Spring creek Faith Christian

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on June 18, 2014 1:48 PM

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aetzler@newsargus.com

Spring Creek rising senior Allen Coor has struggled with the bat ever since he tried out for the Wayne County Post 11 Senior Legion team.

In order to get himself going at the plate and get some innings in on the mound, he decided to play with Spring Creek during their Eastern Carolina Baseball League doubleheader at Faith Christian on Tuesday evening.

Coor finally found some gaps and helped his team sweep the Conquerors 16-2 and 12-4. Coor had four hits, including two doubles, three RBI and scored four runs.

"I still didn't even hit the ball that well," said Coor, who felt he hasn't regained the stroke he had in the spring that earned him all-Carolina 1-A Conference and all-area honors.

Spring Creek started hot with an 11-run explosion in the first inning. The Gators had seven hits, but quickly cooled down. Faith Christian's bullpen limited the damage with solid relief pitching.

"I talked to them after the game and made sure they know that we can't get too casual," head coach Allen Nichols said. "That other team isn't going to lay down, so we can't either."

Sawyer Smith had a double and two RBI. Will Rouse had two doubles and drove in four runs.

The second game stayed close until the bottom of the fourth inning.

Coor had a two-out, RBI single in the first inning.

Spring Creek built a seven-run lead with a six-run, two-out rally in the third. But the Gators' lost focus again and surrendered four runs in the top of the fourth inning.

"I think it's my job to make sure some of these young guys don't lose their focus and let them get back in it," Coor said. "I have to keep them up in the dugout and pep them up."

But Smith led off the top of the fifth with a double and propelled the Gators to a five-run inning before the game was called for darkness with two outs in the inning.

Coor got the win on the mound. The right-hander gave up one hit, no earned runs and struck out six Faith Christian batters in four innings.

Faith Christian's offense was led by Christopher Mills with an RBI double. John Johnson and Levi Wise each had a hit. Wise and Dylan Downey each endured a mound loss.