Local digest

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on April 25, 2007 1:49 PM

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Wayne Christian's Adam Brannan throws first-ever perfect game in school history

Right-hander Adam Brannan threw the first-ever perfect game in Wayne Christian's short, but illustrious baseball history and catapulted the Eagles past Cresset Christian 11-0 on Tuesday afternoon.

Brannan retired 12 of the 15 batters he faced by strikeout and Wayne Christian (12-3 overall) clinched the Class 1-A Carolina Christian Conference regular-season title with a perfect 6-0 slate. The state-ranked Eagles drew an opening-round bye for next week's CCC tournament, which will be contested at Cape Fear Christian in Erwin.

Kyle Harrell slugged a two-RBI home run in the game, which helped induce the 10-run rule after 41/2 innings. Harrell finished with two hits and three RBI.

Doug Johnson (RBI), Michael Johnson (two RBI) and Josiah Wright (two RBI) provided two hits apiece in the double-digit win.

Wayne Christian, ranked No. 4 in the latest N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A poll, concludes regular-season play at home Monday against Bethel Christian Academy. Game time is 4 p.m.

Gators upend

Ayden-Grifton

LITTLEFIELD -- Paul Hayes contributed two hits and an RBI as Spring Creek stopped Ayden-Grifton 4-1, and claimed its first Carolina 1-A Conference win of the season.

The Gators (9-11 overall, 1-6 Carolina) received RBI hits from Josh Gammon, Ray Grady and Lucas Potter. Alex Casey and Steven Best each batted 1-for-2, while Anthony Brogden went 1-for-3.

Brogden emerged the winning pitcher in relief of Grady. He notched eight strikeouts and surrendered one hit in a five-inning stint.

Spring Creek travels to Rosewood on Friday.

Saints collect

home ECC win

DUDLEY -- Chris Massey provided a team-leading three hits and Southern Wayne cruised past Wilson Hunt 9-4 in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference action Tuesday afternoon.

Massey added an RBI and two stolen bases for the Saints, who improved to 10-11 overall and 5-4 in the ECC. Garrett Barfield doubled twice and plated a run in four plate appearances.

Senior outfielder Doogie Niemond contributed two hits and two RBI. Dave Overman battled 1-for-3 with two stolen bases. Tyler Edwards, Brady Wiggins and Scott Holloman delivered one hit apiece.

Right-hander Byron Powell (2-2) worked four-plus innings and earned the mound win. Michael Douglass collected his first save with two innings of scoreless, two-strikeout relief.

Southern Wayne entertains Wilmington Hoggard today and concludes regular-season play Friday at ECC champion C.B. Aycock.

Conquerors win

NCCSA 2-A game

John Kurt-Cozine fired a complete-game shutout and Faith Christian pounded Mt. Calvary-Hookerton 10-0 in a N.C. Christian Schools Association Coastal 2-A contest Tuesday afternoon.

Kurt-Cozine (2-0) posted nine strikeouts and aided his cause with two hits on offense.

Taylor Stocks doubled in a two-hit outing. Jay Hinson and Rusty Winders delivered two hits apiece.

Faith Christian (8-3 overall, 7-1 Coastal) concludes regular-season play at home Monday against Liberty Christian-Durham. Game time is 4 p.m.

McLean, Dance

get hits for GHS

Eric McLean and V.A. Dance delivered one hit apiece in Goldsboro's 19-6 loss against Eastern Plains 2-A Conference rival Tarboro. Dance endured the pitching loss.

The Cougars (0-16 overall, 0-6 EPC) travel to Greene Central on Friday.

Princeton rolls

over N. Duplin

CALYPSO -- Jared McLamb and Andrew Cobb each ripped a home run, and Princeton remained the Carolina 1-A Conference leader with a 13-4 victory over North Duplin.

McLamb batted 2-for-2 with two RBI for the Dawgs (15-4 overall), who seized their seventh league win and grabbed a two-game lead over county archrival North Johnston, which lost at Rosewood. Cobb finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Catcher Daniel Gerrell pounded out a team-leading four hits and plated one run. Dustin Pate provided two hits and three RBI.

Billy Mello (RBI) and Will Lewis (RBI) led the Rebels with two hits apiece.

Ryan Daughtry threw a complete game for Princeton, while junior right-hander Doug Lloyd was saddled with the loss.

North Duplin (8-7, 2-5 Carolina) visits Ayden-Grifton on Thursday, while Princeton visits North Johnston on Friday.

Chase slugs two

HRs for Rams

BETHEL -- Tyler Chase belted two home runs and provided six RBI in Greene Central's 10-6 victory at fellow Eastern Plains 2-A Conference member North Pitt.

Chase concluded the night 3-for-4.

Stephen MacDonald added three hits in five plate appearances. Will McLawhorn, Trey Beaman and Michael Speedy contributed two hits apiece.

Robert Tyndall earned the mound win.

The Rams (7-12 overall, 3-3 EPC) entertain Charles B. Aycock today.

