Prep Roundup

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on April 27, 2005 2:00 PM

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Billups delivers game-winner for Spring Creek softball team

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Brittany Billups singled home the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning, leading Spring Creek past Rosewood 4-3 in Class 1-A Carolina Conference play Tuesday evening.

With two outs and Stephanie Wiggins on third, Billups hit a hard shot back to Eagle pitcher Chandra Meadows. By the time Meadows threw to first, Billups had cleared the bag and Wiggins had scooted home for the Gators' second league victory of the season.

"We have come a long, long way and our girls have improved tremendously," said Spring Creek coach Sonny Kilpatrick. "Rosewood brought us a battle."

Lorenda Brogden led the Gators with two hits, including a double. Billups, Wiggins, Shanna Gooding and Lindsey Benton finished the game with one hit apiece. Benton also added an RBI.

Brogden claimed the pitching win, scattering five hits and striking out 11 in a complete-game effort.

Meadows, who notched six strikeouts, took the mound loss.

Spring Creek (3-10, 2-7 CC) is the guest of Farmville Central on Friday.

Rosewood (2-14, 1-8) return to action next Tuesday at reigning Carolina champion North Johnston.

CBA routs Kinston

KINSTON -- Jenny Jackson threw a one-hitter as Charles B. Aycock cruised past Kinston 6-1 in their Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference contest Tuesday evening.

Jackson, a senior right-hander, struck out 15 and yielded one earned run in a complete-game effort. A Western Carolina signee, Jackson improved to 9-2 on the mound.

The Vikings' Sierra Parker spoiled Jackson's no-hit bid with an RBI double in the sixth inning.

Jasmine Dobbin doubled twice in five plate appearances and drove in a run for the league-leading Golden Falcons. Jazzmine Lee stole three bases after receiving three walks from losing pitcher Tracy Davis.

Kandace Burroughs provided two hits, including a triple, and three RBI. Rusti Talton batted 2-for-4 with two RBI. Karlie West contributed two hits.

Aycock recorded 11 hits overall.

The Golden Falcons (13-3, 8-1 ECC) entertain West Craven at 7 p.m. Friday.

NL edges rival

LAGRANGE -- Lauren Hudson delivered the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the eighth inning, pacing North Lenoir to a 4-3 triumph against archrival South Lenoir in Eastern Plains 2-A play Tuesday evening.

Hudson scored Brittany Sanders, who singled to get on base.

Senior right-hander Morgan Worthington yielded five hits and struck out 15 in a complete-game effort. She walked one as the Hawks beat the Blue Devils by one run in extra innings for the second time this season.

Hudson and Sanders, who doubled, each turned in a 3-for-4 effort at the plate.

South Lenoir is now 2-2 in EPC games decided in extra innings this season.

North Lenoir (14-1, 5-1) travels to Greene Central for a 7 p.m. contest today. The Rams snapped the Hawks' 31-game EPC regular-season win streak with a 1-0 win Apr. 12 at Wheat Swamp.

Rams shut out

SNOW HILL -- Tiffany Shaw threw a complete-game four-hitter as North Pitt turned back Greene Central 2-0 in their Eastern Plains 2-A Conference battle Tuesday evening.

Shaw struck out nine and walked one as the Panthers (11-4, 5-1 EPC) handed the Rams their second defeat against EPC opposition this season.

Jessica Andrews led North Pitt with two hits, while Callie Nelson and Anita Roberson contributed one hit apiece.

Cassie Webb, who suffered the mound loss, allowed six hits and struck out three. She added two hits in three plate appearances.

Greene Central (6-7, 4-2) entertains defending EPC champion North Lenoir at 7 p.m. today.

Panthers cruise

KENLY -- North Johnston remained unbeaten in eight Carolina 1-A Conference outings with a 14-1 conquest of Farmville Central on Tuesday afternoon.

The Panthers (11-2) captured their 20th consecutive league victory heading into Friday's home game against county rival Princeton. Since 2002, North Johnston has won 41 of 44 games against Carolina opposition.

Candace Evans threw a one-hitter and struck out eight Jaguar batters.

