Wayne North tops rival C.B. Aycock
By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on July 2, 2010 1:46 PM
Wayne County North continues to show signs of maturity in leaps and bounds.
Nolan James delivered a late home run and Logan Wicks pitched a complete game in Wayne North's 5-1 victory over Charles B. Aycock on Thursday night in New Hope.
The Warriors threatened in the home half of the sixth with the game tied at 1-1. Jeremy Lancaster singled to leadoff the inning. Wesley Stewart drew a one-out walk and Benito Avila's two-out single loaded the bases. Jake May's bases-loaded walk scored Lancaster to give Wayne North a 2-1 lead.
James followed May by driving a hanging curveball from Golden Falcons' reliever Aaron Champion over the left field fence. James was called out for not touching third base, turning the potential grand-slam into a three-run home run. He finished 2 for 3 at the plate with three RBI.
James' home run helped make up for the nine runners the Warriors left on base.
"We matured big time today," said Wayne North head coach Roger May. "Nolan's been hitting the ball. He's our leading hitter. We don't like chasing curveballs on the first pitch but I think when you hang something like that, that was a big hit. We left of people on base but we kept battling."
Aycock loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh but Wicks used a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to end the ballgame. The right-hander surrendered one unearned run on five hits with seven strikeouts and a walk.
Wicks struck out the side in the second inning and had his caused aided by his defense. Justin Lee made a running catch in left field to rob Adam Pate of a base hit in the top of the fourth inning. James' made a diving stop at third base on Collin DuBose's hard-hit ground-ball in the bottom of the sixth.
"Logan pitched a heck of a game," said May. "He had 72 pitches going into the last inning and he battled. The bases were loaded with no outs in the seventh and he battled."
Jeff Davis' single to center and a Warriors' error allowed Bryant Stafford to score in the top of the fifth inning tying the game at 1-1.
Stewart scored on an error in the bottom of the second to give Wayne North a 1-0 lead.
The Warriors (14-5, 7-2) have won nine consecutive games and entertain Spring Creek at 6 p.m. tonight. Wayne North can capture the division title tonight with a victory over the Gators.
"I just told the boys they've got to get excited like they did tonight," said May. "They've got to come out and play. I hope we come out tomorrow and play just as hard because Spring Creek is going to be ready."