CBA softball team set to face former league nemesis in east 3A finals

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 27, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

PIKEVILLE -- Days before the postseason began, Charles B. Aycock head softball coach Emily Burke told the team not to print out a bracket.

"They didn't need to worry about it," she said.

Instead, Burke reminded the Golden Falcons to focus on the opponent each round and not get over confident in their ability. So far, they've excelled from their coach's advice.

C.B. Aycock (19-2 overall) is two victories away from advancing to the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A state championship series for the second time in three years.

But South Johnston (22-3) stands in the way.

The former Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference foes open their best-of-three eastern regional title series tonight in Pikeville. The teams play in Four Oaks on Wednesday and return to Aycock for the "if necessary" game Friday.

First pitch is 7 p.m. Each day.

"We are excited to play South," Burke said. "We know they are a very solid and competitive team. We are going to have make sure that we make our own opportunities to score. They are a stellar defensive team so we are going to have to apply pressure by hitting the ball."

The Golden Falcons (19-2 overall) have run-ruled three of four opponents in the playoffs. They've outscored the opposition 39-6 and reached double digits on three occasions.

Keeley Fulghum has ripped four home runs, including a grand slam, in the postseason. North Carolina career home-run leader Meredith Burroughs slapped a shot over the right-field fence into the baseball bullpen in fourth-round play against West Brunswick.

The duo has combined for 13 of the team's 16 homers this season.

Senior Cierra Harris leads the team in three offensive categories -- batting average (.523), runs (28) and stolen bases (16). She ranks second in total hits (34) behind Fulghum (37) and has driven in 17 runs.

Overall, Aycock hits .409 as a team and has scored 222 runs in 21 games.

"The key to winning this series will be making sure that our defense stays behind our pitching staff and that our offense supplies the runs that they have supplied all season," said Burke.

The Golden Falcons' bullpen -- Burroughs, Allie Phillips, Mackenzie Wheeler and Taylor Waddell -- have combined for a 1.81 earned run average (ERA) inside the pitcher's circle. The quartet has allowed just 48 runs and posted 98 strikeouts in 124 innings of work.

Aycock has committed just 22 errors as a team.

"I tell them all the time, it's anybody's game," said Burke, who has guided the program to its eighth final four appearance since 2000. "Confident and cocky is not what we have done all year. We always play focused and we play simple ball.

"They work hard and respect the game enough to make sure they're physically prepared and mentally prepared for whatever they've got coming."