Prep Sports

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on April 13, 2005 1:57 PM

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LAGRANGE -- The streak is over.

Freshman Cassie Wade delivered the game-winning single in the fourth inning as Greene Central upset North Lenoir 1-0 in a Class 2-A Eastern Plains Conference encounter Tuesday evening.

The Rams (3-5) snapped the Hawks' 31-game conference win streak and evened their EPC worksheet at 1-1.

The teams battled through three scoreless innings until the fourth. Cassie Webb, the winning pitcher, tripled up the middle and scored on Wade's base hit. Webb and Wade combined for four hits in six at-bats.

Webb scattered five hits and notched three strikeouts in a complete-game effort on the mound.

North Lenoir right-hander Morgan Worthington, who collected 14 strikeouts, endured the pitching loss.

Randi Moulton, Ashley Griffin, Chanee Lynch and Brittany Sanders each had one hit.

The Hawks (10-1, 1-1 EPC) entertain Wilson Beddingfield at 5 p.m. Thursday. They return to conference play Friday at North Pitt.

Greene Central entertains SouthWest Edgecombe at 7 p.m. Friday.

Jackson near perfect

WASHINGTON -- Senior right-hander Jenny Jackson notched 16 strikeouts and came within one runner of earning a perfect game in Charles B. Aycock's 4-0 win at Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference foe Washington.

A dropped third strike yielded the Pam Pack's lone base runner.

"That was the only fly in the ointment," Aycock coach David West said.

Rusti Talton paced the Golden Falcon offense with a double and two RBI in three at-bats. Brittani Edgerton, Jasmine Dobbin, Kandace Burroughs (double), Jackson and catcher Ashley Morris provided one hit apiece.

Jackson and Morris each drove in a run.

Liz Robinson took the pitching loss for Washington.

C.B. Aycock (8-3, 6-1) entertains North Johnston next Monday.

Saints dominate

VANCEBORO -- Southern Wayne turned a first-inning triple play and used the defensive gem as momentum in a 12-0 victory at Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference member West Craven.

Officials halted the game after five innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Pitcher Karen Thornton made a back-handed catch on a line-drive hit. She threw to third for the fielder's choice and the Saints threw to second to complete the double play.

However, confusion led to the next out.

Saints coach Brad Matthews shouted "throw to one!" since the umpire didn't signal the initial catch. Finally, the umpire said we have a catch and Southern Wayne had the triple play -- its second in three years against the Eagles.

"It was kind of confusing," a laughing Matthews said. "The umpire should have called a catch when she caught it. The runners were confused and my girls were confused.

"But that helped us, too. That set the tone for us."

Southern Wayne went on to record 12 hits. Haley Fail doubled and plated two runs in a 3-for-4 showing. Scarlett Joyner batted 2-for-2 with an RBI. Alyssa Bradshaw provided two hits, including a double, and an RBI.

Katie Westfall and Meredith Davis combined for two hits and two RBI.

Thornton yielded three hits in four innings to go along with two strikeouts.

"Overall, that's the best-hitting game we've had and the best defensive game we've had," Matthews said. "We played with great intensity last night. I was proud of them for that."

Weather permitting, Southern Wayne (7-4, 4-3 ECC) travels to Spring Creek today. Game time is 7 p.m.

Panthers cruise

KENLY -- North Johnston easily seized sole possession of first place in Carolina 1-A Conference play with a 10-0 blitzing of Ayden-Grifton on Tuesday afternoon.

The teams entered the game tied for the league lead.

Senior right-hander Candace Evans recorded eight strikeouts and allowed four base runners in a contest shortened to six innings. Officials halted play once the Panthers had obtained a 10-run lead.

Michelle Fisher paced the Panthers' 14-hit attack with a 3-for-3 outing, including a double. Amanda Pope, Evans, Robyn Creech and Brandi Edwards each contributed two hits.

Evans and Creech each had a double, while Creech plated two runs.

"Our hitters were successfully aggressive against a good Ayden-Grifton team," veteran North Johnston coach George Daniels said. " Our base runners were also aggressive. We had a total of 10 stolen bases and bases reached on passed balls."

Edwards also praised his defense, which didn't commit an error. Jessica Narron made two solid catches in center field, including a running grab that foiled one Charger rally.

The Panthers ended the Ayden-Grifton sixth with a double play.

North Johnston (9-0, 5-0) entertains Spring Creek on Friday.

Eagles grounded

Visiting Cape Fear Christian capitalized on late-inning errors and cruised past Wayne Christian 10-0 in Carolina Christian 1-A Conference play Tuesday afternoon.

Eagles pitcher Brittany Sullivan, despite a nine-strikeout effort, was saddled with the loss.

Emily Reesman and Katie Daniels each had one hit for Wayne Christian.

The Eagles (1-5, 1-4 CCC) entertain Community Christian on Thursday. They visit Northwood Temple for a doubleheader on Friday. All three games count in CCC play.

Baseball

Aycock gets road win

WASHINGTON -- C.B. Aycock took control in the middle innings and rolled past Washington 10-4 in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play Tuesday afternoon.

