Pirates shut out Warriors in Golden Leaf Invite

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on March 27, 2016 1:47 AM

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bdavis@newsargus.com

WILSON -- The opportunity presented itself, but something was missing at home plate.

"We had two or three innings today, second or third (base), bases loaded, and we didn't have anything to scratch or show for it," said Eastern Wayne head baseball coach Jabo Fulghum after a 3-0 loss to Corinth-Holders during the third annual Golden Leaf Invitational on Saturday afternoon.

The teams played through 21/2 scoreless innings before the Pirates occupied three bases in the third inning. Senior Kahlil Hodge hit the ball in the infield and brought in senior Hunter Sullivan. Junior pitcher Tate Proctor slammed the ball to right field, and sophomore Eli Dalton and junior Tyler Barritt scored for a 3-0 lead.

The Warriors turned up the defense.

In the bottom of the fourth, senior catcher Zack Smith slid on his knees to catch a foul ball. Two innings later, teammate Cole Steiner fell toward the ground as he snagged a fly ball in left field. Steiner stood up and showed the umpire the ball.

Shortstop Lee Daniels gobbled up a ground ball and threw to teammate Michael Wiggins for a bang-bang play at second base.

Warriors junior pitcher Carlyle Smith hit the ball to center field and made it to first base in the top of the sixth, but didn't score. Zack Smith launched a two-out base hit to center field in the top of the seventh, but the Pirates recorded the game-ending out on the next batter.

Though Corinth-Holders used three pitchers -- junior Josh Jarman, Proctor and senior Tyler Brown. Fulghum put faith in his two pitchers -- Carlyle Smith and junior Tanner Wells.

Smith pitched for three innings against a tough Pirates' offense. Wells pitched for four innings and threw two strikeouts.

"They (the Pirates) pitched well, so did we," Fulghum said. "We got to find a way to put pressure on the offensive end. We got to get more aggressive at the plate."

The Warriors (7-3 overall) return to action Monday against West Carteret at Hunt High School. First pitch is 2 p.m.