CALYPSO — Richard Noble threw a one-hitter to help propel North Duplin past Faith Christian Academy, 16-0, on opening day of the 2023 Fellowship of Christian Athletes Crossover Invitational.
A senior right-hander, Noble allowed a lead-off double to sophomore Chase Moen in the top of the second inning. He retired the next nine Conquerors he faced until hitting the first two batters in the fifth.
Noble filed 11 strikeouts on his worksheet.
Up 2-0, North Duplin broke the game open with a nine-run uprising in the bottom of the third inning. The Rebels plated five runs in the fourth en route to their fifth mercy-rule win of the season.
Tanner Kornegay emerged as North Duplin’s offensive leader with two hits, an RBI and a stolen base.
Hunt Pate (RBI), Noble (RBI), Kayden Bowden (RBI), Brady Byrd, Garris Warren (RBI), Dante Santibinez and Esteban Santos Clark (two RBI) supplied one hit apiece.
Warren stole three bases.
Faith Christian (7-2 overall) opposes Goldsboro in the third-place game today at 4 p.m.
The Rebels (13-2) put a seven-game win streak on the line against county rival James Kenan (6-6) in the title tilt at 6 p.m. North Duplin leads the series 19-4 since 2010.
