DuBose has been leader in postseason

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on May 30, 2012 1:48 PM

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All of the players on the Charles B. Aycock baseball team lingered around the field to celebrate following the team's win over Eastern Alamance in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A eastern baseball regional.

The player with the biggest smile was unmistakable.

Collin DuBose stood near the backstop and took pictures with his family, friends and teammates. He shook hands and offered high-fives to anyone within arms reach.

"Just to be in this position with this team is really amazing," DuBose said. "When we were going through our sort of mid-season slump I think it wore on everyone a little bit, but right now I couldn't be more excited."

After a swoon in April left the Golden Falcons with a 10-7 record, head coach Charles Davis took inventory of his personnel and told the team that the season could still be saved.

A win over Eastern Wayne in the regular-season finale appeared to have the momentum pointed back in the right direction, but a shutout loss to South Johnston in the first round of the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference tournament left the Golden Falcons' playoff hopes in doubt.

"I remember how down everyone was after we lost to South Johnston," DuBose said. "We didn't know what that meant for us as far as the playoffs and I don't think anyone wanted to let the season end like that."

Things fell the Golden Falcons way and they made the playoffs. Their postseason run has been hard to believe and DuBose has been squarely in the middle of the action.

DuBose is 3-0 in the playoffs and has allowed just one earned run over 14 innings of work.

The right-hander emerged as the winning pitcher in the team's second-round win over Jacksonville. He added a win over West Brunswick in relief and a victory over Eastern Alamance in the second game of the series.

In the deciding game of the best-of-three set, DuBose let his bat do the talking. The senior belted a two-run home run in the fourth inning that eventually ended up being the winning blast in the 5-4 game.

"Collin has done a good job at the plate throughout the playoffs and he did it for us in a big spot," Davis said. "At the time, those runs put us ahead 5-1. But the way the game ended, it made those insurance runs look much bigger."

If the Golden Falcons are going to top Weddington and claim a state championship, DuBose will have to shine bright in the spotlight one more time.

"I know how excited I am to have this kind of opportunity," DuBose said. "We are so close and I know that all the guys want now is to bring home a championship."