Local digest

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 14, 2008 2:56 PM

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LaGRANGE -- Eastern Plains champion North Lenoir continued its N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 2-A playoff run with a 12-2 thumping of Pittsboro Northwood.

Mike Wetherington belted two home runs and finished 3-for-3 with four RBI and three runs scored. C.C. Croom also hit a home run and had two RBI in a 2-for-3 night at the plate. Cory Johnson added a pair of hits and an RBI.

John Alphin and Carter Capps both had home runs and two RBI.

Wetherington recorded the mound win, allowing two runs (both earned) on three hits in five innings of work.

The Hawks (20-1 overall) face Dalton McMichael on Friday.

CBA upended

SHALLOTTE -- Defending state champion Charles B. Aycock watched a seven-run lead -- and ultimately its season -- slip away Tuesday evening at West Brunswick.

A controversial balk call put the winning run in scoring position with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, and the Trojans claimed a 9-8 victory in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A playoffs.

"We had chances to score in the third and fourth innings after being up 7-0 and West Brunswick just kept chipping away," said Aycock head coach Charles Davis. "These kids fought tooth and nail the whole season. We were expected to not be very good. This is one of the most satisfying seasons in my 18 years at Aycock."

Connor Narron led the Golden Falcons, going 4-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. Jordan Carr (RBI), Will Edgerton (RBI), John Taylor and Stephen Strouse each contributed two hits. Tyler Ruffin added a hit and a pair of RBI.

Sophomore Eric DuBose started on the mound for Aycock, allowing seven runs (three earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts and three walks in five innings of work. Jesse Randolph took the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with a walk and a strikeout in 12/3 innings of relief.

The Golden Falcons finished the year 19-7 overall.

Saints stumble

WINTERVILLE -- Gavin Mizelle's three-run homer broke open a tight ballgame and it was too much for Southern Wayne to overcome in a 9-4, season-ending loss at South Central on Tuesday evening.

The Saints (15-11 overall) trailed 5-4 until Mizelle's game-changing blast in the sixth inning of their N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A playoff contest. Mizelle also earned the win on the mound.

Scott Holloman had a pair of hits and an RBI for Southern Wayne. Robert Herring, Tyler Edwards, Ricky Oddon and Michael Douglas each added hits.

WCS season ends

WACCAMAW -- Wayne Christian mustered just three hits and had its season come to a close with a 5-2 loss at Waccamaw in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A state quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Michael Johnson, Travis Thomas and Steven Gallagher each recorded hits for the Eagles.

Adam Brannan took the loss on the mound allowing three runs on three hits over five innings. Jeremy Jefferson surrendered two runs on two hits in an inning of relief.

Wayne Christian finished the season 14-3 overall.

HR hurts WCDS

HENDERSON -- Wayne Country Day couldn't hold onto a late 4-2 lead and fell 6-4 at Kerr-Vance in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A state quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Kerr-Vance's Elliot Jordan hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth and the Chargers never recovered.

Cole Davis contributed two hits for Wayne Country Day and Hil Tanner and Cameron Ford both had a hit and two RBI. Kevin Herring also added a hit.

Ford took the loss on the mound allowing five runs (three earned).

Wayne Country Day concluded its season at 9-11 and won eight of its last 12 games.

"I am very proud of these young men," said Chargers head coach Michael Taylor. "It has been a crazy year starting off 0-5 and then making the playoffs, beating the number 2 and 3 team in the state during the same week, and finishing our last 12 games 8-4."

Softball

Aycock moves on

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock got plenty of offense and rode the arms of Emily Jordan and Autumn Pittman to an easy 10-0 victory over Northeast Guilford in the opening round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A state playoffs on Tuesday.

The Golden Falcons (20-4 overall) pounded out 10 hits and pushed across three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to pull away.

Brittany Ford paced the Aycock offense with three doubles and an RBI. Stevie Savage (3 RBI), Anna Sullivan (2 RBI) and Tori Benton (2 RBI) each had two hits. Benton ended the game with a home run, her second round-tripper in as many games.