Trailing 4-2, Travis Bartlett tied the game with a two-run home run in the fourth. Drew McGowan drew a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and then stole home for a 5-4 Golden Falcon lead.

"A straight steal ... very rare," said Aycock coach Charles Davis, whose team had nine stolen bases.

The three-run uprising led to a 7-0 output over the final four innings.

Jackson Massey added an RBI in three at-bats. McGowan contributed a double.

Adam Williams started on the mound, but departed after surrendering four runs in two-plus innings. Alex Raper shut down the Pam Pack and recorded five strikeouts en route to his third win.

"Raper came in, held them and that allowed us to get back into the ball game," Davis said.

C.B. Aycock (9-4, 6-2) begins second-half play in the ECC on Friday at Goldsboro.

Saints rally in 8

VANCEBORO -- Willie Koernig scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch in the eighth inning as Southern Wayne escaped West Craven 6-5 on the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference scene Tuesday evening.

The Saints (7-5) improved to 5-3 in the ECC.

"I was proud of the boys," Saints coach Trae McKee said. "We kept battling, we played hard and we overcame adversity."

Two key plays helped decide the outcome.

Tied at 5-5 in the sixth, right fielder JoJo Davis fielded a one-hop single and gunned down the go-ahead run at the plate. One inning later, with the same score, relief pitcher Matthew Holloman cleanly fielded a suicide bunt attempt and threw to catcher David Combs.

Combs blocked the plate to record the inning-ending out.

"We made some big defensive plays," McKee said.

Josh Narron doubled to begin the Saints' eighth inning. Koernig replaced Narron and took third on a pitch in the dirt. He eventually scored on a wild pitch.

Ashton Langston started and received a no-decision in six-plus innings. The lanky right-hander allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits and recorded six strikeouts.

Holloman provided 1 2/3 innings of three-strikeout relief en route to his fourth win.

"Ashton, when he was down in the zone, he was effective and he kept us in the ball game," McKee said. "Matthew did a great job shutting the door."

Lead-off batter Logan Porter just missed hitting for the cycle with a single, triple and home run in four plate appearances. T.J. Hinson batted 1-for-1, while Brady Wiggins added an RBI hit in three at-bats.

Weather permitting, Southern Wayne plays host to Wilmington Hoggard today at 5 p.m.

Bulldogs lead CC

FARMVILLE -- Dustin Myers and Brandon Pate each delivered RBI hits in the sixth inning as Carolina 1-A Conference leader Princeton nipped Farmville Central 2-0 on Tuesday evening.

Bren Hall drew a lead-off walk to start the Bulldog sixth. Josh Thompson advanced Hall with a sacrifice bunt. Myers singled to score Hall for the 1-0 lead.

Robert Gurley replaced Myers on base and headed home on Brandon Pate's triple for the inning's second run.

Thompson collected the pitching win, striking out 12 in a complete-game effort.

Princeton (12-2, 5-0 CC) entertains archrival Rosewood at 7 p.m. Friday.

Chargers dealt loss

Travis Davis belted a three-run home run in a losing effort as Wayne Country Day fell 12-4 to Halifax Academy in a Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A contest Tuesday afternoon.

Davis finished the day 2-for-3.

Spenser Briggs added a home run.

Wayne Country Day (3-8, 3-4) visits Rocky Mount Academy on Thursday. The Eagles are ranked No. 1 in the latest N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A poll.

N. Johnston falls

KENLY -- Ayden-Grifton pushed across seven runs in the first three innings combined and doubled up North Johnston 8-4 in Carolina 1-A Conference play Tuesday afternoon.

Travis Jones led the Panthers with two hits.

Ashley Moore took the pitching loss for North Johnston, which slipped to 2-3 in conference play. The Panthers (3-7) entertain defending league champion Spring Creek at 7 p.m. Friday.

Tennis

Golden Falcons triumph

PIKEVILLE -- C.B. Aycock avenged a loss and showed vast improvement in a 5-3 victory against Kinston in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference action Tuesday afternoon.

The Golden Falcons entered doubles play tied at 3-3 and prevailed in both completed matches. The No. 1 tandem of Danny Fairchild-Brandon Howard slipped past James Walker-Jamison Smith 9-7. The No. 2 duo of Sean Kelly-David Williams dispatched Jonathan Bowen-Mohamed Ali 8-3.

"Danny and Brandon did a good job of putting the ball away in doubles," Aycock coach Luke Vail said. "Sean and David dominated their match from the beginning with solid ground strokes and well-placed volleys."

Fairchild, Williams and Blake Cooper each triumphed in singles. Cooper rallied for a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 win against Mike Jones.

"Blake gave us a big win," Vail said.

C.B. Aycock (5-5, 3-4 ECC) is scheduled to play at Wilson Fike today.

Warriors roll

Tuesday afternoon's impending rain prompted Eastern Wayne and West Craven to play pro sets (eight games) in their Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference match.