North Lenoir

rallies past Jags

LaGRANGE -- Andrew Manning belted a fifth-inning home run and North Lenoir rallied past Farmville Central 5-3 on the Eastern Plains 2-A Conference scene.

Manning's three-run shot erased the Jaguars' lead and propelled the Hawks (17-2 overall) to their sixth league win against no defeats.

Brandon Sutton and C.C. Croom supplied two hits apiece. Sutton picked up the save with two innings of six-strikeout relief. Croom retired seven Jaguars on strikeouts, but surrendered three earned runs on nine hits and one walk in five innings.

North Lenoir is the guest of Tarboro on Friday.

Softball

Southern Wayne

doubles up Hunt

DUDLEY -- Lauren Darden threw a complete-game four-hitter and Southern Wayne doubled up Wilson Hunt 6-3 in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play Tuesday evening.

The Saints collected their county- and ECC-leading 19th decision against two losses, and improved to 8-1 in league play. They travel to North Johnston today and visit nemesis C.B. Aycock on Friday with a share of the ECC regular-season title on the line.

Darden gave up three runs (two earned), struck out seven and walked four.

Alyssa Bradshaw paced the Saints' defense with three hits and three RBI. Rachel Reynolds doubled in a 2-for-4, one-RBI effort. Lynn Grantham doubled and drove in a run.

Morgan Davis (RBI), Lauren Darden and Jordan Hill each went 1-for-2.

Jessica Lucas suffered the pitching loss for Hunt, which dropped its eighth game in its last nine outings since a 10-0 start.

Faith Christian

prevails at home

Jennifer Christopher flirted with a perfect game for five innings as Faith Christian upended Johnston Christian 8-2 in non-conference play Tuesday afternoon.

Christopher retired the first 15 batters she faced before an error and walk gave Johnston Christian a little momentum in the later innings. A right-handed hurler, Christopher finished with a one-hitter and 12 strikeouts.

Brooke Anderson, Alyssa Hill and Christopher paced Faith Christian's offense with two hits apiece.

The Conquerors (9-3 overall) entertain Liberty Christian-Durham on Monday.

Princeton escapes

Rebels' clutches

CALYPSO -- Princeton capitalized on a three-base throwing error and escaped North Duplin 7-5 in Carolina 1-A Conference play Tuesday afternoon.

The Bulldogs (11-4) remained perfect in seven league contests.

North Duplin led 4-3 heading into the seventh inning. Rebecca Harlan and Brittany Baker cranked out back-to-back base hits. Amber Wood bunted and the Rebel defense threw the ball away.

A passed ball led to Princeton's fourth run of the inning.

Hannah Wood led the Dawgs' attack with two hits. Tylan George contributed a single.

Kristin Jones emerged the Rebels' offensive leader with two hits and two RBI. Brittney Carr and Jenny Coley contributed one hit and one RBI apiece.

"We had the number one team in the conference on the ropes and let them off," said North Duplin head coach Danny Blackburn.

North Duplin (5-10 overall) fell to 1-6 in conference play.

Spring Creek

falls to Chargers

LITTLEFIELD -- Spring Creek continues to search for its first victory of 2007 after an 8-0 loss at Carolina 1-A Conference foe Ayden-Grifton.

Kristin Smith, Hannah Hall, Paula Webber and Brianna Edwards each had one hit for the Gators.

Casey Coor endured the pitching loss.

Spring Creek (0-14 overall, 0-7 Carolina) travels to Topsail today.

North Lenoir

drills F. Central

FARMVILLE -- Senior left-hander Brittany Sanders tossed a two-hitter and North Lenoir pounded out a 12-2 decision over Eastern Plains 2-A foe Farmville Central.

Nichole Howard provided three hits, including a double, and a season-high four RBI in the road win. Kayla Sutton batted 3-for-5, while Sanders added two hits and three RBI.

Connor Jordan contributed three hits and an RBI.

North Lenoir (13-5, 4-1 EPC) plays host to Tarboro on Friday.

Sutton, Panthers

shut out Rams

SNOW HILL -- North Carolina signee Faith Sutton threw a shutout as defending 2-A state champion North Pitt blanked Eastern Plains rival Greene Central 4-0 on Tuesday afternoon.

Sutton has allowed just one run in four EPC outings this season.

Stacie Wade and Megan Lovett had one hit apiece for the Rams.

Greene Central (8-10 overall, 2-3 EPC) travels to Tarboro on Tuesday.

Soccer

Eastern Wayne

clinches 2nd place

PIKEVILLE -- Senior Sam Frazer converted a penalty kick in the final minute of the second overtime and Eastern Wayne escaped C.B. Aycock 3-2 on Tuesday afternoon.

The Warriors (9-7 overall) improved to 7-2 in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play and clinched the No. 2 seed for the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs. They conclude regular-season play at home Friday against Kinston.

The Golden Falcons (8-9-1) dropped to 5-4 and drew the No. 3 seed for the postseason.

