Lawrence turns back WCDS, 5-3
By From staff reports
Published in Sports on May 18, 2011 1:47 PM
MERRY HILL -- Three-time defending state champion Lawrence Academy profited from two middle-inning errors and ousted Wayne Country Day, 5-3, in a quarterfinal-round contest in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A baseball playoffs.
The No. 1-ranked Warriors plated two unearned runs off the miscues and hurler Darren Armstrong avoided the big innings all afternoon. He forced the Chargers to leave eight runners on base, including three in the first inning and two in each of the third and fifth innings.
"We had our chances here and there to make something happen," said Chargers head coach Michael Taylor. "It's just the way they roll out. Lawrence took advantage of our mistakes."
Tyson Pearson (RBI) and Hil Tanner paced the WCDS offense with two hits apiece. Cody Neal, Trent Proimos (RBI) and Mason Bland (RBI) each provided one hit.
WCDS averted the shutout in the fifth inning.
Bryce Creger was hit by a pitch in the face, and left the game. Jacob Parks replaced the senior infielder at first base and was thrown out at second on Neal's fielder's choice grounder.
Tanner singled. One out later, Pearson, Proimos and Bland each rapped out a run-scoring base hit to keep Lawrence on the ropes. The Warriors iced the game with a sixth-inning run.
Pearson took the mound loss. The senior right-hander allowed five runs on eight hits and fanned eight Lawrence batters in his final prep game.
"I am very proud of what Tyson has done this year, he has been a bulldog," said Taylor. "I was very proud of the boys yesterday. I told them if we were going to make the final four, we had to beat the best and we were a couple of plays away from maybe beating the best.
"It was a tough way to lose."
WCDS concluded the year 13-10 overall.