ECBL: Aycock White cranks out mercy-rule win at home

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on June 12, 2013 1:47 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock White head coach Nelson Cunningham wants his young players to learn that a dominant pitching performance can't be counted on every time they step onto the baseball field.

There are days when offense has to be the key ingredient to victory.

Tuesday evening was one of those occasions for C.B. Aycock White as it pounded out 12 hits in a 13-3, five-inning victory over Eastern Carolina Baseball League foe Spring Creek. Ashton McGee (four RBI) and Chandler Matthews led C.B. Aycock White with three hits apiece. Cameron Kornegay supplied two hits and four RBI.

"We had some good at-bats all night," Cunningham said. "Before the game that's all we talked about was good at-bats and everyone one of them did it. We hit balls hard to the opposite field tonight and we put the ball in play.

"We struggled from the mound tonight. We're starting five games in four days and we're not going to be able to throw our ace every night. You're going to have to bring the other two aspects to the game and that's defense and offense."

Kornegay's two-out, two run single in the bottom of the first inning gave C.B. Aycock White a 2-0 lead.

Spring Creek (1-6 overall) loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the second inning. It eventually cashed in with Zack Falconer's two-out, RBI single to left field that cut the margin to 2-1. But Spring Creek left the bases loaded and squandered an opportunity to tie the game or take the lead.

"We had some situations where we needed a big hit," Spring Creek head coach Allen Nichols said. "We just didn't get it and that hurt us. These kids are young and they're learning that errors and not executing in key situations against a good team can cost you a game."

C.B. Aycock White (4-1) executed a hit-and-run to perfection in the bottom of the second inning. Caleb Smith broke from second base just as McGee lined a single through the right side of the infield that allowed Smith to score. Matthews followed with an RBI single to increase C.B. Aycock White's lead to 4-1.

Braxton Leeper reached on an error to lead off the home half of the third inning. Courtesy runner Bradley Pate later scored on Bryce Anders' two-out, RBI double as C.B. Aycock White's lead grew to 5-1.

Cayce Herring's RBI double in the top of the fourth inning pulled Spring Creek to within 5-2. Matthew Dupey followed with an RBI groundout.

C.B. Aycock White used a walk and a pair of infield singles to load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sanford's RBI single and a Gators' error pushed C.B. Aycock White's advantage to 7-3. Kornegay followed with a two-run double and Kyle Davis added a sacrifice fly.

McGee's three-run home run to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning brought the game to an end. Jacob Sanford earned the win on the mound.

Spring Creek plays host to East Duplin today, while Aycock White entertains North Lenoir on Thursday.