Warriors await rematch

By From staff reports
Published in Sports on May 22, 2009 1:46 PM

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Time for the rematch.

Nearly 53 weeks after having a banner season end in the 2008 N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A baseball playoffs, Eastern Wayne gets a chance at revenge today.

The No. 6-ranked Warriors entertain South Central, which eliminated them in a 10-inning thriller last season. The two perennial powers have split their last four meetings.

Eastern Wayne (21-4 overall) advanced with a come-from-behind, 5-3 decision over West Carteret on Tuesday. The Falcons (14-10) stunned 2008 state champion Rocky Mount 4-2.

First pitch is 7 p.m.

Conference Carolina champion Rosewood (16-6) entertains Topsail, the 2008 state 1-A runner-up. The Eagles, directed by first-year head coach Jason King, staged a seventh-inning rally to defeat Midway 3-0 on Tuesday.

The Pirates (16-9) captured a convincing, eight-run decision over Lakewood after squeaking out a one-run victory over Pender County in opening-round play.

Game time is 6 p.m.

Fellow Carolina Conference member Princeton (11-15) travels to Perquimans for a 7 p.m. contest. The Dawgs, who received a wild card, are bidding for their third consecutive trip to the eastern regionals.

On the softball scene, state-ranked Charles B. Aycock (22-2) entertains defending state champion South Central at 7 p.m. The Golden Falcons swept the regular-season series, including rallying from a six-run deficit in the second meeting.

Aycock opened the playoffs with a 6-0 victory over wild-card entrant Greensboro Dudley. Right-handers Cynthia Burroughs and Autumn Pittman combined for 13 strikeouts and yielded one hit.

In 2-A action, North Lenoir travels to Northwood, while Greene Central visits West Stokes. Princeton is the guest of Pamlico County in 1-A play.