BASEBALL: White silences Rebels

By Ben Coley
Published in Sports on March 22, 2017 10:22 AM

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bcoley@newsargus.com

Rosewood pitcher Max White began Tuesday night's game by allowing a hard-hit single to North Duplin's Dylan Jones.

Jones eventually scored on a passed ball. After that sequence of events, White decided he wasn't go to be in such a charitable mood any more.

In six innings of work, the junior allowed only three more hits, walked no one and struck out four batters in the Eagles' decisive 11-1 mercy-rule victory.

White spearheaded a night that served as Rosewood's third consecutive victory -- all of them coming in Carolina 1-A Conference play.

"I like the fact that (White) battled," Rosewood head coach Jason King said. "He got some good sticks on the ball early in the game. He was struggling a little bit with his mechanics early. (He) worked on it, and he stayed in there kept his feet to the fire."

After Jones scored in the top of the first inning, no other Rebels' base runner reached third base. Jones added a two-out double in the second inning, but he was stranded after White struck out Colby Bass.

In the fourth inning, North Duplin's Gage Smith and David Price hit back-to-back two-out singles. White -- showing the composure that King wants -- forced Tanner Gehron into a pop fly to end the Rebels' threat.

This season, White is 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA (earned run average). The junior hurler has allowed just one walk and one run in 11 innings.

"I think (White) will be big," said King, referring to White's place in the rotation. "He's definitely a starter for us on the mound. He's done a good job in both outings he's had. And we like his stuff. He stays in the strike zone, and we play good defense behind him."

Tuesday night was the third time in five games that North Duplin failed to score more than three runs.

Rebels' head coach Caleb Hall said he needs to see a better effort from his group.

"Our head just wasn't in the game," Hall said. "...I thought our approaches at the plate tonight were a little better than they've been in the past. We squared some balls up. We just weren't able to get any runs across the board."

White did his job on the mound, but the Eagles' bats made sure he felt no pressure.

Junior center-fielder Chance Howard went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI. Clean-up batter Derek Neal smashed a two-run homer to left field. Jonathan Peacock registered two hits (two RBI), while Kolby Harris (RBI), Stalen Massengill (2 RBI) and White (RBI) recorded one hit apiece.

Rosewood currently sits atop the standings, and is the only remaining undefeated team in conference play. King knows there is always room to become better, but the veteran likes how the team has progressed thus far.

"I think we're improving in just about every aspect," King said. "We're making adjustments at the plate...our pitching as been good. And I think our approach just needs to continue to improve, and I think we're at a good spot right now."