North Duplin falls to W. Columbus

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 23, 2015 10:35 PM

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From staff reports

CERRO GORDO -- It came down to the last at-bat.

West Columbus plated two seventh-inning runs and turned back 23rd-seeded North Duplin, 10-9, during their eastern semifinal-round contest in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A baseball playoffs.

The Vikings (17-12 overall) oppose defending state champ and county rival Whiteville in the best-of-three eastern regional championship series.

"The kids were all ready to play, none of my guys quit at all," first-year ND head coach Chuck Crumpler said. "They kept battling. (West Columbus) get a break."

The Rebels (12-9) overcame an early-game injury to catcher Kaleb Brock, who rolled his knee after contact with a West Columbus runner at the plate. Fellow senior Ced Kornegay took over behind the dish and gunned down two runners who attempted to steal second base.

West led 5-0 after three innings, but saw its lead quickly disappear. North Duplin (12-9) manufactured a six-run outburst on a few "bloop" singles and aggressive base running that pressured the Vikings' defense in the top of the fourth inning.

The Rebels clung to a 9-8 lead through six innings.

Crumpler called upon his ace, senior left-hander Trey Pate, to close the door. Pate thought he caught a batter looking at a third strike that turned into a walk and then a hit batsman set the table for the Vikings.

A hit up the middle and outfield error allowed West Columbus to push across the game-deciding runs.

"You see those kinds of plays every day in the Major Leagues and college baseball," Crumpler said. "Nobody flinched (tonight). It was one of those games you want to see and be a part of it. It was a really good high school baseball game."

Hunter Thurston paced the Rebels' offense with two hits and an RBI. Copeland Brickhouse (RBI), Kornegay, Hunter Jones (RBI), Bryce Best (RBI), Boone McNeill (RBI) and DJ Morrisey (RBI) supplied one hit apiece.