Valazquez throws one-hitter for SW

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on April 18, 2008 3:25 PM

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DUDLEY -- Everyone did their part.

Southern Wayne got hits from 10 different players as they routed Kinston 10-0 in their Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference game on the Doyle Whitfield Athletic Complex diamond.

Raymond Valazquez threw a six-inning, one-hitter for the Saints, who improved to 5-3 against ECC opposition this season. The side-arm hurler posted six strikeouts and didn't walk a batter.

"Ray did a great job tonight," said Saints head coach Trae McKee. "He has good stuff and when he is able to work the inner half of the plate, he is that much more effective.

"He is working on a slider, so he has something that breaks the opposite direction, and he is getting better."

Southern Wayne took an early lead on a rare opposite-field home run from Jordan Williams. The two-run blast scored Tyler Edwards.

The Saints loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning. Kinston starter Cody Heath made his three best pitches of the night as he recorded a pair of strikeouts and a fielder's choice to wiggle off the hook.

The Vikings (1-6 ECC) couldn't escape again in the fourth.

With one out, Cody Davis started the hit parade with a single. Jordan Hood, Ricky Oddon and Mathew Holmes all followed with base hits. Scott Holloman drove in the third and fourth runs of the inning with a single.

"That's the way this year has gone, we throw a good pitch that is called a ball, and then the next pitch gets hit out of the park," said first-year Kinston coach Jason Wade. "We get a grounder to short and the ball catches the lip of the grass and shoots into the outfield. It's just been one thing after another lately."

Southern Wayne took advantage of a pair of sixth-inning errors to send the Vikings home early.

Holloman delivered a double with one out and scored on a Bruce Rose single. Three batters later, Rose provided the game-ending run on a single by Ryan Messimer.

The Saints picked up their second conference win of the week.

"We have to move on from here and look ahead," said McKee. "We have to focus and get ready for Wilson Hunt on Tuesday."