C.B. Aycock advances to ECC tournament finals

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on May 5, 2013 1:52 AM

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PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock did all of its damage in the first two innings.

The Golden Falcons' pitching staff preserved the lead.

C.B. Aycock earned a 3-2 win over county rival Eastern Wayne in the semifinal round of the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference tournament on Friday night. The Golden Falcons play host to Triton on Monday night with the championship on the line.

"We had two guys go out and give us good innings on the mound," C.B. Aycock head coach Charles Davis said. "We had a plan coming into the game and it worked out."

The Golden Falcons jumped ahead in the first inning when Bobby Hampton ripped a one-out single and Adam Pate followed with a two-run home run.

"We made a pitch to Pate that stayed up," Eastern Wayne head coach Jabo Fulghum said. "That has happened twice this season. A mistake pitch to a good hitter and he didn't miss it."

C.B. Aycock added an insurance run in the second inning. Hank Smitherman doubled and scored when Bobby Hampton delivered a sacrifice fly. The Golden Falcons missed a chance to add to the lead and left two runners in scoring position. The home team left the bases loaded in the third inning and failed to score.

"There was a chance for us to put the game away and we did not get it done," Davis said. "We left eight base runners in the first three innings and you can't do that against a good team like Eastern Wayne."

The Warriors made the most of their chance to get back in the game in the fourth inning. Josh Dixon was hit by a pitch and moved into scoring position when Tyler Huetter reached on an error. Zack Smith plated Dixon when he reached on a second C.B. Aycock miscue of the inning. Justin Lee plated Huetter when he grounded into a fielder's choice.

Pate got out of the jam and gave way to Hampton on the mound. Hampton tossed three scoreless innings of relief to earn the save.

Jeremy Lancaster took the loss for Eastern Wayne. Smith pitch 4 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.

"One good thing that came out of tonight was the outing by Zack Smith," Fulghum said. "For a freshman to come into a game like this against a team as talented as (C.B. Aycock) and give us good innings should do wonders for his confidence."

Eastern Wayne will be on the road when the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A state playoffs begin May 10.