Local digest

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 22, 2007 2:01 AM

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KINSTON -- Southern Wayne jumped out to a 6-0 lead after just two innings and coasted to a 12-1 whipping of Kinston on Friday night in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference action.

The Saints pounded Kinston pitching for 14 hits led by Lynn Grantham who was 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Lindsey Pearsall added to the Southern Wayne hitting attack by going 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. Other leading hitters for the Saints were Jordan Hill who was 1-2 with two RBIs and Lauren Darden who added a two-run double.

On the mound, Darden provided her usual dominant performance.

The sophomore allowed only one hit and an unearned run in her five innings of work while striking out 13.

Bobby Harris took the loss for the Vikings.

Southern Wayne improves to 18-2 overall and 7-1 in the ECC. Next up for the Saints is Wilson Hunt on Tuesday in Dudley.

Lancaster dominant

in C.B. Aycock's win

WILSON -- Julia Lancaster held Wilson Hunt hitless for the first four innings and finished with a two hitter in Charles B. Aycock's 4-1 win in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play on Friday night.

Lancaster improved to 8-4 on the season by allowing no runs and striking out 14.

Emily Jordan had a huge game at the plate for the Golden Falcons by going 3-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI.

Jazzmine Lee added an RBI double and Lancaster contributed a two-run single for Aycock.

"I thought we set the tone for the game right to start with when we came out in the pregame real enthusiastic," said Aycock coach David West. "We were banging away at the ball all night."

The victory improves Aycock to 15-5 overall and a perfect 8-0 in ECC play. The Golden Falcons next host Eastern Wayne on Tuesday night.

North Lenoir tops

visiting Rams

LaGRANGE -- North Lenoir got a strong pitching performance by Brittany Sanders to defeat Greene Central 4-1 in Eastern Plains 2-A Conference play on Friday night.

Sanders picked up the win by allowing only one run on three hits, walked none and struck out seven in a complete-game effort.

At the plate, Connor Jordan was 2-for-3 with two RBIs to lead North Lenoir.

Stacey Wade drove in Greene Central's lone run with an RBI double and finished 2-for-3.

The Rams fall to 8-8 overall and 2-2 in the EPC and will next host North Pitt on Tuesday.

North Lenoir improves to 11-5 overall and 3-1 in the EPC and travels to Rosewood on Monday.

Wayne Christian

blitzes Johnston

Brittany Sullivan and Kayla Kennedy combined for a three-inning perfect game as No. 1-ranked Wayne Christian thrashed Johnston Christian 15-0 on Friday afternoon.

Sullivan notched four strikeouts and Kennedy fanned three Johnston batters. Officials halted the Carolina Christian 1-A contest after 2 1/2 innings due to the 15-run mercy rule.

Carly Hightower smacked an inside-the-park home run -- one of five extra-base hits on the day. Kennedy and Charity Wright each cranked out a triple. Traci Davis and Sara McCollum each provided a double.

Baseball

Rosewood wins

despite blown lead

AYDEN -- Rosewood led 11-2 heading into the seventh inning when Ayden-Grifton erupted for nine runs to tie the game before the Eagles eventually prevailed in the 10th inning, winning 12-11 on Friday night.

Matt Neal started for Rosewood and cruised through the first six innings before he allowed four runs in the bottom of the seventh, including a three-run home run from the Chargers' Gerronie Gay.

Ayden-Grifton continued its hitting barrage against Rosewood reliever Cody Richards and tied the score at 11-11.

In the 10th inning Rosewood's Taylor Allen reached on an infield single and advance to second on a walk to Richards. Goss Kendall then singled home Allen with the winning run.

Kendall led the Eagles by going 4-for-6 with two RBIs while Richards and Smeltzer both added three hits apiece.

Richards picked up the win going 3 2/3 and allowing four earned runs on four hits, walked three and struck out one.

Rosewood improves to 12-4 (4-2 CC) and next hosts North Johnston on Tuesday.

North Lenoir

beats G. Central

SNOW HILL -- State-ranked North Lenoir spotted Eastern Plains 2-A rival Greene Central a two-run lead, but rallied for a 6-2 decision on the James R. Fulghum Athletic Complex diamond Friday evening.

The Hawks (16-2 overall) remained unbeaten in five EPC contests and battle Farmville Central next Tuesday. The Rams (6-12) tumbled to 2-3 in the league and visit North Pitt the same day.

Brandon Sutton emerged the winning pitcher and banged out two hits for North Lenoir. Teammate C.C. Croom doubled twice in three at-bats.

