Published: 11:41 PM, Fri May 11, 2012
Terry Sanford falls hard to Wilmington Laney, 7-3, in state baseball playoffs
The Terry Sanford Bulldogs produced a regular season to remember by posting a perfect record in winning the Mid-South 4-A Conference.
But the Bulldogs' postseason came to an abrupt halt Friday when a rocky start led to a 7-3 loss against Wilmington Laney in the opening round of the state 4-A playoffs.
Laney, the 2010 state 4-A champion, barely made it into the state playoffs this season after finishing in a three-way tie for the fourth and final berth from the Mideastern Conference. But the Buccaneers took advantage of three errors and four walks by Terry Sanford to plate six runs in the first two innings to produce an early lead that was never really threatened.
"I don't want to say bad luck,'' Terry Sanford coach Sam Guy said. "I didn't do my job well enough. I didn't prepare them for it and that's my fault. I let them down.''
The Bulldogs, who went 12-0 in the Mid-South regular season and won the league tournament, close their season with a 19-7 overall record. Laney (13-9), meanwhile, advances to Tuesday's second round, where it will meet the Ashley-Knightdale winner.
Wildeboer sparks Bucs
Junior Pete Wildeboer sparked the Buccaneers to victory over Terry Sanford on the mound and at the plate.
Wildeboer led off the game with an infield hit - one of seven dribblers that only added to the Bulldogs frustration - against Terry Sanford starter Taylor Warren (4-4). He would later score on a wild pitch from third base to give Laney a 1-0 lead.
The Bucs blew the game open in the top of the second when a walk, an error, an infield hit and two more walks consecutively led to a five-run rally and 6-0 advantage. Nathan Arp came on to get Terry Sanford out of the inning and allowed Laney just one more run in working the rest of the game.
"We put the ball in play,'' Laney coach Vern Barker said. "We didn't sting it all that much, but we did cause something to happen, and we had some good baserunning out there on top of it.
"But I can't say enough about Pete Wildeboer. He's just a little bulldog. He does it at the mound and at the plate.''
Wildeboer, who went 2-for-4 at the plate, limited the Bulldogs to four hits and a run over the first six innings. He surrendered three hits and two runs in the final frame before settling down to earn his eighth win against two losses this season.
Still encouraged
Terry Sanford looked to rally in the bottom half of the second when Nathan Arp reached on an error and Wildeboer walked Warren to start the inning. A double by Trey Davis got one run home, but Wildeboer got out the inning without any more trouble.
Despite the disappointing setback, Guy is encouraged about Terry Sanford's future.
"I feel good about the future,'' Terry Sanford's Guy said. "We have a young team and these kids have bought into working hard every day. I believe we are headed in the right direction.''
Staff writer Sammy Batten can be reached at battens@fayobserver.com or 486-3534.
Wilmington Laney 7, Terry Sanford 3
Laney
150
100
0-7103
Terry Sanford
010
000
2-373
Wildeboer and Widerman. T. Warren, Arp and Allen. W - Wildeboer (8-2). L - T. Warren (4-4).
Leading hitters: L - Wildeboer 2-4 (2B); Perkins 2-4 (2B, 2 RBIs); Gallaher 2-4 (RBI). TS - Tew 2-4; Ingle 1-4 (2B, RBI); Davis 2-3 (2B, RBI).
Records: Terry Sanford 19-7, Wilmington Laney 13-6