Local sports digest

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 3, 2006 2:15 PM

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Jordan throws four-hitter against E. Wayne

Emily Jordan returned to the mound and threw a complete-game four-hitter in Charles B. Aycock's 12-1 victory over Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference rival Eastern Wayne on Tuesday evening.

The Golden Falcons, coupled with Southern Wayne's road upset of Wilson Hunt, seized the regular-season championship outright. Aycock (13-7, 8-1 ECC) drew the No. 1 seed for the inaugural ECC tournament and N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs.

Jordan, who sustained a hamstring injury, fanned six Warrior batters and walked two.

"She pitched very well," said Aycock coach David West.

Catcher Rusti Talton emerged the Golden Falcons' top offensive performer with three hits and four RBI in five at-bats. Brittani Edgerton (2 RBI) and Shelly Lancaster (triple, two RBI) each provided two hits.

Brittany Ford (RBI), Jazzmine Lee, Leigh Smith (RBI) and Chelsey Byers each contributed one hit.

Wendy Gardner suffered the pitching loss for Eastern Wayne.

C.B. Aycock concludes regular-season play Thursday evening at Southern Wayne. Game time is approximately 7 p.m.

Saints pull upset

at Wilson Hunt

WILSON -- Rachel Reynolds rapped two doubles and collected four RBI in Southern Wayne's 6-1 upset of Wilson Hunt on the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference scene Tuesday evening.

Reynolds finished with three hits for the Saints, who rose to 6-3 in the ECC and 14-9 overall.

Brianna Lofton batted 2-for-3 and scored three runs. Shortstop Alyssa Bradshaw added an RBI triple. Lindsay Pearsall delivered two hits, while Haley Fail and Jordan Hill (RBI) each contributed one hit.

Southern Wayne pitcher Lauren Darden scattered four hits and yielded an unearned run in the complete-game win.

Each team turned two double plays defensively.

Rams collect

EPC 2-A shutout

SNOW HILL -- Cassie Webb batted 3-for-3 and drove in eight runs during Greene Central's 15-0, three-inning victory over Tarboro in Eastern Plains 2-A Conference play Tuesday evening.

Officials halted the game after three innings due to the 15-run mercy rule.

Elizabeth Cooper added two hits for the Rams, who jumped to 13-6-1 overall and 5-3 in the EPC. They travel to Farmville Central on Friday afternoon.

Baseball

Saints set up

ECC showdown

WILSON -- Garrett Barfield and Dave Overman completed a game-ending double play as Southern Wayne nipped Wilson Hunt 4-2 in an Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference encounter Tuesday evening.

The Warriors had the bases loaded with one out in the seventh when Barfield made a diving grab of a line-drive shot in left field. He threw to Overman at third base, who tagged the Hunt runner to end the game.

With the victory, the Saints (14-8) climbed to 8-1 in the ECC and set up a first-place showdown with state-ranked C.B. Aycock on Thursday. The Golden Falcons (21-1) are 9-0 in the ECC after defeating Eastern Wayne in New Hope.

Willie Koernig tripled in a 2-for-4 outing, while T.J. Hinson provided two RBI in a 2-for-3 performance. Austin Hood added two hits in four at-bats.

Brady Wiggins slugged a second-inning, two-RBI single in three plate appearances. Catcher David Combs added one hit.

Chris Massey delivered an RBI groundout and Hinson drilled an RBI single in the fourth inning.

Ashton Langston (5-0) threw a complete-game six-hitter and struck out two for the Saints.

Southern Wayne 022 000 0 -- 4 8 1

Hunt 000 200 0 -- 2 5 2

Leading hitters -- Southern Wayne -- Willie Koernig 2-4, 3B; T.J. Hinson 2-3, 2 RBI; Brady Wiggins 1-3, 2 RBI; Austin Hood 2-4; David Combs 1-3. Hunt -- Strickland 2-3, 2 RBI; Pollock 1-3; Barnes 1-3.

IP H R ER BB SO

Southern Wayne

Langston (W, 5-0) 7 6 2 2 3 2

Hunt

Nygard (L) 7 8 4 3 2 7

Rosewood stages

late-inning rally

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Kevin Shanle pounded out the game-winning hit in the seventh and Rosewood also benefited from an error in its come-from-behind, 6-3 victory over Spring Creek on Tuesday evening.

