Patriots score first, but home runs put CBA in front

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on May 15, 2011 1:51 AM

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PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock's players -- all week -- heard one word over and over again: compete.

The Golden Falcons did exactly that Friday evening.

After lacking emotion its last two home losses, Aycock played with plenty of life in a 10-4 win over West Carteret in the first round of the N.C High School Athletic Association Class 3-A baseball playoffs.

The Golden Falcons (18-8 overall) won their first postseason game since 2008 and play host to Rocky Mount in second-round action Tuesday. First pitch is 7 p.m.

Dalton Knight's RBI single in the top of the first inning gave the Patriots a 1-0 lead.

Aycock answered in the bottom of the first inning with two-run home runs to left field from Jon Taylor and Collin DuBose.

"When they scored in the first inning and we were able to come right back and answer ...," said Golden Falcons' head coach Charles Davis. "That's what we have to do all the time and tonight we did. When they would score we would come right back and answer and that's key."

Back-to-back RBI doubles by Forrest Mercer and Damon Hoggard in the top of the second pulled West Carteret to within 4-3.

Travis Musselman scored on a balk in the bottom of the second inning. Bryant Stafford's RBI single increased the lead to 6-3.

The Patriots attempted to add on a run in the top of the third inning, but Josh Chisenhall was thrown out at home by Aycock center fielder Tyler Farmer while trying to score on Kris Lindner's single. The play drew a boisterous reaction from the dugout.

Adam Pate and Cameron Taylor were both involved in physical plays at first base with Chisenhall. Cameron Taylor made a strong throw from deep in the hole at shortstop to retire Parker Mills in the top of the fourth inning.

"All week long we talked about competing and locking in," said Davis. "That's what got us here and I think we got away from that and that's my fault as a coach. I'll take the blame for that. In practice all week long we competed and that was our word.

"We came out tonight and that's what we did."

Cameron Taylor's RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning pushed the lead to 7-3. Taylor later scored on an error. DuBose's infield single scored Craig Murdock to stretch the Golden Falcons' advantage to 9-3.

Musselman finished with three hits. DuBose (two RBI), Jon Taylor (two RBI) and Cameron Taylor (RBI) each supplied two hits.

Murdock scored on an error in the bottom of the sixth inning as the lead swelled to 10-3.

Aycock starting pitcher Aaron Champion allowed three runs on six hits with five strikeouts and three walks in six innings to earn the win on the mound. Champion surrendered just two hits in the final four innings he worked.

Stafford gave up one run in an inning of relief.