C.B. Aycock rallies past Beddingfield

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 12, 2008 2:59 PM

• Print
• Email

WILSON -- Aaron Dew's first-inning home run didn't seem to shake up defending state 3-A baseball champion Charles B. Aycock on a sun-splashed Tuesday afternoon.

"It was a wake-up call," said Aycock head coach Charles Davis.

Indeed.

The Golden Falcons responded with 12 unanswered runs during a three-inning stretch and pounded out a 12-2, five-inning decision over the Bruins. It was the Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference opener for both teams.

"For some reason, Beddingfield has always been a tough place for us to play," said Davis. "Our goal was we wanted them to play well and for the most part, we were able to do that. As I've said all season, we're going to have to pitch by committee, swing the bats and play good defense."

Dew's homer, a two-strike blast, was just one of six hits issued by Aycock hurler Jesse Randolph. The senior right-hander posted an inning-ending strikeout in the second to wiggle out a bases-loaded jam. He got a double-play grounder to silence another Bruin threat in the fourth.

Randolph (3-0) permitted two earned runs to go along with five strikeouts and one walk.

"I was very pleased with Jesse's outing," said Davis. "The only mistake he made was the home run on two strikes. He settled down and was around the plate the whole time. He has really worked hard this season.

"I told our pitchers we're doing a great job getting two strikes on hitters. The only mistake we're making is the pitch we're throwing with two strikes."

C.B. Aycock shaved the deficit in half, 2-1, in the second inning.

Jordan Carr's three-run homer, his first of the season, sparked a nine-run, third-inning outburst. The Bruins compounded their troubles with three hit batsmen and a walk.

Carr finished the day 3-for-3, including a triple.

Stephen Strouse concluded the Golden Falcons' scoring with a two-RBI single in the fourth. Aycock also received one-hit outings from Johnathan Taylor (double, RBI), Tyler Ruffin (RBI), Bryant Hill (double) and Will Edgerton.

Aycock (4-1, 1-0 ECC) registered its 19th win in 21 ECC regular-season games since 2006. Davis' teams are 7-0 against Wilson County members Beddingfield and Hunt.

The Golden Falcons entertain North Lenoir, the 2007 state 2-A runners-up, today in Pikeville. Game time is 4:30 p.m.