Hunt Pate unloads a pitch from the mound.
Brandt Young|Sampson Independent
James Graham looks to field a ground ball at third base.
Brandt Young|Sampson Independent
Noah Price grabs a lead off first base.
Brandt Young|Sampson Independent
James Graham crosses home for North Duplin’s lone run of the day.
Brandt Young|Sampson Independent
Wesley Holmes turns around on a big swing of the bat in Tuesday’s game.
Brandt Young|Sampson Independent
Noah Price walks to meet WRNS radio’s Jason Bryant, who is presenting the Rebel with a plaque for being named to the all-tournament team.
Brandt Young|Sampson Independent
Tuesday morning’s action at the DBC Easter baseball tournament saw the North Duplin Rebels look to take down the red-hot Midway Raiders, who came off the heels of back-to-back comeback victories to start their showcase off. The once-hot Rebels skidded through the tournament, losing all three of their games over the beginning of the Easter break. First, on Saturday, a 13-2 loss to South Lenoir, and then a 7-3 loss to North Lenoir on Monday, set the scene for the Rebels to make some noise against Midway. That wouldn’t be the case, though, as the Raiders got the early-game mercy rule win by a score of 11-1.
North Duplin played the role of visitors for the early game, taking the batter’s box first. This didn’t amount to much early, with Hunt Pate, Noah Price, and Garris Warren being sent down in order to open the game up. The Raiders poured four runs on in the bottom of the first to light up the scoreboard quickly, almost as if to prove a point.
The second inning didn’t fare much better for the Rebels, either, with Wesley Holmes, Kayden Bowden, and Noa Quintanillia all being retired in succession as well, keeping North Duplin without a single base runner through two innings thus far. Reprieve came defensively, though, as the Rebels’ pitching stopped the Raiders in their tracks in the bottom of the inning. Like clockwork, though, North Duplin couldn’t manage anything besides a three-up, three-down frame to start the third.
Midway added seven runs in the bottom half, jumping out to an 11-0 lead due to a collection of hits, smart base running, and a well-thought-out offensive strategy. The Rebels finally got their first base runner — James Graham — on a line drive to center. An error by Midway’s first baseman gave Noah Price first base and allowed Graham to move to third. A sacrifice fly by Garris Warren scored North Duplin’s only run of the day as Graham crossed the dish. Price was thrown out at second, and Holmes struck out to end the top of the fourth. The North Duplin defense shut down Midway once more in the bottom, sending down the first three batters in order.
With a 10-run deficit facing them, the Rebels needed to add just one run to the scoreboard in the top of the fifth to keep the game going and avoid the mercy rule. Garrett Stevens started the inning off with a line drive to left, followed by Quintanillia striking out swinging. Miller walked to put two runners on with just one out, but Ben Kelly and Keiz Brock struck out to end the inning and the game, giving Midway the 11-1 win.
Noah Price was named North Duplin’s player for the all-tournament team in a post-game ceremony.
Hunt Pate, Noah Price, and Hayden Miller were the Rebels’ pitchers for the day. Pate started the game, giving up seven runs on five hits, walking three, and striking out none. Price pitched just 2/3 of an inning, giving up four runs on four hits. He walked two and had no strikeouts. Miller pitched the last 1 1/3, giving up no runs on no hits and no walks while striking out one batter.
The Rebels evened out their record to 9-9 on the season with the three straight losses in the tournament. They remain in second in the Carolina 1A conference with their 8-2 record in conference play. They will travel to Hobbton for the opening round of the conference tournament next Tuesday.
