Eagles drop 6-4 decision to Oakwood

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on March 27, 2016 1:47 AM

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jhayes@newsargus.com

WILSON -- Have game, will travel.

That appeared to be the in-dugout sentiment Saturday afternoon for The Oakwood School, which started with a bang and then held on to defeat a frustrated Rosewood team, 6-4, on opening-day play of the Golden Leaf Invitational at Hunt High School.

The Eagles (9-0 overall) started quickly, getting a lead-off double from sophomore Austin Goins. After taking second on a wild pitch from Rosewood starter Jonathan Peacock, he scored the game's first run on an RBI double from designated hitter Zarion Sharpe.

Peacock, who gave up six hits on the afternoon, trailed 3-0 after the first inning. He would be spelled by Colby Harris after three frames.

Although not the optimal start, it was one Rosewood skipper Jason King was confident his club would endure.

"We've been down early in games before and battled back," King said. "And it wasn't a situation where we dropped our heads. It was a matter of coming back, fighting back, and making our chances count."

And the second inning offered support of that notion.

Buoyed by sloppy Oakwood pitching and a botched fly ball with the bases loaded, Rosewood pushed across three runs of its own, prompting the visitors to make a change on the hill.

The adjustment proved nightmarish for Rosewood.

Goins relocated from shortstop and proved elusive for the remainder of the afternoon, allowing just two hits and no runs in 5 1/3 innings. He navigated the power portion of Rosewood's lineup with aplomb, hitting his spots and never finding serious trouble.

Rosewood's frustration peaked as the innings wore on, particularly in the sixth, when it resorted to reaching for pitches out of the zone and retiring in succinct order.

"I don't know what got us off there, but you have to adjust," King said. "And we have to do a better job of making adjustments at the plate."

The final inning proved no giant mystery, even as Rosewood's Ethan Chapin singled and stole second to move into scoring position. Just as he did all afternoon, Oakwood's Goins induced two pop-ups and a ground ball to end the affair.

Rosewood (7-4 overall) faces Northern Nash on day two of the Invitational at Fleming Stadium. Game time is 10:30 a.m.