It didn't take long for the Warriors to send the Eagles home with a 9-0 defeat in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play. Eastern Wayne lost just five games in singles and doubles combined, and remained tied atop the league standings with West Carteret and Kinston.

Jared Stone, Drew Ziccardi, Ben Ziccardi and Lee Ingles each posted a shutout in singles play. Alex Bryant lost one game, while Drew Jackson dropped two.

Stone-D. Ziccardi and Jackson-Ingles each rolled to a shutout in doubles. Meanwhile, the No. 2 tandem of Bryant-B. Ziccardi upended Ross Warren-Chris Saul 8-2.

The Warriors' match today with New Bern has been canceled. They return to action Apr. 21 against Southern Wayne.

Another EPC win

PINETOPS -- Greene Central continued its run toward another Carolina/Eastern Plains 1-A/2-A regular-season with a 9-0 conquest of SouthWest Edgecombe on Tuesday afternoon.

The Rams (11-0, 10-0 C/EPC) captured their 95th consecutive victory against conference opposition heading into today's home match against Spring Creek. Weather permitting, the match starts at 4 p.m.

Brent Darden, Lin Hall, Chris Hardy, Travis Moore, Banks Nimmo and Bryan Pollock all triumphed in singles. The same six combined for three doubles wins.

TEACH prevails

TEACH defeated River Birch of Greenville 5-4 at Herman Park on Monday.

Jonathan Stutts, Sam Rouse and David Sullivan all won in singles for TEACH, while the doubles combinations of Stutts-Sam Rouse and Tristan Hooks-Matthew Rouse emerged with victories.

Soccer

Duo leads WCDS

Virginia Best and Georgia Crow each scored a pair of first-half goals as Wayne Country Day dismantled Faith Christian-Rocky Mount 7-0 in a Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference match Tuesday afternoon.

Best scored in the 12th and 20th minutes off assists from Mimi Bridgers and Sarah Coleman. Crow collected back-to-back unassisted goals in the 27th and 28th minutes.

Bridgers and Erin Taylor each provided a single goal.

The Chargers (2-1-3) face Kerr-Vance at 6 p.m. Friday.

Panthers stop NL

KENLY -- North Johnston's Jenna Gudac scored two goals -- her 16th and 17th of the season -- as the Panthers defeated North Lenoir 2-0 on Monday in a Carolina/Eastern Plains 1-A/2-A match.

Goal keeper Allison Hinnant had six saves for the Panthers.

North Johnston (7-1-1, 3-0 C/EPC) entertains Rosewood at 7 p.m. today.

Golf

Vinson sparks CBA

WASHINGTON -- C.B. Aycock's Will Vinson shot a 71 -- good for medalist honors in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference match at the Washington Yacht Club on Monday afternoon.

West Carteret won the eight-team match by shooting a 315, while Charles B. Aycock (317) and Eastern Wayne (328) finished second and third, respectively. The Golden Falcons still own a 44-shot lead in ECC play.

Jonathan Burke and Ryan Campbell each shot 80 for Aycock, while Ryan Walderman and Redding PIttman both shot 86. Jeff Mullins (91) also participated for the Falcons.

Morgan Hill fired an 83 for Southern Wayne, while Sam Britt notched an 87 and Jay Connelley shot 96 for the sixth-place Saints.

No further information was available on Monday's event.

The next scheduled ECC match is April 19 at Walnut Creek.

Lane Tree Ladies Golf

Cathy Calhoun emerged the game-of-the-week and low-putt winner for play ending April 10.

Gwen Kelly claimed low net.

JV baseball

Rams fall in EPC

LAGRANGE -- North Lenoir remained unbeaten on the Eastern Plains 2-A scene with a 3-1 victory against Greene Central on Tuesday afternoon.

Each team had seven hits, but the Hawks (2-0 EPC) pushed across two unearned runs in the second. Neither team scored after that.

Curtis Braswell led the Rams with two hits in three at-bats. Cory Skinner doubled in three plate appearances.

Michael Speedy (4-2) suffered the mound loss.

Greene Central continues EPC play at home Friday against SouthWest Edgecombe.

Aycock triumphs

PIKEVILLE -- Pitchers David and Jay Rose combined for a seven-hitter as C.B. Aycock cruised past Washington 10-4 in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play Tuesday afternoon.

David Rose scattered five hits in a four-inning stint and notched six strikeouts. Jay Rose threw three innings of eight-strikeout, one-hit relief.

Evan Medford emerged the Golden Falcons' top hitter with a 3-for-4 showing. Nick Weaver batted 2-for-4.

C.B. Aycock (10-1, 7-0 EPC) visits Southern Wayne next Tuesday. Game time is 5 p.m.

JV softball

Saints bag Gators

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Jordan Hill and Hanna Westbrook combined for four hits and two RBI in Southern Wayne's 13-3, non-conference win at Spring Creek on Tuesday afternoon.

Officials halted the game after five innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Brianna Loftin doubled twice and singled. Katlyn Thornton added a triple and a single.

Christy Westbrook earned the mound win, striking out three and allowing eight hits.

Southern Wayne (5-5) plays at East Duplin on Thursday.