Pikeville tops Grantham 10U

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on June 15, 2010 1:46 PM

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Scott Hales vividly remembers that 0-14 season a few summers ago.

He certainly won't forget 2010.

Pikeville captured the Wayne County 10-Under Babe Ruth baseball tournament championship with a 6-2 victory over Grantham on Monday evening. Right-handed hurlers Blake Gipson and Luke Frederick combined for a four-hitter as the Titans logged a spotless 14-0 worksheet.

The Dogs concluded the year 12-2.

"I was pleased with how we played," said Hales. "(Grantham) has really improved. They battled hard and we knew to expect that from them because we know the coaches and a lot of the kids. We knew today would be a battle irregardless of what the records were."

Pikeville quickly scored during its first at-bat. Starting catcher Seth Harrison singled, stole second and trotted home on Nick Aycock's base hit.

The Titans boosted their advantage to 5-0 in the third.

Bulldog right-hander Matt Hollingsworth, who threw a complete game, walked lead-off batter Cody Whaley. One out later, the next four Pikeville batters reached base on either hits or defensive miscues.

Frederick and C.J. Jackson each collected an RBI during the two-out rally. Hollingsworth induced an inning-ending groundout to avoid further damage.

"We know this team scores a lot of runs," said Grantham coach Hal Hollingsworth of Pikeville. "We told the boys you can stay in the game as long as you hold them to five (runs). We just worked on them every inning."

Grantham foiled Pikeville's shutout bid in the fourth.

Kolby Anderson led off with a walk and got caught in a rundown between third and home after Matt Hollingsworth rapped a sharp single up the middle. Harrison tagged out Anderson, but Hollingsworth took third when the Titans failed to cover the base.

After Justin Edwards walked, Pikeville conceded the run on Logan Parker's RBI groundout. Each team added a single run in the final two innings to complete the scoring.

Anderson single-handedly turned a fifth-inning double play for Grantham. Harrison, who moved to the infield after a pitching change in the fifth, secured the Titans' championship with a game-ending, unassisted double play.

"The (title) is what we've worked for and that was our mindset from the beginning of the season," said Hales. "We're very pleased with what we've accomplished. It's been a long time coming because these kids have worked hard."

Frederick earned the save and led the Titans with three hits offensively. Jackson batted 2-for-3, while Whaley, Gipson and Jones supplied one hit apiece. Gipson and Frederick combined for 10 strikeouts.

Hollingsworth batted 2-for-3 for the Dogs. Horton and Martin each contributed one hit.

"We came out and played harder than I thought we would ... kept it close," said coach Hollingsworth. "I was proud of them. We told them whatever we did today was gravy on top of the porkchop."