Prep Roundup

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on April 29, 2005 2:00 PM

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Vison leads C.B. Aycock to ECC 3-A golf crown

MOREHEAD CITY -- Will Vinson grabbed medalist honors with a 3-over par 74 and helped guide Charles B. Aycock to the Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference men's golf title Thursday afternoon at Brandywine Bay.

Host West Carteret won the seven-team meet with a four-player total of 326. The Golden Falcons finished second at 330, but won the overall title by 21 strokes.

Eastern Wayne took third with a 340, followed by South Central (345), Washington (348), Kinston (370) and Southern Wayne (405).

Jonathan Burke complemented Vinson's performance with an 80. Teammates Ryan Walderman and Ryan Campbell recorded 18-hole rounds of 85 and 91, respectively.

"I'm proud of them," C.B. Aycock coach Gary Hales said. "We started out well, fell off a little bit and had to hold on. They've done well this year."

Miles Perry led Eastern Wayne with an 80. Adam Bouchard contributed an 84. Ryan Dunn provided an 87 and Kyle Ham rounded out the Warriors' scoring with an 89.

Morgan Hill paced Southern Wayne with an 82, two strokes lower than teammate Sam Britt. Jay Connelley and Will Best turned in rounds of 111 and 128, respectively.

"The course was very tight (with) a lot of out of bounds, lot of water (and) no room for error," Hales said. "That was a tough course. We only had two scores in the 70s."

Aycock, West Carteret, Eastern Wayne and Washington qualified their respective teams for next Monday's N.C. High School Athletic Association eastern regional at Brandywine.

The Saints' Hill qualified for individual play.

NL 2nd, GC 3rd

TARBORO -- North Lenoir finished second and Greene Central claimed third-place honors in the final Eastern Plains 2-A Conference meet contested Thursday afternoon at Cotton Valley.

The Hawks posted a four-player total of 311, led by Kyle Berger's 4-over par 76. Blair Crews finished one stroke back of Berger. Will Grizzard, Will Norville and Logan O'Neal each fired an 80 on the par-72 layout.

Josh Elmore paced the Rams, who shot a 312, with a 1-over par 73. Colby Murphy contributed a 74, followed by Brandon Jones (76) and Blake Sutton (89).

SouthWest Edgecombe seized its first-ever EPC championship with a four-player total of 305. The Cougars finished with a six-match stroke total of 1902 -- six strokes lower than North Lenoir. The teams entered the day tied for the overall lead.

Spence Fulford, a junior at SouthWest, captured medalist honors with a 1-under 71. Fulford has been the medalist in five EPC matches this season.

North Lenoir, Greene Central and SouthWest qualified for the N.C. High School Athletic Association eastern regional, scheduled for Monday at St. James Plantation in Southport.

Individual qualifiers were Philip Mills and Donovan Harper of South Lenoir; and Taylor Gammons and James Alderman of Tarboro.

Track

Rosewood 2nd

FARMVILLE -- Rosewood sprinters Devon Bennett and Jeremy Reusch emerged double winners in the season-ending Carolina 1-A Conference track and field championships contested Thursday afternoon at Farmville Central.

Bennett prevailed in the 100 and 200, while Reusch soared to victories in the 110 and 300 hurdles. The Eagles finished second overall in the seven-team meet with 158 points, while the Jaguars claimed the title with 192 points.

Bradley Mullins ran to a first-place finish in the 400.

Chris Holmes ended up second in the triple jump. Montrell Horton placed third in the shot put and fourth in the discus. James Reusch took third in the 110 and 300 hurdles.

Rosewood won the 1,600 relay.

Spring Creek emerged the 400 relay champion.

North Johnston was third with 70 points, followed by Spring Creek (52), Princeton (42), North Duplin (36) and Ayden-Grifton (12).

Football

JK players chosen

WARSAW -- James Kenan seniors Leron Boykin, Matt Bass, Tim Faison and Kevin Miller all made the Super Six 1-A all-conference football list.

Junior Ronnie Williams also made the team.

Tennis

Warriors prevail

KINSTON -- Eastern Wayne remained in contention for its first-ever Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference championship with a 9-0 shellacking of Kinston on the Bill Fay Park courts Thursday afternoon.

