Vikings' Deloatch one-hits S. Wayne

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on May 15, 2011 1:51 AM

• Print
• Email

GREENVILLE -- Sometimes life is not fair.

Neither is baseball.

Southern Wayne hurler Jeremy Taylor pitched a game for the second consecutive outing, but the Saints -- again -- suffered a loss.

D.H. Conley plated the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning and celebrated a 1-0 win in the opening round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A playoffs on Friday night.

"You hate to see a kid pitch a game like that and not get a win," said Southern Wayne head coach Trae McKee. "Their guy threw a great game, and so did Jeremy."

Viking starter Jordan Deloatch held the Saints to just one hit in an extra-inning complete game that included 16 strikeouts. The big left-hander kept Southern Wayne in check with an overpowering fastball and a knockout curve.

Standing one out away from a no-hitter, Deloatch unleashed a fastball to Cody Davis that found its way into the outfield for the Saints' lone hit in the seventh inning.

The Vikings finally made something happen offensively in the home half of the eighth.

Matt Boyd led off the inning with a swinging bunt that was misplayed by the Saints' infield. Josh Taylor grounded into a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a groundout by Will Sanderson. Deloatch ended the contest with a final swing that sent a base hit sailing into the left center-field gap.

The unearned run ruined an otherwise sterling outing from Jeremy Taylor. The Saints' starter allowed just three hits over 7 2/3 innings of work, and finished with three strikeouts and just two walks.

"Early in the season Jeremy's work ethic completely changed and you can quote me on that," said McKee. "He came in and began to work harder, and then the results came. Once he saw the results he began to buy into all that work. He has really improved."

Southern Wayne finished the season 16-8 overall.