BASEBALL: Hawks capitalize on Gators' unusual mistakes

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on March 11, 2017 11:39 PM

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jhayes@newsargus.com

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Murphy's Law, meet Rod Serling.

Such was the formed consensus of stunned onlookers Friday, who watched as Spring Creek dropped a 13-6 decision to North Lenoir amidst a hail of tough breaks and a run of what seemed like alternate-reality happenings at "The Swamp."

After handling the Hawks in short order and plating three runs in its own half of the first inning, Spring Creek appeared poised to control the proceedings -- until it didn't.

North Lenoir's Carter Harris reached on a Gator throwing error to start the second frame, then trotted ahead on a four-pitch walk to right fielder Aaron Jarman.

His circling of the pads concluded one batter later, when senior Reed Parris torch-lit a rocket to the fence in left field.

And with that, matters got strange.

SC experienced unusual difficulty behind starter Landon Smothers, twice turning routine grounders into Hawk base runners. There were also control problems on the cliff, as evidenced by skipper Heath Whitfield's deployment of five different pitchers throughout the contest.

Lastly, there were moments of hesitation by SC, which allowed NL to extend its onslaught on multiple occasions -- a torrent which spanned two innings, totaled 11 runs and essentially decided the outcome.

The feast was a welcome sight, however, to North Lenoir first-year lead man Jackson Massey, who felt his troops appeared a bit lethargic in pre-game warmups.

"We were a little flat in the first inning," Massey said. "But you're always proud of the guys who show some fight and put some balls in play."

And square up they did, touching Spring Creek hurlers for a total of 12 base knocks and as many RBI on the evening.

Despite its deficit, SC battled and prolonged the affair with a run in the fifth inning to stave off a mercy-rule defeat, then added two more in its half of the seventh -- signs of life for a club that had a highly-unusual, collective out-of-body experience between the lines.

"We didn't play well in any phase of the game," Whitfield noted. "But No. 1, it starts out there on that bump... we're struggling and have to find some consistency."

North Lenoir was paced by Aaron Jarman, whose paired his mound victory with a 1-for-4, three-RBI effort at the plate. Also shining for NL was Jackson Sullivan, who finished 2-for-5 with two RBI.

Spring Creek (1-5 overall) was led at the dish by Christian Yarbrough, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI. USC-Beaufort signee Kaden Geelen finished the night 1-for-4, also including a pair of RBI.

North Lenoir plays host to West Carteret next Wednesday. Spring Creek will return to action next Tuesday as the host of Carolina 1-A foe Hobbton.