Wayne Christian teams rule CCC 1-A

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 11, 2008 2:01 AM

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From staff reports

RALEIGH -- Sophomore Taylor Gray seized Most Outstanding Player accolades as Wayne Christian claimed the Class 1-A Carolina Christian Conference boys' tennis tournament championship Friday afternoon.

Kenneth Giordano secured a tiebreaker and emerged the CCC champion at the No. 6 seed. Teammates Chris Easom (No. 4 seed) and David Sasser (No. 5) won their respective flights and grabbed spots on the all-CCC tournament squad.

Easom-Woody Sasser and Giordano-Glover each emerged victorious at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles, respectively.

Gray and senior Matt Rouse earned all-CCC honors, also.

Wayne Christian, directed by head coach Alan Cuddington, returns to action next weekend in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Championships at Barton College in Wilson.

Softball

Eagles take CCC title

BUIES CREEK -- Wayne Christian erupted for three first-inning runs and turned back nemesis Cape Fear Christian 4-2 in the Carolina Christian 1-A Conference softball tournament championship contested Friday evening at Campbell University.

The Eagles (15-2 overall) earned the No. 1 seed for the postseason and begin defense of their N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association title at home Tuesday against eighth-seeded Gaston Day. First pitch is 4 p.m.

Gaston Day is the only team west of Raleigh in the 1-A playoffs.

Carly Hightower ignited Wayne Christian's first-inning uprising with a walk. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Cynthia Burroughs' base hit. Sarah McCullom drew a walk and each runner advanced on Traci Davis' sacrifice bunt.

Cape Fear's defense couldn't handle an infield grounder by Brittany Sullivan, which allowed Burroughs and McCullom to score for the 3-0 advantage. Burroughs delivered a second-inning RBI single to cap the Eagles' scoring.

Davis permitted two unearned runs on two hits and logged four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Burroughs cleaned up in the fifth inning and earned the save.

Cape Fear, which has played for the last two state titles, drew the No. 3 seed in the eight-team field. It will entertain sixth-seeded Ahoskie Ridgecroft on Tuesday.

Lawrence Academy, a perennial fixture in the NCISAA final four, is seeded No. 2. The Warriors entertain fellow Tarheel Independent Conference member Terra Ceia. In the other quarterfinal-round game, fourth-seeded Hobgood will play host to fifth-seeded Faith Christian-Rocky Mount.

The semifinals and finals, which becomes a double-elimination tournament, is Friday and Saturday at Glover Park in Nashville.