Pitt County Classic: Warriors rally past So. Alamance, dump N. Pitt

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 23, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

BETHEL -- "Don't give in."

Eastern Wayne head baseball coach Jabo Fulghum delivered that message after each half inning against Southern Alamance on Tuesday afternoon.

His encouragement didn't fall on deaf ears, especially to three players -- Ryan Kelly, Bryce McKeel, Tanner Wells. The trio combined for seven hits, six RBI and two runs scored during a come-from-behind, 8-6 conquest of the Patriots during final-day action of the 2014 Pitt County Classic.

"Our lower part of the lineup today, huh, if it wasn't for them, we wouldn't have won," Eastern Wayne head coach Jabo Fulghum said. "I bet McKeel had a bushel basket full of RBI today. He put the ball in play and his last at-bat was the best one ... looked like crap on two swings and then he puts the ball in play."

All-tournament selection Ryan Kelly drove in the go-ahead run on a one-out, bases-loaded single to left field. McKeel (2-for-4) connected on a two-strike single that bounced over the shortstop's head and pushed the Warriors' advantage to 7-4.

Wells capped the rally with an RBI single up the middle.

"We did a good job with two strikes," Fulghum said. "We hit the ball on the ground, didn't hit a whole lot of fly balls. When you hit hard ground balls, good things happen. The kids, the last three games, we've haven't quit and we've hit (the ball) when we had to.

"I'm proud of our boys for battling back."

Eastern Wayne built a two-run lead, only to see Alex Durham tie it with a two-run, fourth-inning bomb over the left-field fence. Southern Alamance plated two more runs and chased starter Coy Barnett from the mound.

Wells provided four innings of no-hit, one-run relief to earn the win on the bump. He, along with Barnett, combined to issue 11 walks and just two hits against the Patriots.

"He didn't want to give up the ball," Fulghum said of the determined Wells, who reached three-ball counts on five of the first six batters he faced.

Eastern Wayne finished the Classic 3-0 that included an 8-4 victory over Eastern Plains 2-A member North Pitt earlier in the day. Tyler Warren threw a complete-game nine-hitter on 86 pitches.

McKeel batted 2-for-2 with four RBI. Kelly provided three hits, while Barnett batted 2-for-3. Lee Daniels and Ryan Faucette contributed one hit and one RBI apiece.

"I told our kids these games were all about getting ready for Aycock," Fulghum said of next week's key conference showdown. "Hopefully the momentum will carry over. We know we're going to have a tough time with (CBA lefty Bobby) Hampton because he's a tough pitcher.

"You've got play 21 outs."

And never give in.