Golden Falcons handle Hawks, 9-2

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on April 3, 2014 1:48 PM

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aetzler@newsargus.com

PIKEVILLE -- After dropping four of its last five games, Charles B. Aycock needed to get back on track on the baseball diamond.

Head coach Charles Davis called upon his ace, Bobby Hampton.

The left-hander recorded six strikeouts during the first two innings and got some help offensively during a 9-2, non-conference win over North Lenoir at Charles Davis Field on Wednesday evening.

Tim Naughton blasted a three-run home run -- the first of his career -- during the Golden Falcons' five-run, first-inning explosion. The Hawks also committed two errors, which resulted in four unearned runs.

"It was pretty cool once it went out," Naughton said. "But I came out of the (batter's) box sprinting (for extra bases), so I didn't see it."

Hampton's night ended after his two innings. Davis planned for several pitchers to get some innings of work before Friday's game at Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference foe New Bern.

Naughton and Trent Herndon each threw two innings. Noah West pitched the seventh.

"This was their bullpen day so we figured we'd just have them pitch in the game," Davis said.

Hampton, the county leader in strikeouts, will get the start against New Bern.

"Man, I want to pitch every game," he said. "I wish it was like softball where I could pitch every game. That mound is where I feel at home."

North Lenoir mustered three hits in the game. Reliever Chad Ginn worked 3 1/3 innings in relief.

Hampton likened this struggling C.B. Aycock team to the 1974 team that won the state 3-A title. He said this win could have be a turning point similar to the one the state title team experienced at almost the same point in the year.

"I keep telling the guys to look at that 1974 team," Hampton said. "They started off 5-5 and won 15 straight games. We're 6-6 after tonight maybe this could be the same story."