Will McLawhorn, Stephen McDonald, Trey Beaman and Chris Leggett each batted 1-for-3 for the Rams. Michael Speedy suffered the pitching loss.

Princeton tops Gators

in extra-innings

PRINCETON -- Princeton overcame a late one-run deficit to tie the game in the fifth inning and win it in the eighth to defeat Spring Creek 2-1 on Friday in Carolina 1-A Conference action.

The Gators jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Josh Gammon connected for a solo home run in the third inning before Princeton scored two unanswered.

Colin Parker picked up the win for the Bulldogs while Kevin Prunest took the loss for Spring Creek.

Princeton improves to 13-5 overall and a perfect 6-0 in the CC. It was next travel to North Duplin on Tuesday.

Spring Creek drops to 8-11, 0-6 and next host Ayden-Grifton on Tuesday night.

Defense plagues

WCDS in loss

Wayne Country Day erased an early 6-0 deficit to tie the game at 9-9 heading into the fifth inning, but Greenfield would push two more runs across and defeat the host Chargers 11-9 on Friday afternoon.

In the bottom of the fourth, Trent Langston connected for his third home run of the season to tie the contest.

Langston would finished the afternoon 3-for-3 with three RBIs.

Defense became the Chargers' downfall though as seven errors led to seven unearned runs for Greenfield.

Langston took the loss for WCDS by allow 11 runs (four earned) on 10 hits, walked four and struck out four.

Travis Davis finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs while Kevin Herring was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and Sam Steed went 2-for-4.

The game was the final home game for WCDS seniors Davis, Steed, Langston, Kyle Pender and Joseph Cha.

Despite the loss, the Chargers (15-2, 3-1) remain in first place in the Coastal Plains Independent Conference and will next travel to Rosewood on Wednesday.

Wayne Christian demolishes

Johnston Christian

Wayne Christian picked up a 15-0, three-inning win over Johnston Christian on Friday night.

The Eagles were led by Tyler Brannan who finished 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs while Travis Thomas added a double and three RBIs and Dominic Arthur had a double and two driven in.

Doug Johnson pitched the first two innings for Wayne Christian and allowed only one hit while striking out four. Michael Johnson pitched the final inning and struck out one.

The Eagles move to 11-3 (5-0) and next face Durham Cresset on Tuesday afternoon.

North Duplin falls

to North Johnston

CALYPSO -- North Johnston overcame a 3-0 deficit with eight unanswered runs to defeat North Duplin 8-5 on Friday night in Carolina 1-A Conference action.

Doug Lloyd took the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits, walked three and struck out two in 3 2/3 innings.

Billy Mello was 3-for-3 for the Rebels and scored two runs for North Duplin while Ryan Killette added a solo home run.

North Duplin drops to 8-6 (2-4 CC) and next hosts Princeton on Tuesday.

JV soccer

Eastern Wayne

shuts out Aycock

Brandi Dean notched both goals and Eastern Wayne shut out county rival C.B. Aycock 2-0 on Friday afternoon.

The Warriors improved to 6-3 overall and visit the Golden Falcons next Tuesday in their final regular-season meeting. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.

JV tennis

W. Country Day

grabs two wins

DUDLEY -- Wayne Country Day emerged victorious on five singles courts and swept the doubles in an 8-1, non-conference victory over Southern Wayne.

Thomas Elmore, Brandon Davis, Jay Grisette, Brinson Mitchell and Blake Marchese each picked up a singles win. Mitchell prevailed 9-8, including 7-5 in the tiebreaker against the Saints' fourth-seeded Victor Navera.

Elmore-Davis, Grisette-Marchese and Douglas Williams-Bryce Allen each collected a doubles point.

The Chargers edged Rocky Mount Academy 5-4 on the Coastal Plains Independent 1-A scene on Thursday afternoon.

Russell Turner, Tanner Pate and Grisette each won in singles. Turner-Pate and Davis-Elmore each claimed a doubles victory as the Chargers escaped with a one-point decision.

Wayne Country Day is 5-2 overall.

Dixie Youth 12U baseball

Wayne Country Day 16, Seymour Johnson 1 -- Cody Neal tossed a no-hitter and posted eight strikeouts in a contest shortened to three innings because of the 15-run rule. Neal and Darrell Ezzell each provided two hits on offense. Cole Davis added a double, while Cody Jackson and Ryan Kelly each contributed a hit.

WCDS improved to 1-0.