Taylor's 3-run HR ends Aycock's Junior Legion season

By Gabe Whisnant
Published in Sports on July 11, 2005 1:46 PM

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LAGRANGE -- Mike Taylor cranked a three-run home run as D.H. Conley eliminated Aycock 8-5 from the American Junior Legion playoffs contested Saturday at North Lenoir High School.

D.H. Conley and top-seeded Lenoir County advance to the next round of play, which begins Tuesday. Lenoir County entertains Wilson, while D.H. Conley is the guest of East Wake.

The teams from that round advance to next weekend's state tournament scheduled Saturday and Sunday at the George Whitfield Athletic Park.

"We played pretty well," said Aycock's Ed Spence. "They're just a good team and they've got several players who started for Conley's 4-A state championship team.

"What you find at this level is the best teams are the teams who have some Senior Legion caliber players who decide they'd rather stay at Junior Legion and play all the time."

Aycock survived consolation-round play with a 6-1 victory against South Central. Daniel Stancil scattered four hits and notched four strikeouts in a complete-game effort.

Will Spence provided a two-out, two-RBI double to make it 3-1 in the fourth, while Will Edgerton capped the scoring with a two-run single in the fifth -- also coming with two outs. Cameron Boswell added two hits, including a double, while Zach Wright also doubled. Jordan Carr added one RBI.

Lenoir County rallied for two seventh-inning runs and denied Aycock's upset bid 5-4 on Friday.

Wright had a two-run home run in the second inning, before Lenoir County took a 3-2 lead keyed by the hitting of Jacob Alphin and Tyler Smith. The rally was aided by a two-base error by the Aycock left fielder.

Stihl Sowers picked up the win for Lenoir County, striking out nine in 61/3 innings. Alphin tossed the final 2/3.

Jay Rose, Bradley Taylor and Boswell had singles for Aycock. Alex McGaughy provided two hits, including a double for Lenoir County.

Rose endured the loss on the mound.