the third. Josh Phillips led off with a double. After Overman had struck out the next two batters, Brad Holloman looped a single to center, driving him home.

Rosewood had more than their share of scoring opportunities. The Eagles left nine runners stranded. They could not capitalize on Justin Allen's double, also in the third. With the heart of the order up in the fourth, they were unable to drive Overman and Dave Smeltzer home.

The Eagles did take a 2-1 lead in the fifth. Brantley Ellis' triple to right center brought home Dustin Sittig. Overman helped his own cause by beating out an infield chop scoring Ellis.

Defensively, the wheels came off the wagon for Rosewood in the final two innings. Holloman and Craig Hardin put North Johnston back in the lead, 3-2, on infield miscues. The duo scored again in the seventh, along with Louis Edwards and Travis Jones in the same manner.

Rosewood gave it one more shot in their final trip to the plate. Sittig walked. Ellis followed with a double to center. Both scored when Kyle Bunn reached safely on an infield error.

The Eagles loaded the bases with no outs when Overman reached safely for the third time with a single and Dave Smeltzer walked.

Jones brought in closer Ashley Moore, who recorded a strikeout, before getting Ron Franks to hit into a game ending double play.

"Hopefully, we can take this as a 'lose and learn lesson," said Adams. "We were too impatient at the plate and didn't make the pitcher work. Overman did a great job. His defense just wasn't behind him."

Rosewood's next game will be Tuesday with North Duplin.

North Johnston will face Ayden-Grifton, also on Tuesday.