Golden Falcons put finishing touches on ECC 3-A softball title

Published in Sports on May 5, 2006 2:05 PM

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DUDLEY -- The Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference champion Charles B. Aycock Lady Falcons capped off their regular season ECC championship Thursday night with a 4-1 victory over cross-country rival Southern Wayne.

The Lady Falcons' 9-1 conference record earns them a first-round bye in next week's ECC tournament and the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs the following week.

The loss dropped the Saints conference record to 6-4 which will give them a three or four seed in the league tournament.

Julia Lancaster picked up the victory for C.B. Aycock, scattering eight hits and striking out 10. The fireballing right-hander displayed masterful control and allowed no walks the entire game.

"She has been on a roll lately just like the rest of our team has," Falcons coach David West said. "I think both of our pitchers the last three games have done really well."

Southern Wayne pitcher Lauren Darden fanned six Aycock hitters and held the Falcons to seven hits.

C.B. Aycock opened the scoring in the first inning with a single run. Darden issued a one-out walk to Jasmine Dobbin. Dobbin stole second and scored on an RBI single by Kandace Burroughs.

The Falcons increased their lead to 2-0 in the third. Maegan Lee opened the inning by reaching base on an infield error. After being sacrificed to second base, Lee came home on a single by Rusti Talton.

In the bottom of the third, the Saints loaded the bases after two outs on consecutive hits by Brianna Lofton, Alyssa Bradshaw and Rachel Reynolds. Lancaster, however, struck out the next batter to end the Southern Wayne threat.

"We did not get a hit at the right time and that was big, it could have been a lot closer, but she (Lancaster) kept us off base and we had to earn our way on," Saints coach Brad Matthews said.

The Falcons pushed another run across in the fourth on a walk and singles by Stevie Savage and Brittany Ford, respectively.

Southern Wayne avoided a shutout in the fifth. Meredith Davis led off with a hit. Lancaster retired the next Saints hitter, but Lofton stroked a single and Davis scored on Bradshaw's second single of the night.

The Falcons added their fourth and final run in the sixth. Ford rapped a double all the way to the right center field fence and later scored on an error.

C.B. Aycock's defense played error-free and the Falcon's outfield prevented the Saints from taking extra bases.

"Our outfield is extremely fast and has good gloves -- I think Jasmine (Dobbin) is one of the best in the state, she is our leader with her spirit and defense," West said.

C.B. Aycock 101 101 0 -- 4 7 0

So. Wayne 000 010 0 -- 1 8 2

Leading hitters -- C.B. Aycock -- Brittany Ford 2-3, 2B, run, RBI; Kandace Burroughs 2-2, RBI; Rusti Talton 1-4, RBI; Shelly Lancaster 1-2, run; Stevie Savage 1-4. Southern Wayne -- Brianna Lofton 2-4; Alyssa Bradshaw 2-3, RBI; Rachel Reynolds 1-3; Lindsey Pearsall 1-3; Meredith Davis 2-2, run.

IP H R ER BB SO

CB Aycock (14-7)

J. Lancaster (W) 7 8 1 1 0 10

Southern Wayne (14-10)

L. Darden (L) 7 7 4 2 6 6