Bunn, Ellis lead RHS in final games

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 11, 2006 2:13 PM

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Rosewood's Kyle Bunn and Brantley Ellis ended their prep baseball careers in style yesterday afternoon as the Eagles scored three times in the second inning and went on to defeat North Duplin, 4-0 in the season finale for both teams.

Bunn went the distance on the mound for the Eagles and pitched a three-hit shutout with three strikeouts. Ellis started the scoring for Rosewood in the second inning by hitting a lead-off home run to right on his way to a 2-for-3 effort at the plate.

The Class 1-A Carolina Conference victory assured the Eagles of a winning season (12-10) as they finished with a 4-6 record in the league. With the loss, the Rebels fell to 7-12 overall and 2-8 in conference play. The game was the completion of a suspended game -- halted by rain in the second inning on Friday night.

Bunn quickly set the tone on Wednesday by striking out the side in the second inning.

"This was a big last ball game for Kyle, and he took control of the game early," first-year Rosewood coach Josh Smith said.

After Ellis' round-tripper, the Eagles scored twice more in the second. Matt Godwin stroked a one out double, and a hit battter and two North Duplin errors forced in two unearned runs.

Rock Bennett took over for Chris Graham on the mound for the Rebels as Rosewood came to bat in the second. After a shaky start, Bennett pitched admirably the remainder of the contest -- giving up just six hits and only one earned run.

Rosewood added the game's final run in the third inning on a walk, two errors, and Godwin's second hit of the game.

North Duplin had just five base runners. In the fourth, Bunn issued a one-out walk to Wade Sasser and Bennett followed with a single, but Bunn retired the final two North Duplin batters.

"We did not quit, but we did not make any plays. We just were not able to get anything going," said North Duplin coach John Avent, who will take the reigns of the James Kenan baseball program when he heads to the Warsaw school next year.

The Rebels graduate only two seniors.

"Ryan Smith and Wade Sasser have been outstanding senior leaders for us all year long. I could not have asked for more." Avent said.

Bunn, Ellis, Godwin, Trey Kriger, Dave Martel, Kevin Shanle, Dustin Sittig and Rex Threewits played in their final games for the purple and gold.

North Duplin 000 000 0 -- 0 3 5

Rosewood 031 000 x -- 4 6 1

Leading hitters -- North Duplin -- Doug Lloyd 1-3; Rock Bennett 2-3. Rosewood -- Trey Kriger 1-3, RBI; Brantley Ellis 2-3, HR, run, RBI; Matt Godwin 2-3, run, RBI;

IP H R ER BB SO

North Duplin

C. Graham 1 0 0 0 0 2

R. Bennett (L) 5 6 4 1 2 4

Rosewood

K. Bunn (W) 7 3 0 0 6 1