The Warriors (13-1, 11-1 ECC) trail Washington by one game in the standings. The Pam Pack (14-1, 13-1) defeated C.B. Aycock 7-2 and clinched a share of the regular-season title.

Eastern Wayne entertains West Carteret at 4 p.m. Monday and is the guest of C.B. Aycock on Tuesday. The Warriors have already clinched a berth in the N.C. High School Athletic Association dual-team playoffs for the first time since 1999.

Jared Stone and Lee Ingles each prevailed in third-set tiebreakers in singles play. Stone, the No. 2 seed, turned back Jamison Smith 7-5, 5-7, 7-3. Ingles out-slugged Mohamed Ali 6-1, 4-6, 7-4 at the No. 6 spot.

Teammates Drew Ziccardi, Drew Jackson, Ben Ziccardi and Alex Bryant each claimed a straight-set victory in singles. Drew Ziccardi shut out Ben Sutton at No. 1.

Pam Pack wins

WASHINGTON -- Washington seized a share of the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference regular-season title with a 7-2 conquest of C.B. Aycock on Thursday afternoon.

Top-seeded Danny Fairchild and second-seeded Sean Kelly each claimed a singles victory for the visiting Golden Falcons. Fairchild upended Kevin Stancil 7-6 (4), 2-6, 7-4. Kelly slid past Craig Davis 7-6 (5), 6-4.

The Pam Pack led 4-2 after singles play and swept the doubles.

"We played some of our best tennis of the season today," veteran Aycock coach Luke Vail said. "Washington has great depth throughout the lineup. Danny and Sean played outstanding in singles."

C.B. Aycock (7-8, 5-6) entertains South Central for a doubleheader Monday afternoon.

Rosewood dominates

BETHEL -- Rosewood kept its postseason hopes alive with an 8-1 thrashing of North Pitt in the Carolina/Eastern Plains 1-A/2-A regular-season finale for both teams Thursday afternoon.

The Eagles (11-6, 10-6) tied archrival Spring Creek in the overall standings. They'll face each other in a playoff match to determine the Carolina Conference's No. 2 seed for the N.C. High School Athletic Association dual-team playoffs, which begin May 10.

Wesley Lovelady, Ty Johnson and J.P. Cummins each rebounded from opening-set losses to win in singles play. Lovelady denied Cory Ward's upset bid 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Johnson needed a second-set tiebreaker to deal Ronald Redmond a 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1 defeat.

Cummins stopped David McCray 4-6, 6-4, 7-4.

Brandon Hietpas and Daniel Ellis each captured a straight-set win in singles. The Eagles swept the doubles.

Hall gets 100th

LITTLEFIELD -- Senior Lin Hall collected his 100th career victory in singles and helped Greene Central shut out Ayden-Grifton 9-0 in Carolina/Eastern Plains 1-A/2-A play Thursday afternoon.

Hall defeated the Chargers' Sam Sutton 6-0, 6-0. He is now three wins shy of tying the program's all-time career-win total of 103 set by Allison Cobb, who currently plays at Barton College.

"I am so proud of Lin and his accomplishment," said Rams coach Brad Sauls. "It is very fitting that he reaches 100 on the final regular-season match of his career. (But) there is still a lot of tennis to be played, so I hope he is able to break the school record.

"Very few players at Greene Central have dedicated the time and hard work that Lin has."

The Rams (17-0, 16-0) lost just one game in singles and doubles combined, and shut out an opponent for the 16th time this season. They extended their C/EPC win streak to 101 matches.

Greene Central begins defense of its eastern regional dual-team title May 10 at home against the Mid-State Conference runner-up.

NL edges SWE

PINETOPS -- North Lenoir survived two third-set tiebreakers and tight matches in doubles play in a 5-4, Carolina/Eastern Plains Conference win Thursday afternoon at SouthWest Edgecombe.

The Hawks' James Parker and Clinton O'dell each faltered in the opening set on the Lee R. Hall Athletic Complex courts. Parker stopped the Cougars' Corey Hamilton 5-7, 6-3, 6-1. O'dell escaped Randall Moore 3-6, 6-3, 6-0.

"James and Clinton really came through," first-year North Lenoir coach Courtney Harrell said. "Most of the matches were close and mentally we just weren't prepared for the task today. We were lucky to get the win today and with it second place in the conference."

