Eagles' late offensive explosion helps Howell

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on May 21, 2014 1:48 PM

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aetzler@newsargus.com

Rosewood seemed destined to win another baseball game by manufacturing runs and relying on its pitching to shut the door against another playoff opponent.

But Reed Howell looked a little fatigued when he gave up a single run in the sixth inning, which trimmed the Eagles' lead to 3-1. He got some breathing room when his teammates put a five-spot on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Howell closed the door in the seventh and Rosewood advanced to the eastern semifinals with an 8-1 victory over the Mariners. The Eagles visit juggernaut Perquimans (24-3 overall) either Friday or Saturday with a trip to the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A eastern championship series on the line.

"I was looking at the scoreboard like 'man, all I need is three more outs' but then we started scoring runs and it was just like a weight was lifted off my shoulders," Howell said. "Because then I knew I didn't have to overpower anyone, as long as I threw strikes with a seven-run lead we could get three outs."

The Eagles built a 3-0 lead in the first five innings simply by manufacturing runs.

Kahlil Warren drove in Ethan Chapin for the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the second inning.

One inning later, Jordan Gurley drove in Jordan Lynn with a single to left-center field. Then in the fifth inning, Lynn scored again off of a Derek Neal sacrifice fly.

"We were fortunate enough to hit the ball well and able to execute and get our bunts down," Rosewood coach Jason King said.

The sixth-inning outburst was headlined by a two-RBI double from Gurley to deep right field that scored Lynn and Howell. Gurley was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple.

"I knew it was my last at-bat so I just went up there hackin,'" Gurley said. "Then I was just being aggressive trying to get to third.

Brent Breedlove added an RBI double that scored Neal, who reached base after being hit by a pitch. Corey Lynn and Warren also each scored in the inning.

Cousins Jordan Lynn and Corey Lynn reached base a combined seven times without ever hitting a ball past the infield. Corey Lynn had two bunt hits and an infield single. Jordan Lynn had two walks, a bunt hit and reached on an error off of another bunt.

"They just put the ball down and run it out," King said. "Speed is a big factor with that, hustling and making guys rush throws. They do a great job with it."

Rosewood has given up just four runs in three games combined during the playoff run and lowed its team ERA to a meager 1.62.