Aycock blanks Goldsboro

By Neil Fuller
Published in Sports on April 17, 2005 2:15 AM

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Dominance on the mound.

Dominance at the plate.

The Charles B. Aycock baseball team showcased its entire arsenal to remain in the thick of the Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference title race Friday night with a 21-0 triumph at Goldsboro.

Garrett Davis and Grant Sasser combined to strike out 14 of 16 Goldsboro batters in a five-inning no-hitter.

Davis struck out the side in each of the first three innings.

"Garrett and Grant both needed to get their innings in, and I thought they both looked sharp," Golden Falcons coach Charles Davis said. "They were both sharp. No-hitters are always special, but I have a lot of respect for that Goldsboro club.

"You've got to respect Goldsboro. They play just as hard, regardless of the score, as they do in the first inning."

C.B. Aycock (10-4 overall, 7-2 ECC) now finds itself tied atop the conference standings with South Central, a 2-0 winner over Eastern Wayne later in the night. The ECC will send three teams into the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs this season -- making every game pivotal.

The Golden Falcons have won eight of their past nine games.

"With only three playoff spots, every win is crucial," Charles Davis said. "Every win in this conference is important. You've got to win at home and try to steal what you can on the road."

Will Spence led the potent C.B. Aycock lineup with three hits and four RBIs. The junior shortstop reached base in all five of his plate appearances. Senior center fielder Greg Davis was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI for the Golden Falcons.

Second baseman Mario Super was the lone Goldsboro baserunner, reaching on a second-inning error.

The Cougars (0-12, 0-9) committed nine errors -- three coming in the first inning as the Golden Falcons claimed an early 3-0 lead -- thanks in large part to the bone-chilling wind that reeked havoc on the youthful squad.

"The wind did play somewhat of a factor," Goldsboro coach Michael Darden said. "We just didn't play defense, and we didn't hit the ball. We made a bunch of errors early. You make errors early on, and it opens the floodgates."

Junior catcher Bennett Jeffreys highlighted an eight-run third inning for C.B. Aycock with a three-run double. The Golden Falcons sent 12 batters to the plate during the frame to knock out Cougars starting pitcher Eugene Norman.

C.B. Aycock pounded out 19 total hits.

"The good thing about tonight was everyone was able to play," Charles Davis said. "We got to look at some different people. The second time around the conference (schedule) is going to be difficult."

Notes: C.B. Aycock's Jackson Massey was celebrating his 17th birthday. The junior had two walks and a double out of the leadoff spot. ... Goldsboro played a doubleheader at Wilson Fike on Saturday afternoon. ... C.B. Aycock visits Greene Central on April 20, then return home in conference play the following night against Southern Wayne