Southern Wayne’s Graham James steals second base during middle-inning action against county rival Charles B. Aycock in their junior varsity game Thursday afternoon. CBA won, 8-4. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne third baseman E’lla Boykin throws to first base for an out against county rival Charles B. Aycock during the first inning on Thursday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne left-hander Tyler Odom hurls a pitch toward the plate against county and Quad County 3A foe Charles B. Aycock on Thursday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne lead-off batter Hayden Waller watches a fly ball soar toward the outfield during the first inning against Charles B. Aycock on Thursday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Logan Denning (6) scores on a wild pitch against Charles B. Aycock in their junior varsity contest Thursday afternoon. Teammate Graham James (background) looks toward the umpire for the call. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Tyler McKee connects on a pitch against Charles B. Aycock on Thursday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Zack Aman gets a face full of dirt as he dives back toward first base on a pick-off attempt by Charles B. Aycock on Thursday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Cuyler Daly dives back to first base on a pick-off attempt against Charles B. Aycock Thursday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Jake Coates connects on an RBI double during second-inning play against Charles B. Aycock on Thursday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
PIKEVILLE — Southern Wayne’s young pups have barked all season, but haven’t quite figured out how to gnaw their way past opponents in tightly-contested games this season.
Such was the case Thursday evening against county rival Charles B Aycock.
The Saints got caught in the Golden Falcons’ talons in the early innings and couldn’t wriggle out of their clutches at Charles Davis Field.
Aycock capitalized on timely hitting and emerged victorious 5-2 as second-half play began in the Quad County 3A ranks.
Despite enduring a third-straight loss, Southern Wayne head coach Trae McKee spoke to his team in positive fashion during their post-game huddle. He reminded them to not hang their heads and continue to battle.
McKee wasn’t disappointed with the effort.
“We came out like gangbusters to start the season and we played extremely well,” McKee said of the Saints’ eye-opening, 6-0 start. “We really didn’t hit a whole lot of adversity at the beginning. We’ve hit some adversity [now] — two or three games for growth where we’re not capitalizing on every mistake and we’re not swinging the bat really well with runners in scoring position.”
Aycock did during this rivalry that started in 2000.
A wild pitch, infield throwing error and key RBI hits from junior Joseph Buckley spearheaded a 4-1 lead after two innings. Buckley ended the night 3-for-4 with three RBI.
Southern Wayne (9-4 overall, 4-4 QCC) got an RBI double from Jake Coates in the second inning. Back-to-back singles from catcher Alex Ferrell and Cuyler Daly sparked a fourth-inning rally that produced a run-scoring, infield groundout by Tyler Odom.
The Saints trailed 4-2.
Each team played solid defense over the next two innings to deny additional chances of pushing runs across the plate. The Saints stranded four runners on base, with two in scoring position in the fifth.
“That was a big difference in the ballgame,” McKee said. “They hit with runners on and we didn’t. We had opportunities to scratch back and tie the game, or go ahead in the game.”
The Golden Falcons (7-5, 7-1) touched Saints southpaw Tyler Odom for eight hits and plated three unearned runs. The sophomore issued four walks and collected two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings on the bump.
Hayden Waller recorded the final out.
Cameron Aycock threw a complete-game, four-hitter for the Golden Falcons. The junior right-hander gave up two earned runs, walked two and retired four Saints on strikeouts.
CBA claimed its 29th victory in 43 meeting against the Saints since 2004.
“There’s a certain comfort level or uncomfortability whenever you’re in a tight ballgame in a big moment,” McKee said. “And the more you’re in it, the more you feel comfortable and can say ‘hey, we got this.’ You have to remember we’ve got a lot of 14-year-olds and a couple of 15-year-olds.
“We’re young pups so the growth is getting there … it’s going to get better.”
Southern Wayne faces East Central 2A leader North Lenoir (9-2) on Monday afternoon at South Lenoir HS in Deep Run. Game time is 4:30 p.m.
