C.B. Aycock rebounds from defeat

KINSTON -- A short memory is the best thing a team can have when playing four games in a six-day stretch.

Just ask Charles B. Aycock.

Coming off a shutout loss on Monday, the more-patient Golden Falcons reversed their fortunes with a 9-0 thrashing of D.H. Conley on the final day of the George Whitfield Invitational.

"If I could figure kids out, I would write a book, retire, and become a millionaire," said Aycock head coach Charles Davis. "The only difference between today's game and yesterday was the team's willingness to be more coachable, and to make in-game adjustments."

Aycock took control of the game in the first inning.

Catcher Zach Wright delivered the big blow -- a two-RBI triple that hit the wall near the 390-foot sign in center field at historic Grainger Stadium.

The Golden Falcons (8-4 overall) broke the game open in the second inning. Bryant Hill (2-for-4) laced a double into left center field to begin the six-run uprising.

Will Edgerton, Tyler Ruffin and Connor Narron each followed with RBI singles. Jordan Carr supplied a double, which brought Wright to the plate again. The East Carolina signee collected his third and fourth RBI of the afternoon with a line-drive single.

"We hit the ball better tonight than we have been," Davis said. "Our fielding has been a strong point all season, and hitting is another thing that we can do well. The difference tonight was in the pitching department."

Starting pitcher Eric DuBose (3-2) used the eight-run cushion to his advantage. The left-hander mixed his off-speed pitches with a well-placed fastball and limited the Vikings to one hit through six innings.

Conley finished with three hits.

"I thought Eric did a great job on the mound tonight," Davis said. "He's just a sophomore, but he has shown that he has a lot of potential. All he has to do is have confidence in his stuff and the rest takes care of itself."

The Golden Falcons will enjoy a six-day layoff before resuming its Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference schedule April 1 at home against Southern Wayne. Game time is 7 p.m.

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on March 26, 2008 02:47 PM