1A PLAYOFFS: Bulldogs take out Pamlico

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on May 17, 2016 1:48 PM

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jhayes@newsargus.com

PRINCETON -- Baseball 101.

Princeton High epitomized the phrase Friday night, registering a value-driven, 5-1 victory over Pamlico County in second round play of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A baseball playoffs.

From the outset, the hosts were in total command.

They were also economic.

Bulldogs' starter Tanner Flowers was superb, dealing a veritable how-to manual in postseason pitching efficiency. The junior scattered just four hits and issued seating to nine Pamlico batters en route to a seminar-like, complete-game victory.

The performance moved Flowers' record to 3-2 on the season.

Princeton (20-6 overall) also worked cleanly at the plate, getting two runs across in their half of a free-flowing first inning. After Flowers scored on a wild pitch by PC's Blake Toler, designated hitter Anthony Jones scored Matt Daughtry on a sacrifice fly to left field.

In a flash, the Bulldogs led 2-0.

Flowers again campaigned for himself in the second, plating Nick Phillips on an RBI double to left centerfield. The blast was part of a comprehensive effort from the junior, who finished the night 3-4 at the plate.

As a team, the Bulldogs touched Toler for six hits on the evening. Short stop Phillips went 2-3 with an RBI, and helped signal a harsh dose of playoff reality to the 30th seeded Hurricanes, who dumped highly-touted Louisburg in a 7-1 clinic of their own Tuesday.

"We played with a lot of heart tonight," PC skipper Eric Hardison said,"my pitcher (Toler) threw what we called... just a couple balls found the middle of the zone and got hit hard."

Which was all it took to support Flowers, who ceded the reigns to Daughtry after six controlled frames. The sturdy righthander didn't disappoint, either. He promptly fanned two of three Hurricane batters to salt the proceedings.

Princeton skipper Bruce Proctor, ever mindful of his team's pulse, was pleased with its energetic approach to the contest.

"Tonight, I thought they were excited," he said of his team, "and that translates to playing well, playing hard... we feel fortunate to be there (in the third round)."

But there was really no other option for Proctor's gang, who was equal parts aggressive, multi-faceted and hyperfunctional under the Bartholomew Athletic Complex lights.

The Bulldogs will face Carolina 1-A conference foe Rosewood / Spring Creek next Tuesday in third round play.

Pamlico County finished the season with a 9-13 overall record.