Nash Central hands Eastern Wayne first loss of season

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on March 7, 2016 1:48 PM

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By JUSTIN HAYES

jhayes@newsargus.com

It's early yet.

That may very well be the only consolation available to the Eastern Wayne High varsity baseball team, whose miscues in the field Saturday proved costly in an otherwise tightly contested, 3-0 loss to visiting Nash Central.

The Warriors, just a day removed from an impressive victory at Wilson Hunt, slid to 2-1 on the season. And early on, there was no reason to forsee a crack in their recent form.

Eastern Wayne's Carlyle Smith was in control from the outset, hitting spots in the strike zone with a variety of pitches and forcing Nash Central batsmen into a litany of ground balls and routine pop-ups.

"He threw strikes," said head coach Jabo Fulghum, "and I really wanted just three innings from him today."

Which is precisely when the Warrior bus careened off-road.

Nash Central (2-1) started the affair with a base knock by Hunter Robinson, and was followed by Colby Carter's single to right field. And when the Bulldog sophomore broke for second on Smith's next offering, calamity ensued.

Eastern Wayne catcher Ryan Warren's pickoff attempt missed wildly into shallow centerfield, allowing Robinson to cross for the Bulldogs' first run. The Warriors steadied themselves, however, and calmly navigated the remainder of the two-on, two-out jam.  

Smith, making his third appearance in just five days, struck out two and walked one before bowing out after five innings.

Which is precisely when another error proved costly.

Following a leadoff double by Nash Central's Payton Bass, the Warriors intentionally walked Tyler Sherrod to set up a potential double play -- a decision that would ultimately prove costly.

After the Warriors' Brock Johnson mishandled a Chase Minshew ground ball at third base, the floodgates keeping Murphy's Law at bay seemingly opened wide. A passed ball by Collin Nix and another fielding error paved the way for two more Bulldog runs, making the score 3-0.

Hunter Robinson, appearing in relief of Nash Central lead man Trey Whitley, locked down the Warriors over the final frame, securing the Bulldogs' second victory of the season.

For the Warriors, who registered just two hits on the afternoon, the loss is nothing more than a small drop in a large, spring-long pond - one they've handled before.

"We just have to keep plugging," Fulghum said. "We're going to have to turn it around... You're going to have to play back-to-back games, and be ready mentally and physically."     

The Warriors host North Lenoir next Tuesday at 5 p.m.