CBA downs West Carteret softball

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 12, 2012 11:56 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Ho hum.

One playoff foe eliminated.

But Charles B. Aycock must play better than this.

Four days after an emotional shutout victory over rival South Johnston in the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference tournament final, the Golden Falcons lacked a little luster Friday evening.

Luckily, West Carteret put up little resistance.

Meredith Burroughs continued her pursuit toward a state record, Brooke Bell threw a complete in the pitcher's circle and Aycock triumphed 4-0 in its N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A softball playoff opener.

The Golden Falcons (24-2 overall) put their 21-game win streak on the line at home Tuesday against either Currituck County or Wilson Fike.

"I was very pleased with the way Brooke threw the ball and we had two big hits," CBA head coach Brad Matthews said. "Other than that, there wasn't much to it. We left some people on base we should have gotten in and that concerns me. In a tight ballgame when that happens, you can go home with an 'L'."

Burroughs needed one more at-bat to possibly hit for the cycle after singling, doubling and driving in one run in a 3-for-3 effort. The sophomore first baseman clubbed her 17th home run of the season in the first inning. She's two homers away from tying the state record of 19 set a year ago by Dallas Heaton (Eastern Randolph) and Sarah Mooney (North Mecklenburg).

Barton signee Rachel Jordan swatted a two-run, third-inning homer -- her second of the season and the team's 26th overall.

Misty Edwards added a sacrifice RBI slap bunt in the sixth.

Aycock scratched out seven hits and stranded four runners against Patriots left-hander Olivia Bryson, who threw just 60 pitches. The Golden Falcons swung at either the first or second pitch during 19 at-bats.

"(Bryson) hasn't walked many batters all year long and I knew she was going to be around the plate, so I told my girls to go up there and be aggressive," Matthews said. "Maybe they might not should have listened to me."

Bell (15-2) permitted just six runners, limited the Patriots to two hits and struck out six. The senior right-hander retired 15 of the first 17 batters she faced as Aycock notched its 10th shutout of the season.

"I felt pretty good about the way I pitched, but not as good as I did against South Johnston on Monday night," Bell said. "We came out with a win and that's all that matters."