ECBL: Gators employ "small-ball" tactics

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on June 10, 2016 1:48 PM

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DUDLEY -- Small ball appears primed for the summer calendar.

Spring Creek, employing its traditional frenetic timing on the base paths, scored in distinct bursts Thursday night during a 15-0, run-and-hide triumph over Eastern Carolina Baseball League foe Southern Wayne White.

Following a quiet opening frame, the Gators' familiar speed show found its form during a wild second stanza. Robert Rogers and Kevin Grady plated runs on a fielder's choice and a bloop single to shallow center field, respectively, polishing off two Southern Wayne errors and complementing consecutive early-inning sacrifice attempts by the Gator nine.

The effort was part of an outstanding evening for Spring Creek's lower third anchors, who went a combined 3-for-6 with five RBI.

After two, Spring Creek led 4-0.

Starting pitcher Mathew Dupuy patrolled the hill for Spring Creek and tendered the Saints a six-inning dose of controlled, off-speed efficiency. The righty was in command throughout, retiring the first 15 batters he faced and tossing just 57 pitches on the evening.

His outing, preserved in a hasty seventh by Jordan Amon, drew praise from Spring Creek skipper Allen Nichols.

"He had 38 pitches through five innings," he said of Dupuy, "and then they got a couple... really proud (of him)."

Conversely, the affair was a struggle for Southern Wayne.

The Saints experienced an indifferent night at the plate, reaching base just three times on the evening. Despite hitting the ball hard to spots all over the field, the Saints grounded into nine assisted putouts.

"It takes one hundred percent," head coach Anthony Williams said, "staying focused, staying locked in... (but) we saw a lot improvement."

"Guys staying in there, taking quality hacks."

Spring Creek ended the affair with a three-run sixth frame and a deafening, eight-run outburst in the seventh. Gator batsmen authored six hits in the finale, and recorded RBI from four different players -- including Dupuy.

For the Gators, the hint of a new season looked remarkably similar to their highly-successful spring campaign, one which saw the school reach the fourth round of the N. C. High School Athletic Association 1-A state playoffs.

"This league is about developing," Nichols said, "the more we play, the better we'll get."

Spring Creek plays host to Greene Central Red on Monday. Southern Wayne is the guest of Charles B. Aycock White.