Defending state champs pound Gaston Day, 12-0

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on May 14, 2008 2:54 PM

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Even with a five-hour bus ride home, Gaston Day didn't have to worry about sticking around for very long.

Wayne Christian erupted for seven fourth-inning runs and cruised to a 12-0 victory in 41/2 innings on Tuesday in the first round of the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Class 1-A playoffs.

The Eagles (16-2 overall) won for the ninth time this season in five innings or less.

Cynthia Burroughs scored on an error in the home half of the first to put Wayne Christian in front 1-0. Burroughs went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Kayla Kennedy raced home on a passed ball in the second and Reagan Hinton added an RBI triple pushing the lead to 3-0. Hinton later scored on a wild pitch.

Spartans starter Samantha Parton was charged with three unearned runs on just four hits in the first two innings.

"We were a little bit sluggish to start with but we picked it up there a little bit," said Eagles head coach Roger Longwell. "Coming off with the win Friday and coming into this first round you're only asking for 100 percent. That's all I ever ask."

Courtney Barrow's RBI single in the third drove home Brittani Sullivan and extended Wayne Christian's advantage to 5-0.

Traci Davis delivered a two-run double to get the scoring started in the fourth. Davis ended the game 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored.

Barrow tacked on a three-run triple to stretch the margin to 10-0. Barrow finished with 2-for-3 with four RBI.

Carly Hightower tacked on a sacrifice fly that scored Barrow and Burroughs capped the scoring with an RBI triple. Five of the Eagles' 10 hits were triples.

"Their pitcher's style just threw us off a little bit with stepping off the rubber," said Longwell. "We finally caught on to it and started slugging the ball a little bit and finding some holes. We've always been a good hitting ballclub and I just hope we continue on Friday and Saturday."

Davis got the start on the mound and tossed three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit with two walks and six strikeouts. Burroughs worked the final two innings of relief.

"My goal today was to get them both some workouts," Longwell said of his hurlers. "That was goal to get them some work in preparation for Friday. It's always important to get their work, especially since we're down to just one practice."

Wayne Christian faces Hobgood Academy at 2 p.m. Friday on the Glover Park diamond in Nashville.