C.B. Aycock earns impressive ECC 3-A victory

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on April 20, 2008 1:30 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Like a seasoned prize fighter, Charles B. Aycock needed just a few rounds to deliver a devastating knockout punch on Friday evening.

The Golden Falcons opened up a 4-0 lead after one inning and pummeled Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference foe Wilson Hunt into submission 10-0 in just 4 1/2 innings.

Zach Wright's bases-loaded walk put the wheels in motion on Aycock's four-run, opening-inning outburst. Jonathan Taylor added an RBI groundout and Stephen Strouse delivered a two-run single.

Taylor and Strouse each finished the day 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

"These guys are impressing me coming out with their focus," Golden Falcons head coach Charles Davis said. "That's a very, very good Hunt team right there. I thought the key was the first inning. We had some great at-bats. It set the tone."

Connor Narron delivered a solo home run to deep center field in Aycock's third inning. Taylor added an RBI single and the rout was on at 7-0.

Jeff Hill laced an RBI single to center in the fourth and Will Edgerton followed with a sacrifice fly. Hill went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

"Hitting is contagious every time," Davis said. "If one guy has a good at-bat and sets the tone, then everybody else just follows along. That's just natural."

Narron hammered his second homer of the night to center field for a 9-0 advantage. The sophomore shortstop ended up 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored.

"Connor had a great night," Davis said. "People don't realize how many extra ground balls and how many extra cuts he takes a day. He stayed after practice Thursday and he probably took another hundred extra cuts yesterday.

"To have the ability that he has, he works at this game and it paid him for the whole year and it paid off for him again tonight."

Jordan Carr later scored on a wild pitch to cap the offensive onslaught.

Eric DuBose surrendered just one hit walked two and struck out three while keeping a potent Warriors offense in check all game. Hunt exited 12-8 overall and 4-4 against ECC opposition.

"Eric wasn't quite as sharp as I would like for him to be but again he's just a sophomore," Davis said. "He's going to pitch and win a lot of ballgames for us and he already has this year.

"To be able to come in here in our ballpark and shutout a Hunt team, he did a good job. My only concern was he was falling behind hitters some, but he's been very good for us so far this year."

Aycock (15-5, 7-1 ECC) travels to county archrival Eastern Wayne on Tuesday with first place in the ECC on the line. The Warriors defeated the Golden Falcons 12-2 in Pikeville earlier this season.

"People haven't been willing to give these kids a lot of credit this year," Davis said. "We have a lot of season left but I'm just proud of what we've been able to do so far. The great thing about it is when we play any county school, I don't think we have to get ready to play and I think our focus is there.

"They've put themselves in position to do some good things and surprise a whole lot of people."