Kyle Bunn reached on an error to start the seventh-inning rally. David Smeltzer walked and both runners advanced on Goss Kendall's sacrifice bunt. Anthony Brogden intentionally walked Brantley Ellis to load the bases and then issued an RBI walk to Taylor Allen.

Shanle slapped a single to left field which was misplayed and the Eagles cleared the bases to complete the four-run uprising. Shanle paced Rosewood's offense with two hits and two RBI in four plate appearances.

Smeltzer walked four times and scored twice. Taylor Allen singled and drove in two runs.

Bunn picked up the mound win in relief of Dustin Sittig, who struck out five and yielded three earned runs on five hits in five-plus innings. Bunn fanned four Gator batters and allowed one hit in one-plus innings of relief.

Brogden and Lucas Potter led Spring Creek with two hits each.

Rosewood (11-9, 3-5 Carolina) entertains North Duplin on Friday, while Spring Creek (1-20, 1-7 CC) plays host to North Johnston.

Eagles advance

in CCC tourney

Billy Smith hit for the cycle and delivered two RBI in Wayne Christian's 11-5, quarterfinal-round victory over Cresset Christian in the Carolina Christian 1-A Conference tournament.

Smith needed four at-bats to complete the cycle for the state-ranked Eagles, who improved to 13-3 overall. Jeremy Jefferson added two hits and an RBI. Adam Brannan batted 1-for-3 with two RBI.

Andrew Bass (RBI) and Jordan Yelverton each contributed one hit.

Brannan seized the pitching win in relief of starter Tyler Thomas. Brannan scattered five hits and struck out four in five innings of work. Thomas allowed two runs on three hits and fanned one Cresset batter in the first two innings.

Wayne Christian, the South Division champion, opposes Northwood Temple in semifinal-round play Thursday. Game time is 3 p.m. on the Community Christian diamond in Wilson.

2006 Carolina

Christian 1-A Conference

Baseball Tournament

(at Wayne Christian)

Cresset 200 020 1 -- 5 8 3

Wayne Christian 105 410 x -- 11 9 3

Leading hitters -- Wayne Christian -- Billy Smith 4-4, 2B, 3B, HR, 2 RBI; Jeremy Jefferson 2-4, RBI; Adam Brannan 1-3, 2 RBI; Andrew Bass 1-4, RBI; Jordan Yelverton 1-3.

IP H R ER BB SO

Wayne Christian

Thomas 2 3 2 2 1 1

A. Brannan (W) 5 5 3 0 0 4

Princeton moves

closer to title

PRINCETON -- Princeton moved to within one game of clinching a share of the regular-season Carolina 1-A Conference championship with a 7-2 victory over county archrival North Johnston on Tuesday evening.

The Bulldogs, ranked No. 6 in the latest ImpactBaseball.com 1-A poll, improved to 13-4 overall and remained perfect in seven Carolina contests. They continue play Friday at Ayden-Grifton, which is ranked No. 7 statewide.

Daniel Gerrell belted a two-run home run for Princeton and ended the night 2-for-3 with three RBI. Patrick Gatewood doubled in a 2-for-2, one-RBI showing.

Dustin Pate picked up the mound victory and allowed two unearned runs on one hit. Ryan Daughtry provided two innings of one-hit, four-strikeout relief.

North Johnston (11-8) dipped to 6-2 in the league.

North Lenoir

hammers NP

BETHEL -- Shtil Sowers and Bryce Grady each cranked out a home run in North Lenoir's 8-1 victory over Eastern Plains 2-A rival North Pitt on Tuesday evening.

Sowers concluded the night 2-for-3 with three RBI, while Grady produced two hits and two RBI in three plate appearances. Taylor Ginn contributed two hits and an RBI.

Brandon Sutton claimed the mound win and fanned eight Panther batters during six innings of work. North Pitt manufactured just one earned run on four hits and three walks.

The state's top-ranked 2-A team according to ImpactBaseball.com, the Hawks (21-1, 8-0 EPC) grabbed a share of their second straight league championship. They can clinch it outright with a victory Friday at home against Goldsboro.

