Holmes puts away Pack 12-0

EDENTON – The Aces of Edenton Holmes sent 12 batters to the plate in a six-run third inning Thursday as they eliminated the visiting Whiteville Wolfpack 12-0 in the second round of the state 2A high-school baseball playoffs.

The game was halted in the fifth inning by the 10-run rule. Whiteville, the Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference co-champion, closed its season with a 15-10 record.

It was only the third road loss of the year for Wolfpack.

The Edenton squad, which starts eight seniors, took advantage of 10 walks off Whiteville pitching and got a two-run first-inning homer by Broc Sutton to put it on top to stay. The win put the Aces’ season record at 22-2.

Chowan College-bound pitcher Steven Brown allowed only one hit, a single by WHS leftfielder Quan Gaddy.

Sprandon Mahoney was the losing pitcher. Pitching in relief for the Wolfpack were Zack Spivey, Trey Nye and Lloyd Enzor.

“We went against a team that has a very good group of seniors and their overall talent and experience really stood out for them today,” said WHS coach Brett Harwood, whose squad made the bus trip of more than four hours for the game. “We knew it would be tough today and things didn’t turn out very well.

“I’m still very proud of guys,” Harwood said. “We have had a young team this year and for a team that started out 2-5 and was struggling to stay in ball games, we came out a lot better than most people expected. We have a chance to be a much improved team next year.”

Holmes put the game out of reach in the third inning when it scored six runs off five hits and four walks. The Aces added three runs in the fourth on five more walks and one hit.

Sutton had three hits, including his home run, and drove in five runs to lead the Holmes batting order. Coach John Barrow’s Aces came into the game with a team batting average of over .400.

Whiteville had opened the playoffs last Tuesday with a 2-0 win over East Duplin behind the three-hit pitching of Robbie Penny.

The Wolfpack qualified for the state playoffs for the 23rd time in 26th seasons and advanced to second-round play for the 16th time.

Thursday’s loss marked the second straight year that Whiteville had been eliminated from the state playoffs by way of the 10-run rule. Last season, the Wolfpack fell to eventual state champion North Lenoir 10-0 in third-round play.

WP: Sutton LP: Mahoney