C.B. Aycock clubs three home runs

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on May 11, 2008 2:01 AM

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PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock opened defense of its Class 3-A state baseball championship in explosive fashion Friday evening.

J.H. Webb wishes it could have hidden the Golden Falcons' bats.

Connor Narron, Jordan Carr and Zach Wright each mashed a home run as Aycock hammered the Warriors 16-4 on Friday evening. The trio combined for 10 RBI as the Golden Falcons claimed their fourth consecutive victory.

"Those guys did a great job at the plate," said Golden Falcons head coach Charles Davis. "We have a luxury when Connor, Jordan and Zach are all hitting the ball well because the other team can't pitch around anybody.

Aycock (19-6 overall) finished with just eight hits in the contest, which was shortened to five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. Will Edgerton contributed two doubles, while Steven Strouse went 1-for-2.

"Our guys came out and swung the bats tonight," said Davis. "We were patient at the plate, but when our guys got pitches to hit they didn't miss them."

The Golden Falcons grabbed a 3-0, first-inning lead.

Bryant Hill drew a lead-off walk and trotted home two pitches later on Edgerton's first twin-bagger of the night. Narron walked and Wright (1-for-3) capped the inning with an RBI fielder's choice groundout.

J.H. Webb avoided the shutout with a second-inning run -- Chase Watson's solo blast over the left field fence. Aycock hurler Jesse Randolph, who was fighting strep throat, settled down and silenced the Warriors.

"Jesse did a good job, considering that he has been sick the last few days," said Davis. "He did not have his best fastball, but despite that, he did his best and got us some big outs."

Narron homered in the second inning.

The Golden Falcons broke the game open in the third when Warrior starter Mitchell Frazier lost sight of the strike zone. Carr dealt the big blow -- a grand slam with Jackson Wooten, Edgerton and Narron on base.

Webb responded with two-fifth inning runs, including Trey Talley's homer over the center field fence.

Aycock quickly answered.

Hill drew another lead-off walk and the Warriors pitched around Narron. Carr got hit by a pitch, which set the table for Wright. Hitless in three plate appearances, the East Carolina signee poked an outside, off-speed pitch over the right field fence.

"I really didn't know what to expect," said Wright. "I made two of our three outs in the third inning, so I knew I had to redeem myself. I saw the pitch start to break. It was hanging just bit, so I swung with basically one hand and got enough of it to get it out."

It was the Golden Falcons' ninth playoff victory in their last 10 outings.