Robyn Creech drove in five runs and batted 3-for-3 with a single, double and triple. Evans, Amanda Pope, Michelle Fisher and Brandy Edwards each provided two hits apiece.

North Johnston finished with six extra-base hits, including five doubles.

The Panthers have allowed just three runs in league play this season.

SW blanks Rosewood

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne's Karen Thornton and Lesli Darden combined on a one-hit, shutout as the Saints dropped Rosewood 10-0 in six innings on Tuesday.

The win improves the Saints to 8-7 overall heading into another non-conference contest on Wednesday at Wilson Hunt.

Thornton tossed the first three innings, yielding no hits with two strikeouts and three walks. Darden came on to close out the final three -- allowing one hit with four strikeouts and two walks.

Offensively, Haley Fail and Lindsey Pearsall posted two hits each with Fail scoring three times and driving in a run. Katie Westfall and Meredith Davis also had RBI for the Saints.

Aubrey Reinhard endured the loss for the Eagles (2-13).

Baseball

W. Christian rolls

Wayne Christian advanced to the semifinals of the Carolina Christian 1-A Conference baseball tournament with a 14-1 victory Tuesday afternoon against Community Christian.

Adam Brannan held the Cyclones scoreless for three innings. Kyle Pender and T.A. Brannan each provided one inning of relief in a contest shortened to five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Jordan Yelverton doubled twice for the Eagles.

J.D. Hightower ripped a three-RBI double. Andrew Bass doubled in a two-hit performance. Kyle Pender added two hits.

Wayne Christian (10-2) entertains the winner of today's Cape Fear-Cresset Christian game at 4 p.m. Thursday.

Warriors dominate

VANCEBORO -- Tyler Ham and Trey Johnson each belted a home run as Eastern Wayne throttled West Craven 17-4 in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference action on a drizzly Tuesday evening.

Officials halted the contest after six innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Ham also doubled and drove in two runs for the Warriors, who improved to 10-6 overall and 9-3 in the ECC. Johnson finished with two hit and three RBI.

Michael Mintz batted 2-for-5 with three RBI. Joey Moye doubled and plated a run in a 2-for-4 effort. Chris Davis went 2-for-3, while Billy McKinley provided a double in a two-hit performance.

"We hit the baseball ... wore it out," Warriors coach Jabo Fulghum said.

Airlon Vinson claimed the pitching win, striking four and yielding six hits in miserable conditions.

"Airlon pitched a great ball game ... consistent," Fulghum said. "The mound was muddy. West Craven is a tough place to play, but he pitched very well. We played good defense behind him.

"It was a good ball game all the way around."

Eastern Wayne entertains Wilmington New Hanover at 7 p.m. Thursday. The teams play again Friday at New Hanover.

GC denies N. Pitt

SNOW HILL -- Blake Taylor provided two hits and an RBI as Greene Central doubled up North Pitt 4-2 in Eastern Plains 2-A Conference play Tuesday on the James R. Fulghum Athletic Complex diamond.

Hunter Chase doubled with an RBI for the Rams, who evened their EPC record at 3-3. They continue play today at Spring Creek.

Drew Sowers emerged the winning pitcher.

Justin Tripp led the Panthers with two hits and an RBI.

Greene Central improved to 9-7 overall.

Hawks pop Devils

DEEP RUN -- North Lenoir's dominance of South Lenoir in its 15-3 win on Tuesday was nothing short of amazing. From the very first pitch of the game, the Hawks took control of a game that featured the top two teams in the Eastern Plains 2-A Conference.

That first pitch -- a Paul Novicki fastball to North Lenoir's Josh Williams -- was lined into left field for the first of six Hawks hits in the first inning.

North Lenoir (14-3, 4-2 EPC) scored six runs in the first inning, four in the fourth and five in the fifth on a total of 16 hits and won the game by the 10-run mercy rule. The Hawks sent 11 batters to the plate in the first, 10 in the fourth and nine in the fifth.

Sthil Sowers earned the complete-game win for the Hawks, striking out nine while walking two. The sophomore only gave up five hits.

Eight of nine North Lenoir starters collected at least one hit, while six Hawks had two or more hits. Josh Williams (3-for-4, RBI, walk) and Brandon Sutton (3-for-4, two runs) had three hits each.