Greene Central

rallies past THS

TARBORO -- Greene Central spotted Tarboro an early five-run lead, but battled back for an 8-6 victory in Eastern Plains 2-A Conference action on the historic Municipal Stadium diamond.

Tarboro posted a five-run first inning and added a single run in the second to go ahead 6-1. The Rams (13-9) answered with a seven-run uprising during the fourth and fifth innings combined, and grabbed their sixth EPC triumph in eight tries.

Tyler Chase (3-for-4, 2 RBI) and Robert Tyndall (1-for-4) each homered in the middle-inning comeback. Hunter Chase, who also took the mound win, delivered two hits and three RBI in five at-bats. Will McGlawhorn added three hits in three plate appearances.

Greene Central entertains Farmville Central at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Ayden-Grifton

knocks off Rebels

CALYPSO -- Michael Eubanks and Geronnie Gay each smacked a seventh-inning grand slam as state-ranked Ayden-Grifton topped North Duplin 17-8 on the Carolina 1-A Conference scene Tuesday evening.

Eubanks ended the night with three hits in five plate appearances. Gay batted 2-for-5 and scored three runs. Neal Melvin (4-for-5, RBI), Jeff McArthur (2-3, RBI) and Pameer Angar (1-2) contributed to the win.

Ayden-Grifton (17-5) climbed to 5-3 in the conference.

Rock Bennett homered and plated two RBI for the Rebels. Billy Mello, Robert McCullen, Doug Lloyd and Will Lewis each batted 1-for-4. Ryan Smith tallied one hit in two at-bats.

Lloyd suffered the pitching loss.

North Duplin (5-11, 1-6 Carolina) travels to Rosewood on Friday.

Jaguars roll

over Cougars

FARMVILLE -- Daniel Jones threw a complete-game six-hitter and recorded eight strikeouts in Farmville Central's 20-2 victory over Eastern Plains 2-A newcomer Goldsboro on Tuesday evening.

The Jaguars, who won the 1-A state title last season, rose to 11-11 overall and evened their EPC worksheet at 4-4.

Craven Taylor homered and doubled for Farmville Central in a 2-for-2, five-RBI outing. Jonathan Heath added three hits, including a triple, and three RBI.

Robbie Jones and Justin Bagley each provided two hits.

The Cougars' Monquavius Edwards endured the pitching loss for Goldsboro, which fell to 0-16 overall and 0-8 in the league. The Cougars visit defending 2-A state champion North Lenoir at 7 p.m. Friday.

State-ranked

W. Country Dall falls

HENDERSON -- Kerr-Vance Academy pounded out 11 hits in the first three innings and rolled past state-ranked Wayne Country Day 18-6 in a Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference contest Tuesday afternoon.

The Chargers (9-8, 3-5 CPIC) entered the game ranked No. 4 in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association poll.

Ryan Ford led WCDS with two hits, including a double, and four RBI. Travis Davis and Trent Langston each banged out a hit.

Wayne Country Day entertains Halifax Academy on Thursday.

Tennis

Panthers claim

league victory

North Johnston prevailed in two doubles matches and turned back Rosewood 6-3 in their Carolina 1-A Conference encounter Tuesday afternoon.

The Panthers handed the Eagles (10-5) their first defeat in five conference outings. Rosewood concludes regular-season play Thursday afternoon at defending eastern dual-team champion Spring Creek.

Josh Cooper-Chris Johnson and Jeffrey Littleton-Kalen Barnes each triumphed in doubles for North Johnston. The same foursome triumphed in singles.

Ty Johnson and Daniel Ellis accounted for Rosewood's three wins.

The Panthers, Eagles, Spring Creek and Ayden-Grifton participated this afternoon in the Carolina 1-A Conference tournament at Herman Park.

North Johnston 6

Rosewood 3

Singles -- No. 1 Ty Johnson (RHS) d. Kyle McLamb 6-1, 6-0; No. 2 Daniel Ellis (RHS) d. Daniel Peedin 6-3, 6-3; No. 3 Jeffrey Littleton (NJ) d. James Cummins 6-1, 6-4; No. 4 Josh Cooper (NJ) d. Drew Kriger 6-2, 6-2; No. 5 Chris Johnson (NJ) d. Trevor Morris 6-4, 2-6, 7-5; No. 6 Kalen Barnes (NJ) d. Josh Fail 6-0, 6-4.

