Pitching will play prominent role in determining ECC baseball champ

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on April 9, 2013 1:47 PM

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Earl Weaver once said "The key to winning is pitching, fundamentals and three-run homers."

If it was only that easy.

As the second half of Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play gets underway today, one of Weaver's keys -- pitching -- is sure to play a prominent role in deciding the conference race.

ECC leader South Johnston (11-3 overall, 5-1 ECC) has gotten reliable innings out of three different arms -- Lane Johnson, Cody Allen and Dillon Lee. Johnson pitched complete games in wins over Charles B. Aycock and Southern Wayne. The Trojans visit the Golden Falcons on Friday.

University of North Carolina signee Adam Pate has been the anchor of Aycock's pitching staff all season. Pate has posted a team-best 0.79 earned run average (ERA) and a 5-2 record. The senior has recorded 41 strikeouts in 351/3 innings and has surrendered just four earned runs.

Sophomore Bobby Hampton has provided the Golden Falcons (11-5, 5-2) with a dependable second arm. Hampton took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of an eventual 7-6 loss against West Johnston on March 30 during the Pitt County Classic in Greenville.

Southern Wayne (10-5, 3-3) has been searching for consistent innings out of senior Cody Wendorf and junior Jackson Hayes. Wendorf and Hayes were expected to be a formidable 1-2 punch this season for the defending ECC tournament champions.

The duo's struggles appear to be more of an issue of execution rather than ability. Both Wendorf and Hayes delivered dominant performances at times last season and have struggled to regain that form this year.

Saints' head coach Trae McKee admitted during the Pitt County Classic that Hayes has struggled to locate his off-speed pitch and filling the strike zone has been an issue for the majority of Southern Wayne's hurlers.

Senior Jacob Sasser has been a bright spot on the mound both in a starter's role and in relief. If Hayes and Wendorf rediscover their success from a year ago, the Saints should be in the mix all Spring.

Youth-laden Eastern Wayne (7-7, 3-4) is suddenly playing with confidence after winning four consecutive games following a a 3-7 start to the season.

Jeremy Lancaster has turned in a pair of gems on the mound during the Warriors' current winning streak. Lancaster held South Johnston to one run in 42/3 innings of Eastern Wayne's 2-1 win over the Trojans on March 27. He also took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and pitched a one-hit shutout against Nash Central in the Pitt County Classic.

Josh Dixon tossed six shutout innings at the Pitt County Classic and has supplied depth on the mound.

The ECC likely won't be decided until late in the season and the road to a conference title starts on the mound.