Published: 12:12 AM, Sat Apr 17, 2010
Gray's Creek rolls over Douglas Byrd in baseball
At the expense of rebuilding Douglas Byrd, the Gray's Creek baseball team displayed the depth that has it undefeated this late in the season.
All 17 players saw action Friday as the Bears needed only five innings to dispatch their Cape Fear Valley rivals 13-0. Three pitchers - Pat Powell, Hayden Norris and Bradley Bennett - combined to hold the Eagles (3-9 overall, 1-4 in conference) hitless and keep the staff fresh for a big upcoming three-game week.
"They keep everyone happy," said Gray's Creek center fielder Brandon Browne, who finished with two RBI and run scored. "Because everyone gets to get into the game."
The Bears' pitching staff has been near perfect this season, sporting a sparkling .97 earned-run average entering Friday's contest. The team's main three starters - Browne, Tyler Herbert and Powell - have a combined .36 ERA.
Powell threw only 33 pitches over the first three innings, allowing three base runners on a walk, fielder's choice and an infield error. Norris and Bennett combined for five strikeouts in the final two innings.
"We're more focused this year and getting it done at practice" Powell said. "The coaches have been keeping us up, and all of us want to win this year because it's our senior year."
Eight seniors dot the roster, and Gray's Creek coach Jeff Nance credited the group for setting a strong example that's rubbing off on the underclassmen. It also doesn't hurt that his six-man coaching staff all have college baseball experience they can pass along to the players.
How lucky are the Bears? The team roster lists separate coaches for the corner and middle infield positions. Randy Nalls is the squad's "swing doctor" and Cecil Combs is the "team psychiatrist."
All these chefs haven't ruined the soup one bit. Gray's Creek (12-0, 7-0) has a two-game lead on first place in the conference.
Byrd also helped the Bears plate six runs in the second inning to pull ahead 7-0. Three errors and a plethora of passed balls allowed Gray's Creek to rack up all the offense on only one hit.
Catcher Jonathan Cribb went 2-for-2 with a double and a run scored to lead all batters. The Bears needed only eight total hits with their bullpen rolling.
"When you've got guys on the bump who all throw strikes and have good stuff, it's definitely pleasing," Nance said. "I think it that's way at every level - all the way up to the majors."
Staff writer Paul Shugar can be reached at shugarp@fayobserver.com or 486-3513.