EAST 1A REGIONAL: Whiteville turns back Rosewood, 6-5

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 26, 2017 6:58 AM

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By JUSTIN HAYES

jhayes@newsargus.com

Working silence.

Such was the tune carried by the Rosewood varsity baseball outfit on Thursday night, moments after dropping a bitterly-contested, 6-5 decision to Whiteville High in the opening game of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A East Regional best-of-three series at "The Nest."

A few long faces ambled to the batting cage fence line, extending a hand across the chain-link fence to family and friends. The rest busied about the task of prepping the infield for what they hope will be a winner-take-all scenario on Saturday.

If not, game one will likely be labeled the culprit.

On two occasions -- once in the fourth inning and again in the sixth -- the normally sure-handed Rosewood defense committed costly fielding errors that unraveled a quality start by right-hander Jonathan Peacock and rendered its offensive production moot.

Leading 3-0 after a home run by senior Derek Neal, the Eagles ran into trouble during Whiteville's half of the fourth inning. All-American MacKenzie Gore formed the basis of the Wolfpack rally with a bunt, and moved in short order to third base following a walk to Lincoln Ransom and a Rosewood throwing error on a ball struck by designated hitter Cameron Cartrette.

After an RBI by starting pitcher Dylan Lawson plated Gore, the Wolfpack benefited from another Rosewood throwing error -- one that allowed Ransom and Cartrette to cross, tying the ball game and creating hysteria amongst the Whiteville faithful.

Rosewood, however, refused to go quietly.

Following a 1-2-3 frame by Peacock in the fifth, the Eagles used a walk, a plunked batsman and a costly error by Whiteville's Joey Kurtika in shallow right field to plate two and regain 5-3 advantage.

Then it happened -- again.

After Peacock walked Ransom to begin the sixth, a four-error spree on sharply-hit ground balls turned a garden-variety inning into three pivotal runs for Whiteville.

Wolfpack 6, Eagles 5.

In its half of the seventh, Rosewood failed to muster a rally versus Whiteville reliever Jake Harwood, who supplanted Lawson on the hill after four innings.  

"I think both teams did a good job of putting the ball in play and putting pressure on the defense," Rosewood skipper Jason King said. "We missed a few plays that we routinely make, but it's not for a lack of effort... just have to make the most of our opportunity tomorrow."

First pitch is 7 p.m. in Whiteville.