Eagles eager to hang a banner on baseball field

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on May 28, 2014 1:48 PM

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aetzler@newsargus.com

Every time the Rosewood Eagles pull up to an opposing team's field, Jordan Gurley feels a hint of jealousy when he sees the banners hanging in the outfield which recognize state championships.

"You see that banner out there," Gurley said after a game against Princeton earlier this season. "We see those and all we want is to bring one back to us."

To do that, Gurley and his Rosewood teammates will have to battle against one of the most-decorated programs in North Carolina -- five-time state champion Whiteville. The Eagles and Wolfpack begin their best-of-three series in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A eastern regional finals today.

First pitch is at 7 p.m.

Game two is Friday at Whiteville and game three, if necessary, is Saturday at Rosewood.

No team in either the 1-A or 2-A ranks has won more titles than Whiteville since 1983. However, the Eagles know those past championships are "in the past."

Every year is a new season with new faces.

"We all know that this year is this year, and last year and the years before are gone," RHS head coach Jason King said. "It's all about who's better tonight."

As commonplace as it is for Whiteville, which last won the state title in 2012, to be in this position, it is the opposite end of the spectrum for Rosewood. The Eagles have never won a state title and haven't advanced to the eastern regional championship series since 2010.

No players remain from that team.

King actually likes the lack championship game experience.

"I think it plays to our advantage," he said. "Nerves are going to be for everybody whether you've played in it or not, but these guys will be playing with nothing preconceived."

The combo of Reed Howell and Gurley has handled the pitching duties and produced offensively in the postseason. They've combined for a 1.62 earned run average. Howell bats .467 and Gurley hits a crisp .333.

But Rosewood's most-dangerous weapon offensively is its speed with Jordan Lynn, Bryce McKeel and Corey Lynn. The speedsters have executed well in the bunting game. Jordan Lynn and McKeel have combined to steal 31 bases.

King doesn't know much about Whiteville and he's fine with that. The Wolfpack has good pitching depth, executes in situational hitting and displays some speed.

"If they've made it this far, they're pretty good," he said. "We need to stick with the plan and I think we'll be fine. Just keep doing what we've been doing."

Which is winning.