Published: 12:17 AM, Wed May 02, 2012
Mid-South tournament: Terry Sanford, Cape Fear baseball teams win with pitching
By Junious Smith
Correspondent
Terry Sanford had to manufacture offense. Cape Fear struck early in its contest. Both teams had superior pitching, which is why they will meet in Thursday's Mid-South Conference tournament finals.
"It doesn't matter how you get the win as long as you get it," Terry Sanford coach Sam Guy said after his Bulldogs defeated South View 1-0 in the first game.
Dogs duel
The first semifinal contest was a pitchers' duel between Bulldogs pitcher Taylor Warren and the Tigers' Jordan Redd. Both pitchers threw complete games and made few mistakes.
Terry Sanford (18-6) scored the game's only run in the bottom of the fourth. Michael Downing walked to lead off the inning and stole second, setting up Nathan Arp's RBI single. The Bulldogs could muster only three hits the entire game.
Still, that run was all the support Warren needed. The pitcher struck out eight Tigers (11-12) during his shoutout, allowing only four hits in the process.
"Taylor mixed up his pitches and hit spots with his fastball," Guy said. "He's a senior and a leader so we needed him to step up and he did."
Colts' strong start
In the second game, Cape Fear (14-6) wasted no time, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first to win 6-1. The Colts singled three times and took advantage of three errors and two walks by Jack Britt in the inning.
Meanwhile, Cape Fear pitcher Spencer Faircloth was a nightmare to Jack Britt hitters. Faircloth struck out 11 and didn't allow an earned run in his complete game. Cape Fear added an extra run in the fifth to extend its lead to 6-0.
The Buccaneers (11-14) got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning on an error. Jack Britt had a great opportunity one inning later, loading the bases with two outs in the seventh.
But Faircloth, who struck out the side in the seventh, got Dustin Adams swinging to end the game.
"Jack Britt has a very good team and I knew we had to play," Cape Fear coach Wendell Smith said.
The stage is now set for the Colts and Bulldogs. The teams will play at Terry Sanford on Thursday at 6 p.m. for the conference tournament championship.
Terry Sanford 1, South View 0
South View 000 000 0 - 0 4 2
Terry Sanford 000 100 x - 1 3 2
Redd and McMaster. T. Warren and Allen. W - T. Warren (4-3). L - Redd.
Leading hitters: SV - Novak 1-3 (SB), Fuentes 1-3 (SB), Simmons 1-3, Luna 1-3. TS - J. Ingle 1-2 (2B, SAC), N. Arp 1-3 (RBI), T. Davis 1-2 (2B), Downing 0-1 (SB, run)
Records: South View 11-13, Terry Sanford 18-6
Cape Fear 6, Jack Britt 1
Jack Britt 000 001 0 - 1 2 3
Cape Fear 500 010 x - 6 7 1
Ortiz and Anderson. Faircloth and Johnson.
Leading hitters: CF - Rotsaert 2-3 (2RBI)
Highlights: Spencer Faircloth struck out 11 batters
Records: Jack Britt 12-15, Cape Fear 13-6