Spring Creek rolls over Princeton

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on April 23, 2010 1:46 PM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- Spring Creek head coach Heath Whitfield may ask the prom committee to work every week at this rate.

For the second consecutive year, the Gators picked up two pivotal wins on the Carolina 1-A Conference baseball scene in the days prior to the senior prom.

Spring Creek bested Princeton 13-3 in five innings on Thursday night.

The Gators got on the board in the opening inning when Dontay Boseman and Hunter Barnett belted back-to-back singles. Duane Gurganus reached on an error as did Eric Evans one batter later. Ricky Brayboy singled and Chris Boseman capped the scoring when he reached on a fielder's choice that plated Gurganus.

"I wish we could do this every night," said Whitfield. "We score 15 runs one night, then one run in 11 innings, then 13 runs. I would love to spread them out a little."

Spring Creek added two runs in the second inning on an RBI single from Gurganus and a RBI triple off Evans' bat.

Down but not out, the Dawgs battled back in the third inning.

Tyler Daniels drew a walk, stole second base and scored on Dylan Myers' RBI single. Austin Hinton singled and was followed by an RBI single from Phillip Mitchell. Hinton scored on a throwing error.

"We made it a game when we cut the lead to 5-3," said Princeton head coach Bruce Proctor. "We just couldn't throw strikes and we made too many errors."

Spring Creek added one run in the bottom of the third and broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth. Will Janning singled and immediately scored on a triple from Corey Howell.

Dontay Boseman, Barnett and Gurganus each drew a walk that forced in another run. Evans belted a two-run single and Brayboy followed with an RBI base hit. Harrell ended the game with an RBI single that invoked the mercy rule.

Barnett started the game on the pitcher's mound and lasted three innings. Evans earned the win with two innings of scoreless relief.

"I didn't think Barnett had the pop on his pitches like he usually does," said Whitfield. "But he battled for us and he gave us a chance to win. Evans came in and threw well."

Spring Creek (10-6 overall, 5-1 CC) travels to Ayden-Grifton on Tuesday, while Princeton (5-14, 2-4) entertains North Duplin.