Local Preps Digest

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 4, 2008 2:01 AM

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From staff reports

Wayne Country Day is peaking at the right time.

Cameron Ford smashed the game-winning home run in the sixth inning as the Chargers stunned No. 2-ranked Kerr-Vance Academy 11-10 in their Class 1-A Coastal Plains Independent Conference contest.

The Spartans entered game 7-0 against CPIC opposition this season. They manufactured seven first-inning runs off two WCDS errors, five walks and three hits.

Chargers pitcher Jack Scott lasted just two-thirds of an inning and permitted two earned runs on three hits. Senior Ryan Ford took over and limited Kerr-Vance to three runs (two earned) on six hits in six-plus innings. The right-hander posted seven strikeouts and issued five walks.

Cole Davis paced the WCDS offense with three hits in four at-bats. Cameron Ford batted 2-for-4, while Kevin Herring (RBI) doubled and tripled.

Scott cranked out two hits and an RBI. Ryan Ford (three RBI), Cameron Strickland (RBI) and Cory Robert (RBI) also contributed offensively.

It was the Chargers' second victory over a state-ranked foe in a three-day period. WCDS upset Waccamaw, a final four participant last season, on the road Wednesday.

"I told the boys before the game that there was no pressure on us, so let's go out, play hard and have fun," said Chargers head coach Michael Taylor. "We have played two tough teams this week and are happy to get two wins. I believe we are starting to come together (as a team) as of late."

It was the final regular-season home game for eight WCDS seniors -- Ryan Ford, Herring, Strickland, Robert, E.J. York, David Wilson and Albert Cho.

Wayne Country Day (7-10 overall, 4-3 CPIC) travels to Greenfield on Tuesday.

Eagles advance

Adam Brannan and Jeremy Jefferson combined for a no-hitter as top-seeded Wayne Christian hammered Norlina 20-2 in their Carolina Christian 1-A Conference quarterfinal game Friday.

Brannan (four RBI) and Travis Thomas pounded out two hits apiece for the Eagles. Michael Johnson (six RBI) and Steven Gallagher (two RBI) each contributed a double.

Wayne Christian (11-2 overall) opposes either Cape Fear Christian or Community Christian in the semifinals Monday. First pitch is 4 p.m. on the Smithfield Community Park diamond.

Conquerors ousted

ROCKY MOUNT -- Falls Road Baptist eliminated Faith Christian 8-2 from the N.C. Christian Schools Association Coastal 2-A Region playoffs on Friday afternoon.

Senior Jay Hinson led the Conquerors with two hits.

John Kurt-Cozine took the mound loss.

Faith Christian, directed by first-year coach and alumnus Justin Smith, concluded the season 12-4 overall.

Panthers top GHS

North Pitt erupted for 10 fifth-inning runs and turned back Goldsboro High 18-1 on the Eastern Plains 2-A Conference scene Friday.

Donald Lewis had two hits and swiped three bases for the Cougars. Teammates Josh McCoy and Darrell Williamson supplied one hit apiece.

Goldsboro (0-15 overall, 0-9 EPC) concludes its regular-season schedule at home Monday against Greene Central.

Hawks go 10-0 in EPC

LaGRANGE -- North Lenoir put the finishing touches on its fourth consecutive Eastern Plains 2-A championship with a 9-2 victory over Greene Central on Friday evening.

C.C. Croom slugged two home runs and collected three RBI for the Hawks, who logged a perfect 10-0 record in EPC play this season. Steven Pridgen, John Alphin, Tyler Potter, Mike Wetherington, Brandon Whitehurst and Dejuan Gray added one hit apiece in the win.

Alphin posted 11 strikeouts and permitted three hits in six innings for the Hawks.

Alex Brann emerged the Rams' losing pitcher and offensive leader with a double and two RBI.

North Lenoir (17-1 overall) concludes regular-season play at home Tuesday against archrival South Lenoir. Greene Central (9-12, 2-7 EPC) is the guest of Goldsboro on Monday.

Softball

W. Christian prevails

Senior Traci Davis delivered the game-winning hit in the 12th inning as Wayne Christian edged Wilmington Christian 4-3 on Friday afternoon.

Wayne Christian took a 3-0 lead in the second inning on four hits, a sacrifice fly, infield error and fielder's choice groundout. Brittany Sullivan tripled to start the uprising and it ended when Sarah McCullom (RBI) trotted home on a sacrifice fly.

Wilmington Christian, the two-time defending N.C. Christian Schools Association 3-A champion, sent the game into extra innings with a two-run, seventh-inning rally.

Eagles right-hander Cynthia Burroughs allowed one hit, walked two and recorded 11 strikeouts in an 11-inning stint. Davis threw a perfect 12th for the save.

Reagan and Burroughs started Wayne Christian's game-ending rally with back-to-back singles. Davis followed with decisive hit and gave the Eagles their 12th victory in 14 tries this season.

Wayne Christian begins Carolina Christian 1-A Conference tournament play at home Tuesday against Cresset Christian.

Rams deny Hawks

LaGRANGE -- Greene Central tallied the game-winning run in the fifth inning and edged Eastern Plains 2-A archrival North Lenoir 5-4 on Friday evening.

The victory spoiled the Hawks' bid for a perfect record in EPC play this season. North Lenoir (15-6 overall) will earn a share of the league title and could claim it outright depending on the outcome of Monday's game between the Rams and Goldsboro.

Liz Webb and Shanna Parker paced the Greene Central offense with two hits apiece. Jessica Moore claimed the mound win, giving up six hits and striking out five in a complete-game effort.

Kayla Sutton led the Hawks with three hits.

Greene Central improved to 15-7 overall and 8-1 in the EPC.

Soccer

Hunt blanks EW

WILSON -- Katie Wilson notched the game-winning goal in the 20th minute as Wilson Hunt edged Eastern Wayne 1-0 for the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference tournament championship.

It was Hunt's first tournament crown since 2005.

The top-seeded blue-and-silver Warriors (19-2 overall) posted their 15th shutout of the season, and 10th against an ECC opponent. They've outscored the opposition 106-14.

Sophomore goal keeper Danielle Daniel collected 13 saves for Eastern Wayne, which dropped to 10-7 overall. The blue-and-gold Warriors are the No. 2 seed and entertain the Mid-State No. 3 representative in the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs, which begin Wednesday.

Monica Campbell had three saves for Hunt.

Chargers roll

Eighth-grader Mack Thompson notched two goals as Wayne Country Day shut out nemesis Greenfield 4-0 on Friday afternoon.

The state-ranked Chargers (11-3-1) improved to 7-1-1 against Coastal Plains Independent 1-A Conference opposition this season. They conclude regular-season play Tuesday at Kerr-Vance Academy.

Greenfield departed 3-10-1 overall and 2-6 in the CPIC.

Additional details were not available at press time.

JV sports

* Greene Central baseball 6, North Pitt 0 -- Will Bynum and Josh Taylor (two RBI) pounded out two hits apiece as the Rams claimed the Eastern Plains 2-A Conference championship. Deric Grant emerged the winning pitcher. Greene Central (14-5 overall, 7-1 EPC) entertains D.H. Conley's ninth-grade team Monday.

* Wayne Christian softball 5, Wilmington Christian 3 -- Meredith Burroughs threw a two-hitter and recorded eight strikeouts. The game was called due to darkness after four innings.

* Wayne Country Day baseball 6, Kerr-Vance 5 -- Cody Neal claimed the mound win for the Chargers. Dare Uzzell and Cole Davis had one hit apiece. The Chargers (4-5 overall) picked up their fourth victory in their last five outings.