BASEBALL: Golden Falcons defeat South Central in walk-off fashion

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on March 27, 2017 9:59 AM

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By JUSTIN HAYES

jhayes@newsargus.com

PIKEVILLE -- Break up the band.

Charles B. Aycock first baseman Nick Aycock did just that on Friday, scoring senior Dakoda Leeper on an eighth-inning, walk-off single to right-center field, giving the Golden Falcons a panic-attack inspired, 2-1 triumph over Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference foe South Central.

The victory -- CBA's second extra-innings stint of the week -- moved the club to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in matters of league significance.

It just took a while to develop.

Both team's starting pitchers were sharp from the outset, dialing to all portions of the plate with pace and curvature. SC's Scott Mayo was especially stingy, battling through adverse counts to allow just one hit over the first 13 batters he faced.  

"We did a poor job," CBA skipper Charles Davis said of the early going. "Taking too many fastballs down the middle and then swinging at pitches up -- the only good thing we had to show for it was that we ran that kid's (Mayo) pitch count."

CBA countered with Cody Whaley, who proved stifling as well. The junior was untouchable early, giving up no runs, no hits and striking out a pair through four innings -- precisely when Aycock assumed control.

With two outs and Nolan Harrell on second base, No. 5 ripped a Mayo offering to right field, plating the designated hitter and giving the hosts a 1-0 advantage.

It wouldn't last long, however.

South Central mobilized around a base hit and a Whaley walk in the fifth, then tied matters when Sincere Pittman scored catcher Ryan Purcell on a glancing blow to right field.

The stare-down then marched into the short rows as Jordan Gay relieved Whaley in a jammed-up sixth and SC's Stone Baldwin entered for Mayo a frame later.

It all set the stage for CBA's half of the eighth, when Aycock climbed in the box after Harrell reached on a walk. With two outs and Leeper attending first base as a courtesy runner, it happened.

Aycock found a Baldwin heave to his liking, turned with speed and hammered a rope to the gap in right-center field. His blast gave Leeper a green-light gallop and he crossed home plate seconds later where he was met by a dugout mob -- and the cheers of what seemed like the whole of Pikeville.

Ball game -- CBA 2, South Central 1.

The visiting Falcons were led offensively by Pittman, who finished 2-for-3 with an RBI. Chris Poole, Colby Wainwright and Ryan Purcell also had base hits for SC, 5-5 overall and 1-3 in the ECC.

Aycock's Whaley earned his third victory of the season.