Jacob Alphin (2-for-3) hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning, while Taylor Ginn (2-for-3) hit a bases-loaded triple in the first inning that broke open the game. Brian Smith and Donald Beal also had two hits apiece for the Hawks, who host Greene Central on Friday.

South Lenoir (10-8, 5-1) was led by Brandon Rouse, who was 2-for-3 with a solo home run in the fourth. Andrew Davis also homered in the third for the Blue Devils.

Kinston Free Press

Chargers fall to KVA

Kerr-Vance slapped four home runs and dealt Wayne Country Day at 15-1 loss in Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference action Tuesday afternoon.

The Spartans entered the contest ranked No. 1 in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 2-A poll.

Trent Davis doubled home the Chargers' lone run in the five-inning contest. Spenser Briggs and Travis Davis each contributed a hit.

Wayne Country Day (4-12, 1-8 CPIC) travels to Waccamaw Academy, which is ranked No. 1 in the NCISAA 1-A poll, for a 4 p.m. contest today.

Tennis

N. Lenoir escapes

SNOW HILL -- North Lenoir swept the doubles and avoided Tarboro's upset bid in a 6-3, Carolina/Eastern Plains 1-A/2-A Conference match Tuesday afternoon at the Snow Hill Tennis Complex.

The teams played eight-game pro sets due to the threatening weather.

"I think it hurt our singles," Hawks coach Courtney Hill said of the pro-set format. "Jared (O'dell) and Alex (Mills) were very strong, but the rest of the team fell behind quickly in the shortened matches.

"The guys staged comebacks at the four through six seeds, but in the end only James (Parker) was able to pull his match out."

Mills and O'dell each prevailed 8-0 at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, respectively. Parker rallied to a 9-7 decision against Silverio Santiago.

The doubles of A. Mills-J. O'dell, Jerry Mills-Steven O'dell and Parker-Clinton O'dell each won.

"When the season started, I never would have thought we would be winning matches through our doubles play," said Harrell. "I'm truly impressed with our improvements throughout the season."

The Hawks (12-3, 11-3 C/EPC) travel to Farmville Central today and conclude regular-season play Thursday at SouthWest Edgecombe.

Gators drop two

SNOW HILL -- Greene Central claimed its 99th and 100th consecutive victories against Carolina/Eastern Plains 1-A/2-A competition against Spring Creek at the Snow Hill Tennis Complex.

The Rams (16-0, 15-0 C/EPC) dealt the Gators defeats of 6-0 and 9-0. They secured the EPC's No. 1 seed for the upcoming N.C. High School Athletic Association dual-team playoffs.

The sweep endangered Spring Creek's postseason hopes. The Gators (9-7, 9-6 C/EPC) must defeat Farmville Central on Thursday to force a playoff match Monday against archrival Rosewood. A loss gives Farmville Central the league's No. 1 seed and the Eagles the No. 2 seed from the Carolina Conference.

Brent Darden, Lin Hall, Chris Hardy, Travis Moore, Banks Nimmo and Bryan Pollock each collected a pair of singles wins. Darden handed top-seeded Cliff Wilson (14-2) his first two defeats of the season.

Soccer

Chargers beaten

Georgia Crowe tallied the lone goal in the 25th minute as Wayne Country Day fell to Greenfield 5-1 in a Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference match Tuesday evening.

"Despite the loss, they played as a team," said first-year Chargers coach Juliet Pinder-Jones. "Our offense was excellent, we just got really unlucky. We had a lot of opportunities to score, but it just wasn't there for us."

Wayne Country Day (4-5-1, 3-4 CPIC) is the guest of Faith Christian-Rocky Mount on Friday.

Golf

Chargers prevail

KENLY -- Ayden-Grifton's Adam Andrews fired a 35 to take medalist honors and lead his team to a narrow win in a Class 1-A Carolina Conference match on Monday at Cardinal Country Club in Johnston County.

The Chargers finished at 153, just beating North Johnston at 154 and Princeton at 156. Rosewood (168) and Spring Creek (178) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, while Farmville Central (183) and North Duplin (184) rounded out the team scoring.

