ECBL: Spring Creek knocks off Goldsboro

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on June 22, 2016 1:48 PM

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Early and often.

That was the blueprint employed by Spring Creek during a systematic, 9-3 victory over Eastern Carolina Baseball League foe Goldsboro at Mina Weil Park on Tuesday evening.

From the outset, the Gators proved aggressive -- then opportunistic.

Lead-off man Levi Miller walked to open the affair, then promptly stole second and third base before being plated on an RBI single to right field by shortstop Christopher Yarborough.

Goldsboro promptly responded in its half, getting an RBI double to left field by Josh Hartfield. The blast was part of a sterling evening for the rising eighth grader, who finished the contest 3-for-3 with two RBI.

After one, the Gators held a 2-1 advantage.

Spring Creek (7-4 overall) kept its usual base-running pressure in motion from there, however, plating two runs in a wild, error-prone second stanza and a trio of Gators in an equally manic fourth frame.

The three-spot marked a troublesome appearance for Goldsboro's Chandler Patrick, who appeared on behalf of starter Lewis after 3 1/3 innings. On the evening, the two allowed 10 hits and watched their defense struggle to make plays behind them on a firm, fast infield surface.

"We came out a little lax today... some of those plays we usually make," said Cougar skipper Saint Paul Edwards III. "We talked to them about it pre-game -- how you start is how you finish."

Which is exactly where Spring Creek found a bit of a surprise.

Miller, in his first-ever trot to the hill, was solid over his three-inning debut. Appearing in relief of starter Austin Reynolds, the rising Spring Creek senior allowed no hits, no runs and fanned four Goldsboro batters.

He also snared a return-to-sender rope by the Cougars' Matthew Lewis in the fifth inning, starting an ice-cold, 1-4-3 inning-ending double play.

Spring Creek skipper David McSwain was impressed with the outing.

"That's new to him," McSwain said of his closer. "But (situationally) he knew what to do ... fielded his position and got himself out of a jam."

It was smooth sailing from that point forward for the Gators, who made the score 9-3 by adding two runs in a runaway sixth frame that featured two hit batsmen, two base knocks and a wild pitch.

"If you put the ball in play and run well, it puts pressure on them," McSwain said. "And sometimes they make mistakes."

Spring Creek travels to North Lenoir for a doubleheader on Thursday. Goldsboro plays host to Wayne Country Day School.