Aycock softball claims another mercy-rule win

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 21, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock varsity softball coach Emily Burke sounded like a broken record while throwing batting practice Monday afternoon.

She constantly reminded her players to "sit back, attack, hit backside" since they expected to face a slower pitcher in third-round action of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A playoffs.

The advice worked for one inning.

The Golden Falcons posted three runs against right-hander Olivia Lamm, a deliberate hurler who suffered an injury to her pitching hand during her first at-bat. Reliever Amanda Wood stepped into the circle and threw harder -- and faster -- which seemed to play right into Aycock's talons.

Keeley Fulghum swatted her second home run in as many games and Aycock claimed an 11-1, mercy-rule victory over the Ladybirds. The Golden Falcons (18-2 overall) entertain West Brunswick either Friday or Saturday with a trip to the best-of-three eastern championship series at stake.

"We watched them play (West Carteret) last weekend and knew the type of pitching we were going to face," Burke said. "(West) had 17 flyouts and we knew if we didn't sit back (in the box), that was going to happen to us. You can't take them lightly.

"Everybody here now is deserving and anybody can creep up to beat you. We wanted to make sure that didn't happen."

Eight of nine Aycock starters posted at least one hit in the 85-minute affair. Only Meredith Burroughs, the school's career home run leader, failed to get a hit in three official plate appearances.

Burke smiled.

"It's a little different, isn't it? And no intentional walk," Burke said. "Meredith is an awesome hitter, but we've got nine awesome hitters and she understands that. And they understand whether they pitch to her or not, they've got to hit the ball because they're (opposing teams) not going to pitch around anybody else."

The Golden Falcons sent 10 batters to the plate and tagged Woods for six runs in the third inning. Mackenzie Wheeler and Fulghum connected on consecutive singles, and both scored on Madison Walton's double into the power alley.

Walton trotted home when Katie Gay reached on an infield error. Gay scored on Abbie Walton's double and Walton scored on Burroughs' groundout to the left side.

Fulghum (3-for-3, three RBI) smashed a lead-off homer in the fourth inning. Connor Vinson invoked the mercy rule -- Aycock's third of the postseason -- with an RBI single up the middle. Vinson, Wheeler and Gay ended the day with two hits apiece.

"We decided to go with Olivia tonight, throw offspeed and keep them off balance, but were dealt an unfortunate hand," Southern Nash head coach Christy Bailey said. "The defense still played behind her (Wood)."

Aycock left-hander Allie Phillips surrendered one earned run on one hit and uncharacteristically hit two batters during a four-inning stint. Burroughs threw the fifth.

The Golden Falcons played error-free defense.