Alex Mills and Jared O'dell also won in singles. However, the duo fell at No. 1 doubles to SouthWest's Jackson Perry-Tyler Cannon 8-6. The Cougars also won No. 2 doubles.

Parker-Ryan Ipock helped the Hawks avoid the upset by doubling up Hamilton-Moore 8-4 at the No. 3 slot.

North Lenoir (14-3, 13-3 C/EPC) visits the East Central Conference runner-up in the N.C. High School Athletic Association dual-team playoffs, which start May 10.

Baseball

Lancaster shines

Jesse Lancaster faced just two batters over the minimum for a regulation seven-inning game, staking Eastern Wayne to a 4-0, non-conference win against Wilmington New Hanover on Thursday evening.

Lancaster (4-2) yielded two hits in a complete-game effort and struck out seven on the New Hope diamond. In the last 14 innings, Lancaster has notched 21 strikeouts for the Warriors, who play at New Hanover this evening.

"He didn't strike out 16 like he did the Friday before at West Carteret, but Jesse located (his pitches) well and we made (defensive) plays," Eastern Wayne coach Jabo Fulghum said.

Joey Moye paced the Warriors' offense with three hits, including a double, and three RBI in four at-bats. Trey Johnson doubled in a 2-for-4 effort. Airlon Vinson and Billy McKinley each doubled.

Chris Brown added an RBI.

Brad Mincey took the pitching loss for New Hanover.

"That's a good, non-conference win for us," Fulghum said. "It keeps you going."

Eagles escape

Andrew Bass delivered the game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh inning as Wayne Christian escaped Cape Fear Christian 6-5 in the semifinals of the Class 1-A Carolina Christian baseball tournament Thursday evening.

Trailing 5-4, Adam Brannan led off with a single and moved into scoring position on Jeremy Jefferson's sacrifice bunt. Billy Smith connected on a double, which scored Brannan for the game-tying run.

Smith advanced to third on J.D. Hightower's base hit and scooted home on Bass' game-clinching hit. Bass and Billy Smith finished with two hits apiece, while Hightower provided three.

"It was an awesome game," Eagles coach Tim Brannan said. "Every time they scored, we responded."

Jefferson's RBI single and Hightower's RBI groundout gave Wayne Christian a 2-1 lead early in the game. The Eagles fell behind 4-2, but forged a tie on Jefferson's RBI sacrifice fly and Hightower's RBI single.

Cape Fear took its third and final lead, 5-4, in the seventh.

Adam Brannan tossed five innings of eight-strikeout relief behind starter T.A. Brannan. Kyle Pender pitched the seventh.

Wayne Christian (11-2) faces regular-season champion Village Christian of Fayetteville for the CCC title today at 4 p.m. The winner earns the league's automatic bid to the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association playoffs.

Chargers triumph

ROANOKE RAPIDS -- Wayne Country Day thwarted a late seventh-inning rally and nipped Halifax Academy 9-8 in Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference play Thursday afternoon.

It was the regular-season finale for both teams.

Travis Davis and Kevin Herring each provided three hits for the Chargers. Davis drove in two runs, while Herring added an RBI. Spenser Briggs contributed two hits and two RBI. Ryan Ford and Kevin Logan collected two hits apiece, while Cameron Ford batted 1-for-4.

Overall, the Chargers posted a season-high 16 hits.

Ryan Ford emerged the winning pitcher, scattering seven hits and striking out six in a complete-game showing. The Vikings capitalized on five Charger errors and pushed four unearned runs across.

Wayne Country Day (5-13) finished 2-8 in CPIC play. It returns to action Monday at home against Word of God.

"We've come along the last couple of weeks," said second-year WCDS coach Michael Taylor. "I'm proud of our guys. We've played some tough teams, but the only way you can get better is to play a tough schedule."

Cougars fall

WINTERVILLE -- Goldsboro turned its best offensive performance of the season Thursday evening in an 11-3 loss at Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference rival South Central.

Eugene Norman took the pitching loss for the Cougars.

Additional details were not available.

Soccer

Panthers set mark

KENLY -- Jenna Gudac posted her second five-goal performance of the season as North Johnston stopped Clinton 6-3 in a non-conference contest Thursday evening at Ben E. Strifert Stadium.

