Eagles grab early lead, Pack rallies and advances to state finals

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 31, 2014 11:23 PM

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aetzler@newsargus.com

WHITEVILLE -- As Rosewood head coach Jason King embraced his senior left fielder Jordan Lynn with a hug Saturday evening, he saw tears well up in Lynn's eyes.

"I just told him he was our spark plug," King said. "All season he made things happen for us."

It was the last time Lynn would take the field with King as his coach.

Rosewood's magical season came to a halt with a heart-breaking, 5-4 loss to Whiteville in game two of their N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A eastern regional championship series at Legion Memorial Field. The Wolfpack claimed the series 2-0.

Lynn, who started the season as the No. 7 hitter in the lineup and worked his way up to the lead-off spot, continued to be the spark plug for his team. He had three hits including a double, two stolen bases and scored twice.

"For him to do what he did, get to the lead-off spot and stay there impressed me," King said. "He exceeded all expectations. They all did."

King worried about the Eagles' pitching situation and who they would bring in if they needed someone. Jordan Gurley got the start and, through four innings, he made it look like the bullpen wouldn't be needed.

But in the fifth inning with the Eagles ahead 4-1, Gurley lost his control a bit. He hit a batter and walked two to load the bases. King chose not to go to the bullpen.

"He's gotten us out of jams before," King said. "We were hoping he'd be able to do it again."

Gurley walked in a run. Then he gave up a two-run, game-tying double to Hunter Cartrette. King went to his bullpen and brought in his ace Reed Howell, who was pitching on just two days rest and didn't have the zip on his fastball he usually does.

Howell walked a batter and then surrendered an RBI sacrifice fly to Hunter Harwood that proved to be the game-winning run.

After the game, the Eagles (20-6) lined up down the first-base line to receive their trophy as the east region runner-up. They accepted the trophy, hugged and high-fived each other.

Then they watched the Wolfpack receive its eighth region trophy in program history. As players started to make their way to shallow right field to hear the last speech their coach would give them this year, Howell spent a few extra moments staring at the Wolfpack celebration -- longing to have what just barely slipped through his grasp.

King told the boys it was one of the best games they've played all year.

It likely was.

Freshman Derek Neal had a big double in the first inning to score two runs. The defense played flawless and Gurley gutted his way through four-plus innings. His walks were a product of him making good pitches to a disciplined lineup and calls not going his way.

"He wasn't missing by much if at all," King said. "I told him he pitched a hell of a game."

King told his players opportunities would come. He pointed to the five state championship banners that hang behind the stands in Whiteville's stadium and said they would get the banner that has long eluded them.

After King finished his speech, the seniors lined up on the foul line. King went down the line and hugged Jordan Lynn, Corey Lynn, Brent Breedlove, Daniel Herring and Howell.

The players followed suit.

Gurley and Howell, the two pitchers who carried the Eagles to within two games of the state finals, gave each other a long emotional embrace, knowing they just played their last game together.

"I think both have been through so much together," King said. "They've shared so much together. Being pitchers, having that much weight on your shoulders I think they shared that sentiment with each other and bonded through that."

Some of the players cried.

Some laughed with teammates they consider brothers.

None of them hung their heads.

And they didn't deserve to.

"They just played their hearts out, man," King said. "That's all I could ask for."