Leigh Smith, Jordan, Shamyka Polite and Amber Baker all added hits.

Jordan surrendered just two hits over five innings of work with eight strikeouts and one walk. Pittman tossed a scoreless inning of relief.

The Golden Falcons will host Washington on Friday.

Errors plague Rebels

LAKE WACCAMAW -- Committing five errors while scoring one run is typically a recipe for disaster.

At least it was for North Duplin on Tuesday in a season-ending 7-1 loss at East Columbus during the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A playoffs.

With the ballgame tied at 1-1 the Gators pushed across six runs in the fifth inning and the Rebels never scored again.

Jodie Williamson, Heather Hudson and Ashley Cartwright (RBI) each had a hit.

Jessica Pridgen took the loss on the mound.

"I loved coaching these young women," said North Duplin head coach Heather Best. "They were such a joy and played very well together. You always hate to end the season with a loss, but this team has done so much this year to make a positive season."

Hawks roll

LaGRANGE -- North Lenoir eased into the second round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2-A playoffs with a 10-0 win in five innings over Franklinton in Tuesday's opening round.

Kristen Davenport (3 RBI) and Timon Jones (2 RBI) both turned in 3-for-4 performances.

Brittany Barrow and Jessica Kennedy (4 RBI) both had two hits.

Kayla Letchworth recorded the win on the mound allowing just one hit with two strikeouts and one walk. Erin Dill pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

The Hawks (17-6 overall) entertain Hillsborough Orange on Friday.

Rams edge RR

SNOW HILL -- Greene Central earned a 4-3 victory over Roanoke Rapids in the opening round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2-A playoffs on Tuesday.

Ashley Page and Stacey Shaw each had two hits for the Rams.

Jessica Moore recorded the win on the mound allowing three runs on four hits with six strikeouts and two walks over seven innings.

Greene Central (17-8 overall) visits Pittsboro Northwood next Tuesday.

Tennis

Golden Falcons win

GREENVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock downed D.H. Conley 5-1 in the second round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A dual-team playoffs on Tuesday.

The victory sets up a semifinal-round clash against county archrival Eastern Wayne. First serve is next Tuesday at 4 p.m. in Pikeville.

Blake Vail, Addison Westbrook, Blake Cooper, Ben Nichols, and Dylan Quinn each earned singles victories for the Golden Falcons, who improved to 20-2 overall.

Warriors victorious

WASHINGTON -- Eastern Wayne knocked off Washington 7-2 in the second round of the state 3-A playoffs on Tuesday.

Details of the match were not available at press time.

The Warriors (14-5) visit C.B. Aycock next Tuesday.

Golf

Ham finished 4th

FOXFIRE VILLAGE -- Eastern Wayne's Kyle Ham finished tied for fourth among individuals during in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A state finals at Foxfire Golf and Country Club.

Ham fired a 76 on Monday and a 74 on Tuesday to finish fourth out of 84 players.

Walnut Creek Ladies

GREENVILLE -- The Walnut Creek Ladies claimed the Eastern League two-day trophy at Greenville Country Club for the third consecutive year.

Individual winners for Walnut Creek were Mary Ann Sutton, first flight, first gross, and Novella Zambelli, first flight, first net.

Charlotte Campbell earned second gross in the second flight, while Evelyn Ross claimed second net in the second flight Mary Morris won low putts and closet to the pin.

Linda Cannon seized first net in the third flight and Nancy Satterfield took home second gross honors in the fourth flight.

Lane Tree Ladies

GREENVILLE -- The Eastern League two-day finals were held recently at Greenville Country Club.

Earning honors from the Lane Tree Ladies Group were Linda Watson championship flight, second low gross, Libby Newsome, first flight, first low net and Donna Adams, first flight, low putts.

Betty Jean Gurley earned the second low net award from the third flight and Lou Ellen Flowers claimed low putts from the third flight.

Barbara Hill seized first low net in the fourth flight.