Gudac, whose other five-goal showing came against Clinton, now has 35 goals along with three assists in 16 matches this season.

Haley Newsome provided the Panthers' other goal off an assist from senior forward Christina Strickland. Strickland finished with two assists. Newsome, Caroline Hines and freshman forward Sydney Levick dished out one assist apiece.

Keepers Allison Hinnant and Brandi Brinchek combined for two saves in goal.

North Johnston set a school record for regular-season victories (12) heading into next Monday's road game at Rosewood. The Panthers are 12-3-1 overall and 6-2 in Carolina/Eastern Plains 1-A/2-A play.

Softball

Hunt blanks Saints

WILSON -- Southern Wayne's Alyssa Bradshaw had two hits in four plate appearances in the Saints' 1-0 loss at Wilson Hunt on Wednesday.

The non-conference defeat drops Southern Wayne to 8-8 headed into a Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference game at home today against West Carteret.

Karen Thornton endured the pitching loss for the Saints, yielding only five hits and one earned run in six innings of work. Thornton struck out four against no walks.

The Warriors struck for their lone run in the fourth inning.

Bulldogs get win

PRINCETON -- Princeton's Nicole Hargis had two hits as the Bulldogs defeated North Dupliin 7-6 in Class 1-A Carolina Conference play on Tuesday.

Sarah Gibb added two hits for Princeton (4-8, 3-6 CC). April Keene went the distance on the mound for the Bulldogs, yielding only one earned run.

Elizabeth Lane had two hits for the Rebels (8-5, 4-5), while teammate Kayla Myers got the loss on the mound. Only three of Myers' seven runs allowed were earned.

JV softball

SW gains split

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne's Brianna Lofttin had three singles as the Saints defeated Wilson Hunt 8-5 in game two of a doubleheader on Wednesday at home.

Jordan Hill and Haley Gerstler posted two hits each in the win, while Christy Westbrook picked up the win in five innings of work. Westbrook allowed three earned runs and four hits -- striking out five against six walks.

In the first game, the Warriors claimed a 6-5 win.

Whitli Thornton had two singles and an RBI in game one and got the loss on the mound in a seven-inning effort.

Southern Wayne is 6-7.

Jordan sparks CBA

PIKEVILLE -- Emily Jordan scattered five hits in a complete-game effort as C.B. Aycock doubled up J.H. Rose 4-2 in a non-conference contest Thursday afternoon.

Jordan struck out eight, walked two and surrendered two runs (one earned) for the unbeaten (10-0) Golden Falcons.

Brittany Ford collected two hits, including a double. Kylie Justo, Brooke Edgerton and LeeAnn Sager each had a hit.

Olivia Parrott doubled for the Rampants.

Hawks prevail

SNOW HILL -- Jacob Alphin fired a complete-game five-hitter and North Lenoir gained sole possession of first place in the Eastern Plains 2-A Conference with a 4-2 win against Greene Central.

Alphin recorded eight strikeouts for the Hawks, who remained unbeaten in seven EPC outings. The Rams suffered their second conference defeat in seven tries.

Tyler Smith slapped a two-run home run in the third inning for North Lenoir. The Rams countered with RBI doubles by Robert Tyndall and Curtis Braswell in the next inning.

Tyndall (5-2) took the mound loss, striking out eight and giving up seven hits in a complete-game effort.

Middle schools

Brogden baseball 18, Greenwood 8 -- Charles Broggi had four hits, including two triples, and four RBI for the Rams. Scott Holloman picked up the pitching win and helped his cause with two hits and two RBI. Brogden improved to 6-6 overall and 4-3 in league play.

Grantham softball 15, Rosewood 4 -- Morgan Davis struck out 14 and scattered four hits in a complete-game effort. Taylor Reaves batted 4-for-4. April Tucker and Susan Barefoot each contributed three hits. Brittany Pate and Ashley Davis had two hits each for the Bulldogs, now 9-2 overall and 5-0 against Wayne County Middle School Athletic Conference Division II opposition.

Grantham softball 12, Brogden 2 -- Morgan Davis recorded 11 strikeouts and yielded one hit against the Rams. Christina Williams, who doubled, finished the day 2-for-3.