Nida Waheed put Aycock ahead in the 10th minute off Lizzie Sodoma's assist. Eastern Wayne senior Natalie Taylor notched the equalizer 13 minutes later off Frazer's assist to force a 1-1 deadlock at halftime.

Sodoma, a senior, tallied the go-ahead goal in the 60th minute. However, the Warriors benefited from an own goal and the game stayed tied at 2-2 until Frazer's game-winning PK.

Eastern Wayne owned a 15-7 edge in shots on goal and 11-3 advantage in corner kicks.

Aycock keeper Courtney Sheeks notched 12 saves.

W. Country Day

nips Kerr-Vance

HENDERSON -- Virginia Best scored the game-winning goal in the second half and Wayne Country Day edged Kerr-Vance 2-1 on the Coastal Plains Independent 1-A Conference scene.

Best provided the Chargers' first-half goal, but KVA delivered the equalizer 10 minutes into the second half.

WCDS keeper Ellen Elmore recorded 10 saves.

The Chargers (9-3 overall, 4-1 CPIC) visit Greenville Christian on Friday.

Eagles' title

chances denied

RALEIGH -- Trinity Academy collected the game-winning goal in the final five minutes and upended Wayne Christian 2-1 in the Carolina Christian 1-A finale for both teams Tuesday afternoon.

The Eagles' Tiffany Price converted a penalty kick 10 minutes into the second half to force a 1-1 tie.

Head coach Daryl Anderson praised his defense -- a combination of one eighth-grader, three freshmen and one junior. Shelle Anderson is in goal. Shanna Yeager and Devon Isenhower, the eighth grader, play sweeper and stopper, respectively.

Junior Laura Lee Hodson and Emily Alston, a freshman, also play in the back.

Wayne Christian (5-7-1 overall) finished tied for second at 4-2 in the CCC. The Eagles entertain No. 1-ranked Faith Christian-Rocky Mount on Monday, and open CCC tournament play at home Tuesday.

Rosewood knocks

off Tarboro High

Kathryn Seymour scored two goals and Rosewood knocked off Tarboro High 4-1 in a Carolina/Eastern Plains 1-A/2-A Conference match Monday evening.

Alex Lea and Francesca Verceles-Zera combined for two goals. Rachel McCormick dished out two assists.

Rosewood (7-4 overall, 4-2 C/EPC) entertains league-leading North Lenoir today.

Tennis

Spring Creek

decharges AG

Spring Creek triumphed in five of six contested singles matches and dumped Ayden-Grifton 6-3 in Carolina 1-A Conference play.

The Gators received singles points from Brandon Strickland, Daniel Richter, Matt Richter, Alex Dunmire and Aaron Dunmire. D. Richter-Al. Dunmire supplied the victors' lone doubles point.

Spring Creek (2-7 overall, 2-2 Carolina) is the guest of archrival Rosewood today.

Golf

Walnut Creek

Ladies Association

Gaye Bryant emerged the play-of-the-day winner during weekly tournament action at Walnut Creek Country Club.

Linda Watson and Jewel Ivey shared low gross honors. Linda Cannon and Mary Ann Sutton captured low net and low putts, respectively.

JV baseball

CBA's Randolph

provides big hit

Jesse Randolph drove in the game-winning run as C.B. Aycock clipped county and Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference rival Eastern Wayne 4-3 on Tuesday.

Randolph finished with two hits and emerged the winning pitcher. He scattered six hits and yielded three runs in a complete-game effort.

Anderson Barnes batted 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Jordan Quinn added two hits and an RBI.

C.B. Aycock (10-7 overall, 5-3 ECC) entertains Clayton today.

JV soccer

Warrior girls

shut out CBA

PIKEVILLE -- Brandi Dean and Elizabeth Borden provided one goal apiece in Eastern Wayne's 2-0 conquest of county rival C.B. Aycock on Tuesday afternoon.

Warrior keeper Emily Crawford corraled four saves and earned the shutout in goal.

Eastern Wayne (7-3) remained unbeaten in three Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference outings and concludes regular-season play at home Friday against Kinston.

Middle schools

Norwayne baseball 12, Mount Olive 6 -- Bryant Stafford claimed the mound win for the unbeaten Cobras. John Taylor (three hits) and Mick Walker each slugged a home run. Alan Walker and Jimmy Joyner delivered two hits apiece. Norwayne (11-0 overall) entertains Dillard on Monday.

Eastern Wayne baseball 7, Spring Creek 4 -- Benito Avila batted 2-for-3 for the Warriors, who improved to 9-1 overall. Jonathan Carter tripled, while Ryan Mitchell doubled. Wes Capps and Lamar Best each had a single. Ethan Potter and Duane Gurganus cranked out two hits apiece for the Gators. Eastern Wayne visits Mount Olive on Monday.

Eastern Wayne baseball 5, Grantham 0 -- Warrior hurlers Logan Wicks and Zack Mozingo combined for a one-hitter. Lamar Best, Tyler Brown, Jonathan Carter, Mozingo, Wes Capps and Benito Avila contributed one hit apiece. Will Broadwell collected the Bulldogs' lone hit.