By DAN BISER
Sports Editor

CERRO GORDO – After making a quick recovery from West Columbus’ three-run first inning surge, the Whiteville Wolfpack came away with an 11-3 non-conference baseball victory Monday night.

Wolfpack senior pitcher Robbie Penny recorded his second 18-strikeout performance against the WCHS squad this season. He allowed four hits while putting his season pitching record at 6-0.

It was the Wolfpack’s first win over the Vikings on the WCHS field since 2002.

Coach Brett Harwood’s Wolfpack took a 10-2 record into Wednesday night’s Waccamaw Conference home game with North Brunswick (see result in A-section).

The loss broke a six-game win streak for Coach Ricky Young’s Vikings, who are in strong contention of the defending the Southeastern Conference championship it won last season.

WCHS senior righthander Stephen Nealy threw well before tiring in the sixth inning when Whiteville posted six of its runs to put the game out of reach. Nathan Long and Timothy Brown pitched in relief, as the Viking record slipped to 8-5. WCHS played Fairmont Wednesday night.

West Columbus used three bunts and a two-run double by Timothy “Batman” Brown in the first inning for quick 3-0 lead.

Whiteville bounced back quickly in the top of the second behind a single by Ben Deans, a two-run double by Trey Nye and an outfield error of a fly ball by Quan Gaddy.

Whiteville went ahead to stay in the fourth inning behind hits by Nye and Gaddy.

The Wolfpack’s six-run sixth inning featured towering three-run homer to centerfield by Charlie Gore and a double to the fence by Lloyd Enzor.

“West Columbus did a good job coming out and knocking us a little off balance early with some well-placed bunts,” Coach Harwood said. “Fortunately, we were able come back with some runs of our own right after that. Our guys showed some patience, and we got another strong pitching performance from Robbie. He was solid.”

Ricky Young said that Whiteville’s overall team experience took over in the sixth inning, but added that he was pleased with his team’s efforts.

“We had too many strike-outs, but we had some good at-bats and took some good swings,” Young said. “We’re getting better.”

Deans had three hits for Whiteville while Nye and Gaddy had two each. Long had two this for West Columbus

The Vikings played without outfielder Kenyarta Smith, who sat out with a foot injury.

Penny and Enzor; Nealy, Long (6), Brown (6) and Duncan.