ECBL: CBA White left-hander Kearney tosses 1-hitter

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on July 1, 2014 1:49 PM

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aetzler@newsargus.com

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock's Ryan Kearney didn't think he was going to have a good outing on the mound Monday.

The left-hander had just gotten back from the beach with sunburn on his throwing shoulder.

"It was a little painful out there," Kearney said. "I got it all over my shoulders and chest."

If Kearney was feeling pain, he didn't show it during a one-hit, 10-0 shutout over Faith Christian in Eastern Carolina Baseball League action.

"We challenged him to work ahead in the count tonight and he did it," CBA White coach Nelson Cunningham said. "He did a great job out there."

Faith Christian had just four base runners during the game, including two who were picked off in rundown situations. The Conquerors couldn't adjust to Kearney, who worked to locate his two-seam fastball and use his four-seamer when he fell behind in the count.

Kearney carried a no-hitter in to the fifth inning before giving up an infield single to Levi Wise. The possible no-hitter did overwhelm Kearney.

"It go to me a little bit," Kearney said. "I was a little mad when I gave up this, but it's not anyone's fault."

"No one mentioned it to him," Cunningham said. "But I heard some boys in the dugout say something about it being gone after he gave up the hit."

Kearney's teammates gave him plenty of run support.

An outfield error helped the Golden Falcons claim a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Chandler Matthews ignited a five-run third inning with an RBI triple.

"Honestly they had gone through our lineup pretty good early, but when he dealt that big blow you felt the momentum go the other way for us," Cunningham said.

Trey Smith relieved Wise on the bump for Faith Christian. The Golden Falcons manufactured a run in the fourth inning and three fifth-inning errors invoked the mercy rule.

"We've got to quit making those errors," Faith coach Steven Reese said. "We got nervous playing against Aycock. When these guys don't play nervous, they're fine. We just got to get over that hump."

Matthews finished with two hits and two RBI. Bradley Pate had an two-RBI double, while Ty Daniels capped the shutout with an RBI walk-off single in the fifth.

The Golden Falcons (13-3 overall) entertain Southern Wayne White today, while the Conquerors travel to East Duplin.