Doubles -- No. 1 Johnson-Ellis (RHS) d. McLamb-Peedin 8-2; No. 2 Cooper-Johnson (NJ) d. Cummins-Kriger 8-5; No. 3 Littleton-Barnes (NJ) d. Morris-Fail 8-2.

Spartans turn

back Chargers

HENDERSON -- Kerr-Vance Academy triumphed in two of three doubles matches and escaped Wayne Country Day 5-4 in Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference action Tuesday afternoon.

Top-seeded Ross Wilson, second-seeded David Wilson and sixth-seeded Kevin Martel each claimed a singles win for the Chargers. Wilson-Wilson cruised to an 8-4 win at No. 1 doubles.

Wayne Country Day (1-6 CPIC) entertains Faith Christian-RM next Tuesday afternoon.

Kerr-Vance 5

Wayne Country Day 4

Singles -- No. 1 Ross Wilson (WCDS) d. T.C. Qualls 6-4, 6-3; No. 2 David Wilson (WCDS) d. Jason Spain 6-1, 6-0; No. 3 John Faulkner (KVA) d. George Mayo 6-4, 6-2; No. 4 David Harper (KVA) d. Luxman Srikantha 6-3, 6-4; No. 5 Michael Tharrington (KVA) d. Fred Ha 6-1, 6-1; No. 6 Kevin Martel (WCDS) d. Will Jackson 6-1, 6-3.

Doubles -- No. 1 Wilson-Wilson (WCDS) d. Qualls-Spain 8-4; No. 2 Faulkner-Harper (KVA) d. Mayo-Srikantha 8-0; No. 3 Tharrington-Jackson (KVA) d. Ha-Martel 8-1.

Golf

Wayne Christian

second in CCC meet

DUNN -- Wayne Christian finished second overall in a four-team, Carolina Christian 1-A Conference meet contested at Keith Hills Country Club.

Chad Smith and Andrew Radford each carded an 80 to lead the Eagles to a four-individual total of 324. Clark Rose and Eric Williams each provided an 82.

Cresset Christian claimed top-team honors with a 318. Cape Fear ended up third at 334 and Cary Christian fired a 341.

The Eagles (11-5, 8-3 CCC) return to Keith Hills for the CCC Championships next Tuesday.

Campbell claims

Walnut Creek Cup

Charlotte Campbell emerged the Walnut Creek Cup champion and Faye Franklin finished runner-up.

Mary Ann Sutton claimed play-of-the day honors. Franklin took low gross and Novella Zambelli won low net. Brooke Eason claimed low putts.

JV baseball

Saints capture

ECC home win

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne tallied three first-inning runs and held on for a 3-1 victory over Hunt in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play Tuesday evening.

Scott Holloman and Jordan Williams each doubled for the Saints, while Robert Herring banged out two singles.

Phil Howell picked up the pitching win and struck out three Hunt batters.

Southern Wayne (5-11, 1-5 ECC) concludes regular-season play Thursday at county rival C.B. Aycock.

Golden Falcons

dump Warriors

PIKEVILLE -- Will Edgerton belted a home run and Nick Barefoot cranked out a three-RBI double in C.B. Aycock's 11-1 victory over Eastern Wayne in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play Tuesday afternoon.

Edgerton also doubled in a 2-for-3 effort. Zach Wright contributed three hits and Stephen Strouse batted 2-for-3 for the Golden Falcons, who remained unbeaten in five ECC contests.

Barefoot's walk-off double induced the 10-run mercy rule in the bottom of the sixth.

Bryant Hill yielded four hits and struck out five Eastern Wayne batters en route to the mound win.

C.B. Aycock (18-1) concludes regular-season play at home Thursday against county rival Southern Wayne. Game time is 5 p.m.

Babe Ruth Minors

Northwest Blue 12, Northwest Red 9 -- Noah West batted 2-for-3 and drove in four runs, while Ryan Faucette tripled and collected four RBI. Teammates Austin Westbrook and Adam Davis combined for the pitching win. Hunter Jones doubled for Northwest Red.