Local Sports digest

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on April 30, 2006 2:18 AM

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DUDLEY -- Rachel Reynolds drove in the game-winning run as Southern Wayne nipped Kinston 1-0 on the Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference softball scene Friday evening.

Alyssa Bradshaw slapped a lead-off double in the sixth and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Reynolds grounded out to score Bradshaw and that's the only offense winning pitcher Lauren Darden needed on the mound.

Darden, a freshman right-hander, yielded two hits and notched two strikeouts en route to her 13th win of the season. Cierra Parker and Tiffany Patrick each singled for the Vikings, who suffered their seventh ECC defeat in eight outings.

Bradshaw concluded the day 2-for-3. Darden and Morgan Davis each singled against Kinston right-hander Bobbie Harris, who endured the pitching loss.

Southern Wayne (13-9) remained tied with Wilson Beddingfield for third in the conference at 5-3. The top two teams earn automatic bids to the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs.

The Saints are the guest of Wilson Hunt next Tuesday.

North Johnston

shuts out Eagles

KENLY -- Robyn Creech belted two home runs and Jessica Narron threw a four-hitter in North Johnston's 10-0 victory over Rosewood in Carolina 1-A Conference play.

Creech's first home run, a two-run blast, put the Panthers up 2-0 in the first inning. The senior first baseman smacked another two-run shot, which capped a five-run uprising in the second inning.

Senior shortstop Hannah Ellis produced an RBI double in the second inning. Senior third baseman Brandy Edwards delivered a fielder's choice RBI and Casey Creech singled home Ellis.

The Panthers (14-6) added three runs in the fourth.

Officials halted the contest after 41/2 innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Creech concluded the day 2-for-2 with four RBI and has seven home runs for the season. Ellis batted 4-for-4, while Narron doubled in three plate appearances.

Narron improved to 13-5 in the pitcher's circle.

North Johnston is the guest of Princeton next Tuesday, while Rosewood (3-12, 1-6 Carolina) visits county rival Spring Creek the same evening.

Greene Central

no-hits Cougars

SNOW HILL -- Greene Central pitcher Jessica Moore held Goldsboro hitless in a 17-0 victory in Eastern Plains 2-A Conference action Friday.

Moore struck out eight Cougars as the Rams (12-6-1) improved to 4-3 against conference opposition.

Megan Lovett emerged Greene Central's offensive leader with two hits in three at-bats. Cassie Webb added one hit and two RBI.

The Rams entertain Tarboro next Tuesday.

Cooke paces

Bruins in ECC 3-A

WILSON -- Only a missed third strike that enabled the game's first hitter to reach base stood between Wilson Beddingfield junior right-hander Ana Cooke and a perfect game Friday afternoon against Eastern Wayne.

Cooke settled for a no-hitter by retiring the next 18 batters as the Bruins rolled to a 10-0, Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference softball victory over the Warriors.

First-year Lady Bruins coach Jeremy Howard noted that Cooke struck out Eastern Wayne's lead-off hitter on a drop pitch that skipped away from the Lady Bruins catcher.

Cooke registered eight strikeouts, and was supported by solid defensive play from junior shortstop Kelly Minshew and senior third baseman Jacquia Winstead.

Beddingfield climbed to 5-3 in the ECC and to 16-3 overall.

The Lady Bruins rapped 12 hits, led by freshman Laci Greene with a 3-for-4 performance that included three doubles. Sophomore Amy Dunn batted 2-for-2, while Winstead's two hits in four trips included two doubles. Minshew was 2-for-3.

The game ended in the bottom of the sixth, because of the 10-run mercy rule, when Greene scored on Dunn's single up the middle.

-- Wilson Daily Times

Baseball

Hawks blitz THS,

now 7-0 in league

LaGRANGE -- Shtil Sowers and Dewitt Pope combined for a two-hit shutout in North Lenoir's 10-0 victory over Tarboro High in Eastern Plains 2-A Conference play Friday evening.

Sowers surrendered both hits and fanned three Viking batters in four innings of work. Pope struck out the side in the fifth.

North Lenoir banged out 14 hits against Tarboro, which exited 6-14 overall and 2-5 in the EPC. Sowers, Brandon Sutton (RBI), Taylor Ginn (2 RBI), Brian Smith (2 RBI), Bryce Grady (RBI) and Tyler Smith (RBI) each had two hits for the Hawks.

