Fike builds early lead, eliminates E. Wayne from postseason

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on May 14, 2014 1:49 PM

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aetzler@newsargus.com

Eastern Wayne pitcher Ryan Faucette knew it was probably his last at-bat as a Warrior.

He didn't try to swing for the fences, but approached the plate appearance just like every other one during his four-year career.

Faucette choked up on the bat, crowded the plate and stepped up in the batter's box. He singled to left field.

Two batters later, Tyler Warren hit into a game-ending groundout which officially closed the Warriors' book on their 2014 season with a 9-3 loss to Wilson Fike in the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A playoffs.

The result was indicative of how Eastern Wayne performed against the Golden Demons. Head coach Jabo Fulghum said his team got outplayed in every phase of the game -- pitching, hitting and defense.

Faucette threw his best game of the season a week ago. Fulghum said if those type of outings continued, Eastern Wayne could go far into the postseason. But Fike chased Faucette after two-plus innings after he surrendered four runs.

"Ryan didn't have it tonight like he did against Aycock," Fulghum said. "But that's how it goes, you're not going to have it every night."

Faucette had particular trouble with Fike hitters DJ Daniels and Will Anderson. Each hit RBI doubles to the opposite field off of fastballs that Faucette left up in the zone.

"They hit the fastballs really well and hit them backside," Faucette said. "If I threw a fastball and missed, they hit it."

Zach Smith, Tanner Wells and Brandon Johnson all appeared in relief of Faucette and they, too, battled with the Demons lineup. Anderson added another double that drove in two more runs.

The Warriors' lineup struggled at the plate all game. They scattered four hits, including two bunts, against the Demons' Jase Lamm going into the fifth inning.

But after a Smith walk and Lee Daniels single, Faucette put some life into the Warriors with a three-run bomb that hit off the roof of the storage building behind the center-field fence.

Again, he never changed his approach even with his team down nine runs.

"Just went up there, got two balls and looked for a fastball and was able to square it up," said Faucette, who finished the game with three hits and three RBI.

The Warriors threatened in the seventh and had the bases loaded before Warren hit the grounder that sealed his team's fate. Daniels added two hits and Ryan Kelly had one to round out the offense.

"I hope they use this as motivation to come out here and work hard in the offseason and come back next year with a stronger team," Fulghum said.