PREP BASEBALL: Four area players earn NCBCA All-State accolades

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on July 18, 2016 1:48 PM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newargus.com

The postseason recognition continues for four players from three area high schools who have earned spots on the 2016 N.C. Baseball Coaches Association all-state teams for their respective classifications.

The four-classification lists were released Friday.

Pitt Community College-bound Kyle Davis helped lead Charles B. Aycock to 21 wins and a second-round appearance in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A playoffs this past spring. A right-hander Davis logged a 10-2 record and 1.90 earned run average (ERA) during 622⁄3 innings on the bump.

Davis retired 53 opposing batters on strikeouts and received all-Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference honors. Offensively, he batted .373 with 28 hits and 13 RBI.

"(I'm) very proud of him as his father," CBA head coach Charles Davis said. "As his coach, very deserving. His numbers speak for himself... had a very good season for us because he put in the work during the offseason.

"He wanted the ball in big-game situations and produced. (A) very good accomplishment to remember for his senior year."

Down toward Seven Springs, Will Rouse enjoyed a stellar senior campaign in "The Swamp." The utility player, who has signed with Lenoir Community College, posted a 9-1 record with three saves and a 1.36 ERA on the mound.

An all-Carolina Conference pick, Rouse batted .306, drove in 15 runs and stole nine bases. He helped the Gators establish a season-single record for wins (19) and advance to the eastern 1-A semifinals for the second consecutive season.

"Will had an unbelievable year for us on the mound," SC head coach Heath Whitfield said. "Every time he went out (to pitch), our guys just felt like we were going to win. Making all-state is sort of icing on the cake for him.

"(A) great accomplishment."

Carolina rival Princeton had two all-state picks -- pitchers Tanner Flowers and Matt Daughtry.

Flowers registered a microscopic 0.26 ERA on the hill and retired 92 opposing batters on strikeouts in a team-high 792⁄3 innings of work. He finished 8-5 with three saves. Offensively, Flowers batted .314 with 27 hits and 13 RBI.

A Barton College signee, Daughtry pounded out 13 extra-base hits and emerged the Bulldogs' leader in RBI (26) and walks (23). On the mound, Daughtry fashioned a 5-2 record and 1.37 ERA in 51 innings. He had 54 strikeouts.

The duo led Princeton to the 2016 Deacon Jones Invitational championship -- the program's first since 2013 and fourth overall since 2005. They were part of a 10-senior class that racked up 20 wins -- which led the Carolina Conference.

"I'm very proud of both young men," said former PHS head coach Bruce Proctor, who was recently named the school's new athletics director.

"They're both very deserving. They had really impressive stats and outstanding seasons. I'm sure both will tell you that they didn't receive this award without the help of their teammates."