Warriors enjoy senior night

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on May 5, 2009 1:46 PM

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Eastern Wayne's trio of seniors made the most of their final regular-season, home game Monday evening.

John Wooten belted two home runs and drove in seven runs.

Walker Gourley reached base four times and scored four runs.

And Andrew Martin scratched out a pinch-hit single as the Warriors upended perennial 2-A power North Lenoir 12-4 in non-conference play. Officials called the game after six innings due to inclement weather.

Wooten, Gourley and Martin combined for five hits in seven at-bats, seven RBI and seven runs scored on the night.

"I am going to hate to see those three young men go," said Eastern Wayne head coach Jabo Fulghum. "They have meant a lot to this program and they have provided excellent leadership."

The Warriors (17-4 overall) jumped out to an early lead when Gourley scored on Wooten's first-inning RBI single. In the third inning, Eastern Wayne added three insurance runs when Cambric Moye ripped an RBI double and Jose Ponce followed with a two-run single.

"We did not play with the passion or the fun that Eastern Wayne played with tonight," said North Lenoir head coach Jim Montague. "I only know one way to play this game and that's as hard as you can. We have a few guys that need to realize that this time of the year is when they have to play their best baseball."

The Warriors broke open the game in the fourth inning.

Gourley was hit by a pitch, Colton Fulghum singled and Wooten drove his first home run over the right field fence.

"I have never been a guy that goes up there trying to hit a home run," said Wooten. "Hunter (Newsome) told me to wait on the curve ball and try to hit it hard backside, and that's what I did."

The Hawks (13-7) avoided the shutout in the fifth inning. Trailing 7-0, Mike Wetherington drew a lead-off walk and scored two pitches later when Wil Sutton blasted a home run over the left field fence.

Wooten put the game out of reach in the Warriors' half of the inning.

Zach Beachem doubled, Newsome singled and Gourley was hit by a pitch for the second time. Fulghum singled and Wooten drove the ball out of the park for his second three-run blast in as many innings.

"John had a great senior night," said coach Fulghum. "He did a nice job on the mound against a good-hitting team and he was lights out at the plate."

Wooten tossed four innings to earn the mound win. The hard-throwing right-hander allowed two runs on 10 hits and struck out three. Josh Frederick pitched the final two innings to seal the Warriors' victory.

Each team returns to action today. The Warriors travel to Wilmington New Hanover, while North Lenoir faces Goldsboro in an Eastern Plains 2-A Conference contest.