Warriors capitalize on Golden Falcons' defensive miscues

By Cam Ellis
Published in Sports on April 1, 2015 1:46 PM

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cellis@newsargus.com

When pitchers Zack Smith and Bobby Hampton take the mound -- more often than not -- one run is all one team needs to win.

That was the case Tuesday afternoon.

Eastern Wayne capitalized on some well-timed infield hits and equally poor-timed errors by Charles B. Aycock in a 1-0, eight-inning victory.

After not manufacturing much offense against Hampton, the Warriors finally struck in the bottom of the eighth inning. First baseman Collin Nix singled and was substituted by courtesy runner KK Best.

Carlisle Smith and Lee Daniels each reached on a throwing error, which brought center fielder Andrew McKeel to the plate. McKeel worked Hampton to a full count before he chopped a ball down the third-base line.

Aycock's Ashton McGee cleanly fielded the grounder, but rushed the throw to home and one-hopped the ball over the catcher's head. Best slid in safely.

After not being able to manufacture much of anything against Hampton all afternoon, the Warriors finally struck in the bottom of the eighth. First baseman Collin Nix reached on a single to start the inning before being subbed for pinch-runner KK Best. After Carlisle Smith and Lee Daniels both reached on throwing errors, center fielder Andrew McKeel came to the plate with the bases loaded and no one out.

McKeel worked a full count before chopping a ball down the third base line. Aycock third baseman Ashton McGee fielded it cleanly but rushed the throw home, one-hopping the ball over the catcher's head as Best slid into home safely.

"We had to try and move runners over the best we could and we were fortunate that they didn't make a play in that spot," Eastern Wayne head coach Jabo Fulghum said. "I'm proud of our kids for hanging in there and battling."

The loss overshadowed another masterful performance from Hampton, who allowed one run, one walk and retired nine EW hitters on strikeouts. However, he received no support from the CBA offense.

"It's a very frustrating game because it should have never got to the bottom of the eighth inning," CB Aycock coach Charles Davis said. "Both pitchers pitched their tails off, but the difference was that Eastern Wayne made plays when they had to and we didn't."

Smith walked four, struck out and earned the complete-game win on the bump. He escaped trouble in the seventh when Jake Naughton ripped a one-out double over McKeel's head in center field and advanced to third on a wild pitch.

But Smith struck out Lloyd Lowe and Hampton hit a weak ground ball to end the scoring threat.

"(Aycock) has a couple of guys that can hit a little bit, and he did a good job of keeping that changeup down," Fulghum said. "I thought his changeup really kept him in there and he kept pounding the strike zone."

The Golden Falcons left seven men on base for the game.

"I thought we had great at-bats until we got runners on base," Davis said. "Once we got runners on base, we kind of changed our approach. It's just a matter of competing. We knew one run or one mistake was probably going to win the game."