Warrior win comes with a cost

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on March 25, 2008 2:27 PM

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GREENVILLE -- Victories occasionally come with a price tag.

Only time will tell, however, how expensive Eastern Wayne's 7-4, non-conference win over Washington will be during the next few days.

Shortstop Walker Gourley, who has verbally committed to East Carolina, suffered a leg injury moments after slugging a second-inning home run. He collapsed just before reaching first base and remained on the ground for a few minutes.

Gourley finally stood up and gingerly rounded the bases.

In the fourth, Gourley fouled off a pitch and tumbled to the ground again. He did not return to the game and concluded the day with two hits, two RBI and three runs scored in two at-bats.

"We just want to make sure Gourley is okay," said Eastern Wayne head coach Jabo Fulghum. "I think he will be ... hope he is. He said 'coach, it doesn't bother me.'

"I don't know if I should have taken him out earlier. He was walking around ... seemed okay."

Nolan Lancaster's first-inning single to left field plated Gourley and gave the Warriors a 1-0 advantage. John Wooten drove home Lancaster and later scored on a wild pitch.

Gourley's two-run blast gave starting pitcher Anthony Otellio a 5-0 cushion. Lancaster added an RBI single in the fourth and Wooten contributed an RBI double to cap Eastern Wayne's scoring.

Lancaster and Wooten provided two hits and two RBI apiece. Cambric Moye and Colton Fulghum each contributed two hits.

"We were out in front and we were being patient at the plate," said coach Fulghum. "We hit some balls off the end of the bat."

Otellio held Washington hitless until the third inning and carried a shutout into the sixth inning. The Pam Pack erased its zero on the scoreboard with a four-run uprising on three hits, a walk and a wild pitch.

Michael Mintz replaced Otellio and finished the game.

"Otellio threw the ball well," Fulghum said. "Mintz came in and threw the ball well. We were glad to come out with a win tonight."

Eastern Wayne (7-5 overall) faces Wake County Home School at 3 p.m. today at Guy Smith Stadium.