Aycock rallies past Benson in Junior Legion

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on June 18, 2009 1:55 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- C.B. Aycock shook off seven days worth of rust and bested Benson 7-4 in American Junior Legion baseball action Wednesday evening.

Aycock jumped on top in the first inning thanks to a pair of Benson errors that led to one unearned run. Nick McGee added an insurance run two innings later with a home run to deep left field.

"We definitely looked like a team that hadn't played in a week," said C.B. Aycock head coach Nelson Cunningham. "Luckily, we scored a couple runs early and were able to get a lead. But I have to give Benson a lot of credit because they kept battling."

The visitors tied the game at 2-2 when Eric Radford blasted a two-run homer into the trees in left center field. C.B. Aycock starter Derek Limbaugh settled down, got out of the inning and received a little help from his team's big bats in the bottom of the fourth.

With two outs, Travis Musselman drew a walk and Tyler Farmer reached on an error. Collin DuBose belted an RBI double to give his team the lead and was followed by Jonathan Taylor's RBI single.

McGee drew a walk and Jordan Quinn capped the inning by reaching safely on Benson's fourth error of the night and second of the inning.

"We did a pretty good job of hitting with two outs and runners in scoring position," said Cunningham. "Nick McGee has been really seeing the ball well lately and that continued tonight. He got ahead in the count and when he knew what was coming he didn't miss it."

Benson pulled within 5-4 when Austin Lee and Casey Turnage drew back-to-back walks in the top of the fifth. Radford drove the duo in when his one-hopper up the middle was mishandled.

Aycock (9-2 overall) added two valuable insurance runs in the sixth when Taylor walked, McGee reached on an error and Jordan Quinn delivered an RBI single.

DuBose took over on the pitcher's mound and earned the save.

"We wanted to get some guys a little bit of work on the rubber tonight," said Cunningham. "The plan was to use three or four guys all for an inning or two and to keep the pitch count down."

Preserving arms will be important this week as Aycock plays five games in four days. The tough stretch continues tonight when C.B. Aycock travels to Southern Wayne.

Game time is 7 p.m.