The Hawks (20-1, 7-0 EPC) travel to North Pitt next Tuesday.

Eastern Wayne

escapes Bruins

WILSON -- Eastern Wayne tallied two seventh-inning runs and turned back Wilson Beddingfield 3-2 in an Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference encounter Friday evening.

Mike Mintz earned the mound victory and senior Tyler Ham grabbed the save.

"Their pitcher did a good job mixing it up and we couldn't bunch up enough hits," said Warriors coach Jabo Fulghum. "We managed to do enough to win."

Eastern Wayne (9-11) improved to 5-3 in the ECC.

Chargers pick

up CPIC road win

ROANOKE RAPIDS -- Wayne Country Day denied state-ranked Halifax Academy's comeback bid in the seventh inning and claimed an 8-5 victory in the Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference ranks Friday afternoon.

The Chargers led 8-3 heading into the final inning. The Vikings, ranked No. 5 in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 2-A poll, capitalized on a couple of walks and got a key double from Nick Short.

WCDS head coach Michael Taylor called for Travis Davis to relieve Trent Langston and Davis caused a few anxious moments when he walked two Viking batters. He then induced a 1-2-3 double-play groundout to end the game and earned the save.

"That was huge," said Taylor.

Langston claimed the pitching win and allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits. He struck out five and walked four.

Davis paced the Chargers with three hits and an RBI in four at-bats. Kevin Herring batted 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Langston plated a pair of runs. Sam Steed and Cameron Ford each provided two hits. Ryan Ford finished the day 1-for-4.

Short doubled and tripled for Halifax.

The Chargers, ranked No. 5 in the NCISAA 1-A poll, improved to 9-7 overall and 3-4 against CPIC opposition. They travel to Kerr-Vance next Tuesday.

Ayden-Grifton

outscores Gators

LITTLEFIELD -- Alan Wainwright threw a complete-game six-hitter in Ayden-Grifton's 11-1 conquest of Carolina 1-A Conference opponent Spring Creek on Friday.

Neal Melvin tripled and produced two RBI for the Chargers, who improved to 16-5 overall and 4-3 in Carolina 1-A play. Michael Eubanks doubled in a 2-for-3 outing and Jeff McArthur contributed two hits.

Alex Casey batted 2-for-2 for the Gators.

Spring Creek (1-19, 1-6 Carolina) plays host to Rosewood next Tuesday. Ayden-Grifton visits North Duplin.

Golf

Smith, Aycock

fare well in Cup

WILSON -- Wayne Christian's Chad Smith finished among the top 10 individuals and Charles B. Aycock claimed fifth overall in team play during the third annual Cubbie's Cup Challenge contested at Willow Springs Country Club.

Smith carded a 4-over par 75 on the tight, challenging course.

Hayden Gardner complemented Smith with a 77. Teammates Matt Davis and Andrew Radford chipped in with scores of 79 and 80, respectively. Wayne Christian is the defending N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A champion.

C.B. Aycock, led by Ryan Campbell's 18-hole effort of 77, posted a four-player total of 320. Michael Stevens carded an 80, followed by Jordan Elmore (81) and Will Vinson (82).

Miles Perry fired a 78 and paced Eastern Wayne to a seventh-place score of 329. Kyle Ham added an 83. Scottie Boyette and Nick Barrow completed the team scoring with marks of 86 and 87, respectively.

New Bern repeated as Cup champion with its four lowest individual scorers combining for a 298. Wilson Fike ended up second at 301, followed by Wayne Christian (311) and J.H. Rose (319).

JV baseball

C.B. Aycock

blitzes Warriors

WILSON -- Stephen Strouse, Will Edgerton and Jay Rose each pounded out three hits in Charles B. Aycock's 13-1, five-inning victory over Hunt on the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference scene Friday afternoon.

Strouse delivered four RBI and Rose, who also emerged the winning pitcher, collected three RBI. Edgerton scored four runs for the Golden Falcons, who remained unbeaten in four ECC contests.

Zach Wright batted 2-for-2 and Jordan Carr contributed two hits in three plate appearances.

Rose, a sophomore left-hander, limited the Warriors to five hits and struck out eight. Officials halted the game after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

C.B. Aycock (13-1) entertains Eastern Wayne next Tuesday afternoon.