EW-Rose baseball

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on April 26, 2015 1:44 PM

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A simple change among infielders undoubtedly strengthened the backbone of Eastern Wayne's defense nearly a month ago.

Since then, the Warriors have been close to perfect on the baseball diamond -- especially at home.

Zack Smith tossed a four-hit shutout as Eastern Wayne handled J.H. Rose, 6-0, in an Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference affair Friday evening. The Warriors won their fourth straight at home and seventh game overall in their last nine outings.

Smith consistently pounded the strike zone and earned his second decision against the Rampants this season. The right-hander logged seven strikeouts on 81 pitches, including 61 strikes.

Rose had just seven batters reach base.

"In the bullpen, I was working on my curveball and it felt good today," said Smith, who retired the final six batters he faced and struck out the side in the seventh.

"I was trying to stay ahead (in the count) and away from lefties with a fastball, and (throw) some change-ups to righties and try to bust them in with some fastballs."

Smith also received stellar defensive help.

Infielders Braxton Lewis, Lee Daniels, Carlisle Smith and Collin Nix combined for 10 putouts and seven assists - including a second-inning double play. Daniels had two defensive gems at shortstop, including throwing out a runner at second base while falling backwards.

Catcher Ryan Warren blocked numerous pitches to keep Rose's few runners honest on the basepaths. Warren moved back behind the plate for the C.B. Aycock game in late March and Lewis took over at the hot corner.

"Ryan has solidified our defense, and Braxton has done a great job from going behind the plate to third base," EW head coach Jabo Fulghum said. "Our pitching and defense has been there all year (and) that's the reason we're where we are, but we still have a long ways to go.

"Zack, he's going to Charlotte as a catcher, but he loves the mound. He's pitched well for us."

Smith got all the offensive help he needed in the bottom of the first inning.

Lee Daniels (3-for-4) legged out an infield bunt and moved into scoring position on Andrew McKeel's sacrifice bunt. After Smith grounded out, Coy Barnett drilled a backside, run-scoring single into left-center field.

The Warriors (12-4 overall, 6-3 ECC) plated three fourth-inning runs on Carlisle Smith's RBI fielder's choice and McKeel's two-run single. McKeel connected on an RBI double in the sixth and scored the game's final run on an infield error.

Eastern Wayne had 10 hits on the night.

"We had the best practice that we've had all year yesterday and we brought that energy to the game tonight," said Fulghum, whose team is 7-1 at home this season. "We had good defense all around the place, everybody was involved in some form or fashion.

"It was a team effort."