Harris' single lifts Golden Falcons into state championship series

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on May 31, 2014 11:23 PM

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aetzler@newsargus.com

PIKEVILLE -- Throughout their three-game series, South Johnston constantly walked Charles B. Aycock first baseman -- and North Carolina State signee -- Meredith Burroughs to pitch the Golden Falcons center fielder Cierra Harris, who is headed to Campbell University.

Walking a future Division I player to pitch to another future Division I player sounds crazy.

But the strategy almost proved ingenious. Harris struggled to provide the protection for Burroughs and drive in runs. Then, the senior came up to bat in the biggest spot imaginable Friday evening.

And she succeeded.

Tied at 4-4 with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, Harris delivered a walk-off single up the middle and sent the Golden Falcons to the state championship series with a 5-4 victory over South Johnston.

"I walked up to the plate and looked at the dugout and Madison Walton said 'I have complete faith in you 100 percent. Now get it done.' And I got it done," Harris said.

Aycock (21-3 overall) emerged as the N.C. High School Athletic Association eastern regional 3-A champion for the second time in the past three years, and claimed its sixth regional crown in program history since 2000.

The Golden Falcons oppose Monroe Sun Valley (24-5) in the best-of-three state finals next weekend at Walnut Creek in Raleigh.

South Johnston (23-5) played small ball in the bottom of the fifth inning to get runners on base. Alexis Massengill executed a gutsy, two-strike suicide squeeze bunt to make it 1-0.

The Trojans padded their lead to 4-0 on a pair of run-scoring hits and an Aycock error.

"We made errors like that on Tuesday, the difference is we didn't let them eat us alive emotionally," Burke said.

The Golden Falcons quickly rebounded in the bottom of the sixth on Katie Gay's solo homer -- her second of the series. But Harris popped out to end the inning with three runners left on base.

When all hope seemed lost, the Golden Falcons saved their season in the seventh. Down three runs and with three outs to use wisely, Harris said "the fat lady hadn't sung yet."

Mackenzie Wheeler drew a lead-off walk.

Keeley Fulghum singled

Madison Walton walked to load the bases.

Gay connected on a two-RBI double, which put runners on second and third and no outs on the board. Allison Shingleton walked, but the Trojan defense retired the next two batters and prevented the runners from scoring.

Then came the dream matchup.

Burroughs stepped into the batter's box with the bags full and South Johnston had nowhere to put her. The Trojans set up outside as if to pitch around her yet again and walk in the tying run.

But South Johnston catcher Carissa Womble threw down to third base and the ball got away, which allowed pinch-runner Myleah Jones to score the game-tying run.

Burroughs walked.

"I definitely wanted it," Burroughs said. "I don't want to sound ugly, but if I was them I probably would have walked me, too. It's a respect thing."

The table was set for Harris, who had gone hitless during her previous five at-bats and left eight runners stranded on base. Plus, she had been called out for stepping out of the batter's box on three slap-hit attempts during the series.

Harris made a slight adjustment, though. She entered the box a little further back and did her usual routine which resulted in the game-winning single up the middle.

It was a blur to Harris.

"No idea," Harris laughed. "I could have closed my eyes, I could have been (flailing my arms) swinging. I have no idea what happened."