Sports briefs

Published in Sports on August 4, 2005 2:07 PM

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CHERRYVILLE -- After six games in three days at the 2005 North Carolina American Legion baseball tournament at Fraley Field, Pitt County has played enough baseball to last a lifetime.

After winning their fifth straight game Wednesday night -- a 4-2 victory over Lexington -- Post 39 also has a memory that will last just as long.

Pitt County (30-5) won twice Wednesday against previous tournament unbeaten Lexington (25-16) and now advances to play Alabama state champion Tuscaloosa Aug. 11 at 4:30 p.m. in the opening day of the Southeastern Regionals in Dothan, Ala.

Wednesday's double victory was highlighted by timely hitting, exceptional defense and solid pitching.

Brandon Scott's two-out single in the bottom of the 10th plated an unearned run as Post 39 won 2-1 Wednesday afternoon. Then, Ryan Graepel had an RBI single, Alex White a solo homer and runs scored on an error and a wild pitch in Wednesday night's win.

Defensively, infielders Anthony Williams, Graepel and Scott and rightfield Josh Ashton made spectacular plays, none more impressive than Ashton's grab of a driving into the rightcenter field gap in the eighth inning.

On the mound, White scattered nine hits, walked two and a hit a batter while striking out nine in the opener and Scott (win) and Graepel (save) combined on a five-hitter in the nightcap.

Ashton was later chosen MVP by a committee of tournament observers because of his fielding excellence and hit .407 batting average in the tournament (11 of 27).

Lexington, which hadn't been this far in the Legion playoffs since 1948, had two hard-luck losing pitchers, including previously unbeaten left-hander Andrew Morton (12-1).

Pitt County's success continues the run by two high schools this past spring. D.H. Conley (4-A) and Farmville Central (1-A) each won N.C. High School Athletic Association state championships for the first time.

Courtesy

Freedom News Service

Hole in one

John Short of Goldsboro collected an ace on the par-3, 147-yard hole No. 12 at Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course. Witnessing Short's feat were playing partners Jeff Bray and Mike Poirio.

Lane Tree Ladies Golf

Novella Zambelli won honors for the Beat-the-Pro play of the day tournament while Kathy Woodard won low gross and Dot Julian took low net. Betty Holloway claimed low putts.

In the Eastern Ladies League held at Brook Valley Country Club, Linda Cannon emerged the low-net winner in the third flight. Holloway took low putts in the fourth flight.