The final conference match is scheduled for Wednesday at Reedy Creek in Smithfield.

Here are the individual scorers from area schools:

Rosewood -- Shane Ogburn (38), Bradley Hill (44), Joey Wagner (44), Gentry Minshew (52), Kelly Gurley (67). Spring Creek -- Stephen Warren (39), Pat Wilkens (42), Matt Nunn (46), Jami Crampton (51). Princeton -- Karter Yutzy (37), Scott Woodard (39), Tyler Worley (40), Riley Boyette (40), Will Gainey (47), Keith Woodard (48). North Duplin -- Dex Jackson (42), Daniel Cates (46), Alex Scott (47), Jonathan Lewis (49), Justin Lesley (52), John Oliver Evans (55). North Johnston -- Dustin Philyaw (35), Tyler Grady (35), Josh Wentz (36), Cameron Edwards (48), Justin Paul (51), C. Narron (53).

Murphy guides GC

WILSON -- Greene Central's Colby Murphy shot a 72 as the Rams finished with a winning total of 314 in an Eastern Plains 2-A Conference match at Happy Valley in Wilson.

North Lenoir took second with 319, while SouthWest Edgecombe shot 323. South Lenoir (362) and Tarboro (371) took fourth and fifth, respectively. North Pitt (406) rounded out the team scoring.

Josh Elmore added a 74 for the Rams, while Brandon Jones (81) and Chase Owens (87) also contributed.

The final regular-season EPC match is scheduled for Thursday at Cotton Valley in Tarboro.

Rose paces Eagles

RALEIGH -- Clark Rose seized medalist honors with a nine-hole score of 37 as Wayne Christian turned back Village Christian and Trinity-Raleigh in a Carolina Christian 1-A match at Wildwood Green on Tuesday.

The Eagles turned in a four-player total of 156, while Village finished second with a 209. Trinity ended up third with a 217.

Jonathan Greene complemented Rose's effort with a 39. Matt Davis and Andrew Radford each collected a 40. Chad Smith and Eric Williams also participated in the match.

Wayne Christian (15-3, 13-0 CCC) travels to Cary on Thursday.

Walnut Creek Ladies

Charlotte Campbell emerged the Walnut Creek Cup champion, while Faye Franklin captured second-place honors.

Campbell took low gross in play-of-the-week competition. Linda Cannon won low and Pete Reaves claimed low putt honors.

Hole in one

Lee Grantham notched his first ace on Tuesday -- firing a hole-in-one on number 16 at Sleepy Creek Golf Course. Grantham used a seven-iron on the ace, which was witnessed by Ray Potter.

JV baseball

Braswell leads GC

BETHEL -- Curtis Braswell batted 4-for-4 as Greene Central rolled past North Pitt 14-4 in Eastern Plains 2-A Conference play Tuesday afternoon.

Chris Leggett missed hitting for the cycle with a single, double and triple in three plate appearances. Michael Speedy, the winning pitcher, added three hits and a double.

William Brown and Billy Teston each batted 2-for-4 with a double. Corey Skinner added two hits.

Greene Central (5-1 EPC) entertains North Lenoir at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

Middle schools

Spring Creek baseball 11, Greenwood 10 -- Lucas Potter had three hits, including a double, and picked up the pitching win in relief. Jackson Keel added two hits for the Gators (6-5, 3-2 Division II), who host Grantham Monday.

Spring Creek softball 15, Greenwood 14 -- Kristen Beasley had four hits for Spring Creek (6-4, 2-3 Division II), while teammates Lisa Mozingo, Jordan Coor and Elizabeth Wilkens added two hits each. Mozingo got the win on the mound for the Gators, who host Grantham on Monday.

Dixie Majors

Saulston 9, Rosewood Mets 6 -- Logan Runyon had three hits for Saulston, while Jeremy Edwards, Jeremy Lancaster and Tyler Huetter posted two hits each. Lancaster got the win on the mound.

Dixie Minors

Boys Club Mustangs 12, Saulston 4 -- Jeremy Vincent pitched a no-hitter for the Mustangs, striking out seven with seven walks.