The Knights of Northern Nash with the help of faulty Eastern Wayne defense found themselves ahead 5-0 after four innings of play tonight in the opening game of the Eastern 3-A baseball championships in Goldsboro.
Through the first four playoff games and the first four innings tonight Northern pitching had allowed just one run for thirty one innings of playoff pitching.
Tonight a ghost from Rocky Mount high as John Wooten Senior first baseman for the Warriors hit a grand slam home run in the bottom of the fifth inning for Eastern Wayne. Wooten who is headed to Greenville to play for Billy Godwin at East Carolina is the son of former Rocky Mount high Great Sonny Wooten. Wooten was a member of the Rocky Mount American Legion team that won the state baseball championship in the early 70's and after playing pro baseball settle in Goldsboro.
Wooten's slammer made it 5-4 and Northern was able to hold the lead until the bottom of the seventh. After walking the leadoff runner in the seventh Northern's head coach Eddie Loesner Pulled starter Brandon Denton in Favor of senior Mike Williams who had to face John Wooten as his first batter. Wooten hit a shot to second baseman Mike Smith who knocked the ball down tossed to second and Wesley Joyner's throw to first got a double play. Two outs and no one one. The very next batter drills a home run to tie the game. Then the next two batters get back to back doubles and in a matter of a few seconds Northern's opening game victory turns into a stunning loss.
Game two is tomorrow night at Northern where the Knights find themselves in a must win to survive mode. Eddie Loesner is really in a major pickle. Having pitched Tyler Joyner last night just to get to tonight's game he must find someone to help get a win Friday and maybe pitch Joyner Saturday night.
If there was one area that the playoff game against Rocky Mount showed was that Northern had two great pitchers but were very thin looking for a third starter. That third starter must come through for Northern Friday night in order to play back in Goldsboro Saturday night.
Tonight was a good night to have played the game in Goldsboro as thunder storms rolled through Rocky Mount at what would have been about game time in Goldsboro.
If luck has any thing to do with winning right now Northern could use a rain out Friday and then play a double header if necessary at Northern on Saturday. That way they possibly could use Tyler Joyner and Brandon Denton some on Saturday.
Game two is Friday night at Northern at 7.00pm
Thursday, May 28, 2009
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